Vegetarianism

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Dear List

 

The following is the response from Milena... We had to edit out the earlier message

at the tail end.... Please edit out long tails of previous messages when replying.

 

We have discussed the Vegetarian issue at length so let us now move on to another

topic. jay Vivekananda Centre London

 

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milena kiriakova

Ramakrishna

Tuesday, January 06, 2004 10:30

Re: [sri Ramakrishna] Digest Number 1675

 

Dear Pradip,

I think the word "killing" could not be applied equally for animals and plants. Does one "kill" a plant when he takes or cuts its leaves but doesn't touch its roots? In a month or two there will be new leaves. Do I "kill" a fruit tree if I eat an apple? If you reply to this that an apple itself is a living being I would say that it is may be true and all the same an apple is not in such a degree differentiated, completed living being with relatively independant soul as an animal. I also think the word "pain" could be applied in the same manner we use that word for human's or animal's pains because the reason we feel "pain" is nerve system. I think it is possible and very likely plants to experience some suffering but it is not "pain" as we understand this word.

 

I think moreover things could not be devided in "balck and white" so one could not say: this is the frontier between animated and inanimated beings - may be everything in universe is animated. That is why, it depends on a man's understandings what he will destroy in order to eat; but it is necessary for him to eat something because otherwise he will dye and this is a 100 per cent killing! I personally think I could not eat an animal (now) because I have seen how an animal dyes. You are may be right we are not able to percieve a plant's suffering which does not mean this suffering does not exist, but I would say one more time - I think killing or destroying of animals and plants are two different things.

With best wishes,Milena