Slugs etc..

[Guest guest]

Dear Prabhus

 

There are a few differing views being presented regarding the vaisnava

approach to the members of the garden that are not cooperating with us. Agin

I would like to present the following quote from Srimad Bhagavatam 7.14.9

which i think goves some direction on this subject.

 

"One should treat animals such as deer, camelsm asses, monkeys, mice,

snakes, birds and flies exactly like ones own son. How lkittle difference

there actually is betwen chil;dren and these innocent animals"

 

'Purport..Unfortunately, modern society has devised many means for killing

animals in different forms of life. For example, in the agricultural fields

there may be many mice, flies and other creatures that disturb productioon,

and sometimes they are killed by persticides. In this verse, however, such

killing is forbidden. Every living entity should be nourished by the food

given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead'

 

I have heard a story or perhaps I read it somewhere, that in New Vrndavana

thee was a rabbit problem and when Sriala Prabhupada was asked what to do He

said grow enough for the rabbits. Could any opf you long term New

Vrndavanits please confirm or otherwise.

 

In the Manu Samhita it talks practically of keeping out unwanted animals in

the agricultural fields. There it is mentioned that one should grow a hedge

tall enough that a camel cannot see over the top and dense enough that a dog

or a pig cannot push its head through. (MS 8.239) The point I am making is

that one can defend ones property and crops with barriers but one cannot

kill directly the living entities.

 

The point raised by Nistula is what is the difference in direct or indirect

killing. Can we keep ducks for example?.

 

We should not kill anything but can we arrange for other living entities

to?. Does anybody have any tangible sastric evidence as to the position of

the vaisnava in this connection?.

 

ys

Syamasundar dasa

Bhaktivedanta Manor