Re. Beef in McDonald’s French fries

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas:

It is amazing that the posting on "Beef in McDonald's French fries"

had generated an animated discussion through numerous responses

leading to the dietary regimen one should follow.

 

I have written exhaustively on the subject in my book "Hinduism

Rediscovered" Vide "Ch. 15: The 'Trigunas' and the Dietary regimen"

Excerpts have been archived at "Srivaishnava.org/sgati". I am sure

you will find answers to most of your questions on the subject. I

would request you kindly to go through these and if you need any

further clarifications, please feel free to correspond with me

personally at "Sri_Ranga_Sri"

 

Please go to www.Srivaishnava.org/sgati

Click on SDDS Volume 2 Table of Contents (TOC)

Go to the following issues on "Chapter 15 "Triguna and Ahara

Niyamam"

Issue 11 Sec. 1.Trigunas

Issue 12 Sec 2.How to find what Gunas govern a person -Lord Krishna

diagnoses

Issue 13 "Aahaaraniyamam - Lord Krishna prescribes"

Issue 14 "What our Sastras permit/prohibit in the matter of food –

The "Conclusion" is reproduced here for your information:

 

"SECTION 5: CONCLUSION

As already mentioned these prohibitions and restrictions are only for

your guidance. If you desire to cultivate the Satvika Guna and

regulate / eliminate Rajasic and Thamasic Gunas, you may choose to

follow the instructions and if you do not follow ONLY YOU are the

loser to that extent.

 

The doctor can only help in diagnosing the disease and prescribing

appropriate medicines. If the patient desires an expeditious and

effective cure, the patient will have to scrupulously follow the

instructions.

 

THE PATIENT IS FREE EITHER TO FOLLOW OR FLOUT THE INSTRUCTIONS, WITH

ATTENDANT CONSEQUENCES. AND, NOW IT IS IN YOUR HANDS TO CHOOSE

EITHER COURSE ON THE ROAD TO YOUR SPRITUAL REGENERATION OR

DEGENERATION"

=========

ON THE QUESTION OF AHIMSA:

Your attention is also invited to Chapter 13 ibid "Samanya Dharma and

Sanatana Dharma" (Eternal Ordinary duties) where in Section

2.2 "Ahimsa Paramo Dharmah (Non-violence), the subject has been dealt

with at length. You will find excerpts at the same SDDS Volume 2

Issue # 9 dated 17th January 1997.

This, however,is reproduced here for your information.

 

"2.2. AHIMSA PARAMO DHARMAH

Non Violence Is the Supreme Virtue' Says Hinduism.

 

Seeing God in every living being, Hinduism inculcates veneration for

every thing - Cows, ants etc. Even rivers are considered to be living

beings, hence venerated as also trees as vouched in the Sastras and

expounded scientifically by the great Indian Scientist J.C.BOSE. This

reverence is expressed in forms of 'Ahimsa' or nonviolence to animals

as well as humans and as a result most pious Hindus are vegetarian.

 

The word 'Ahimsa' is derived from the root "Han" to kill. Or 'To

damage'. By adding the negative prefix it means "not to kill"

There are 4 aspects of this negative connotation.

1. Vegetarianism

2. Harmlessnes

3. Pacifism and

4. Passive resistance

 

On the positive aspect it means compassion (i.e.) Actual assistance

to all living creatures who are in need. Karuna (Intelligent charity)

Maitri (Active good deed) and Daya (Tender sympathy) are its other

positive manifestations.

 

A doubt can arise whether the principle of 'Ahimsa' so loudly

proclaimed is not inconsistent with the sacrifice of goats, horses

etc. referred to in the Vedas. No doubt, the Vedas did prescribe some

animal sacrifices; it even spoke of 'Purushamedha' a human

sacrifice. But, the concept should be viewed in the context in which

they were so prescribed. The Upanishads which came subsequently to

analyze and explain the Vedic texts lost no time in clarifying that

these sacrifices were more symbolic and allegorical than referring to

the actual sacrifice of the animals or human and that the effects of

these sacrifices could be secured by substitute materials like Gritha

(Ghee), Masha (Black gram) and certain other leafy vegetables. Even

today, it may be observed that in the shradda ceremonies, Ghee, Rice,

Black gram and Thila (sesame seeds) are used, may be as substitutes

for the sacrifice of living beings. This view has been upheld in

subsequent recensions and sacrifice of living beings is prohibited by

Dharma as also by law.

 

A further question can be asked whether vegetarianism is not

also "himsa" in the sense that it has been proved that plants have

life? It has further been proved that in the case of plants, lifeline

runs in the trunks in some cases, roots in others and seeds in others

and that is why Sastras have prohibited cutting the plants at their

respective lifelines - and this has been confirmed by modern science.

 

Modern Science concurs with Sastras in the view that those parts

where the lifelines do not run, no harm is caused when those parts

are cut. These parts correspond to say hairs on our head or the nails

on our fingers or toes which when cut or clipped do not entail any

pain.

 

The cow is an expression of brotherhood between man and beast, of

man's 'identity with all that lives'. The cow is referred to

as "Gomatha" and is treated with the same respect as one would treat

one's own mother. Modern scholars are convinced that "Milk and dung

from cows contribute far more to Indian society than what butchering

the scrawny beasts would accomplish"

 

Mahabharata states clearly that killing of a cow was the worst of all

crimes. "All that kill, eat and permit the killing of cows rot in

hell for as many years as there are hairs on the body of the cow so

slain"

 

The 'Panchagavya' or the five products from the cow Viz., milk, curd,

ghee, dung and urine are deemed the most sacred amalgam that can

purify any defilement.

 

In fact, 'Ahimsa' is called the first of flowers:'Ahimsa Prathamam

Pushpam' - Hinduism holds everything is but a spark of the same

divinity and therefore no harm should be done to anything that is

living.

 

Lord Krishna declares

"The wise see alike in regard to one well endowed with learning and

humility, a Brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog - eater

(because they know that though different outwardly in form, they have

similar souls"

 

Like Truth, 'Ahimsa' cannot be an 'absolute' one. Supposing somebody

tries to rape a woman. Hinduism does not say that she should not

offer any resistance. Even Mahatma Gandhi; the greatest protagonist

of Nonviolence advised the woman to use all in her power and command

not only to resist but go to the extent of killing the criminal, if

she finds it necessary. He goes on to say that such an act on her

part will not constitute violence, since it is done in pure self

defense of her honor"

==================================================================

I conclude with the request that any futher discussion on the subject

may please be through private mail. Mails may be addressed

to "Sri_ranga_Sri" and NOT to the "" address. Thanks.

Dasoham

Anbil Ramaswamy