insecticide?

September 21, 1998

I have a moral dilemma for which I would like advice.

I recently noticed small, 1" worms on one of my tulasi plants.

The worms were eating many of the leaves of the tulasi plant,

and in consequence, the plant was not up to its usual

glory. I became concerned about the long-term state of the

plant, so I bought some organic insecticide and sprayed

the tulasi.

Should I have done this? Would it be more correct for me

to have let the worms have the great benefit of eating

tulasi daily as their only food? Should I not have killed

these insects just to preserve part of the tulasi plant?

Is it now wrong to offer tulasi leaves which now exist

purely because of my killing?

Mani

September 21, 1998

I can certainly relate to Sri Mani's dilemma. I face the same ethical

questions every time I have to shake off insects from the roses I am

picking for Perumal from our small garden in the backyard. In fact, even

having to clip the plants bothers me somewhat.

My own thought on the matter is: while we must most certainly strive

towards ethical ideals and respect for all life, should not our main focus

be on kainkaryam to Perumal? By this I do not mean that we should become

callous to the world and lose our compassion for our fellow creatures.

Indeed, perhaps it is somewhat healthy to feel a little of this dilemma.

But, in a far from perfect existence in this world, where we are always

facing trade-offs and ethical dilemmas, I feel that we should focus on our

desire to serve the Lord, leaving the lives of the plants and insects whose

lives we disrupt to His Kindness.

On a practical level, and perhaps to ease our conscience a bit, my wife and

I prefer not to use insecticides of any kind. We simply sprinkle manjal

water on the leaves of our plants in the hopes that the bitter taste of the

manjal will be a deterrent to the insects. So far, we have been relatively

successful in keeping the bugs away from the tulasi and other plants. But,

personally, it still leaves me questioning....

adiyEn,

Mohan

September 21, 1998

Sri:

Dearest Sri Mani,

Your dilemma, and feeling pity for the insects is a true trait of a

vaishnava. In fact NampiLLai's eedu vyAkhyAnam also says thus: "Whether

one possesses VaishNavathvam or not is known explicitly by his feelings.

When he sees others' sorrows/pains, and he melts at that, it implies

that there is a bhagawath sambhandham.

My AchAryA Srimad Poundareekapuram ANdavan too never allows sishyas to

beat or kill a creature or snake when spotted in the ashramam. He simply

lets it go.

Sri Mohan Sagar has said it very aptly. Leave alone this. We are

removing the insects from thuLasi and Rose for offering to PerumAL only.

But can be said about killing Cockroaches, mosquitoes? Are we allowed to

kill them with insecticides? Is that creature does not have Emperumaan

as an antharyaami? I am equally perplexed. I have perhaps added

confounded your confusions.

Ram Ram