Ahimsa paramo dharmaha

[Guest guest]

Greetings!

 

Mani's recent response is in consonance with the promptings of my conscience.

 

In a message dated 98-07-29 18:24:41 EDT, Mani writes:

 

<< But I find it very hard to accept that SrIman nArAyaNa is happy with us

causing

unnecessary harm to thousands of His creatures ..... >>

 

Non-violence, never to hurt, in thought, word or deed, is a supreme state of

living and is the ultimate goal. To understand and experience the common

thread in everything around prompts a 'hurt never' attitude. In fact, this is

the basic teaching of the Gita: 1. God is all pervasive. 2. Therefore,

conduct yourself in such a way as to never harm others or yourself.

 

In the quotation given by Mani, "Ahimsa paramo dharmaha" both ahimsa and

dharma need to be understood and then will be found the same. How can himsa be

ever dharmic?

 

The command of Krishna for Arjuna in terms of not only what to do but how to

do it needs to be reverentially understood so one can think intellectually

about dharma. What was Arjuna's problem, what was his duty, who was the

beneficiary (Mani caught this succinctly when he wrote 'for higher good') of

his act, what was the situation, what was being set right etc etc need to be

carefully considered. Sriman Narayana is the Doctor. What He diagnoses as the

illness, what he prescribes as the medicine and the regiment - how can these

be ever worng?

 

When the intellectual understanding is not in line with the promptings of the

conscience (with the Vishnu who is viswam), it is time to revisit the

intellectual limitations again, put the gifts of viveka and vichara in high

gear and understand, if one must, from the perspective of the conscience. From

this perspective, I believe that the animal sacrifices mentioned in the Vedas

refer not to the killing of animals per se, but to the sacrifice of the animal

tendencies (gunas) in man. If our dear Acharya, Ramanuja, is to be interpreted

correctly and understood in full justice to his demonstrated 'lokaas

samasthaassukhino bhavanthu (may all worlds be well)' attitude, then I

understand his message that 'animal sacrifice is good for the animal' to mean

that sacrificing animal tendencies, man rises from the animal level of

behavior to the human level of conduct.

 

For your kind consideration.

 

S.Krishnaswami