“Ahimsa is the highest duty.”

The primary rule in #Hinduism, #Jainism and #Buddhism is “dharma”

And the first of all dharma is “ahiṃsā” (non-violence) - this starts with food.

The idea that human being don’t kill any life-forms for food.

@TIinExile @Aabhas24 @truejainology

करुणाmeans more than just being nice.

Being kind to all living entities, not just to humans, but also to animals, birds, insects, etc..

This is because the living entity, depending on its consciousness, can take a material body in any one of the 8,400,000 species of life.

Therefore, to develop and maintain the quality of mercy, one must follow the principle of no meat eating.

This includes no eating of meat, fish, eggs, or insects.

In this way, Spiritual path remain free from so many unnecessary karmic reactions.

Karmameans that for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction.

Image - The knots represent the interlinking notion of कर्म.

Killing an animal to eat is certainly an act of violence that creates a negative reaction in the atmosphere which returns as more violence.

This comes back to us as reversals in life which we must endure in the future.

To kill other living entities for the pleasure of the tongue is a cruel & selfish activity that requires one to be almost completely blind to the spiritual reality.

It also causes one to remain hard-hearted & less sensitive to the concern for the wellbeing & feelings of others.

As previously explained, according to the law of karma, whatever pain we cause for others we will have to suffer in the future.

Therefore, a wise soul does not even want to harm an insect if possible, what to speak of slaughtering an animal in order to taste its flesh & blood.

LORD KRISHNA'S INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT TO EAT IN BHAGAVAD-GITA

Krishna says in B.G “The devotees of Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first for sacrifice. Others,who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment,verily eat only sin.”Bg.3.13

So, food should be first offered in sacrifice, or ritual, but what ritual is this?

He explains quite clearly that all food, as well as anything else, should first be offered to Him.

“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it."

O son of Kunti, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me.

.. In this way you will be freed from all reactions to good and evil deeds, and by this principle of renunciation you will be liberated and come to Me.” (Bg.9.26-28)

Furthermore, what is meant to be offered to the Lord is outlined as a leaf (most vegetables consist of leafy substances), flowers or fruits (which consist of grains, nuts, and fruits and juices), and water.

Thus, no meat is mentioned.

There are a number of reasons for this..

One of which is that food that is acquired through cruelty is in the mode of tamas, or darkness and ignorance, or in the mode of rajas, passion, which causes pain and distress to both the eater and the eaten.

This is completely counterproductive to our own well-being, both in the present and in our future, and certainly causes pain and suffering to others.

So, how can this be beneficial to anyone’s spiritual, mental, emotional, and subtle development?

Another reason why no meat is mentioned as being acceptable to Lord Krishna is that the soul,

which is a part and parcel of the Lord Himself, is equally present in not only humans, but all species of life.

“The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [or outcaste].” (Bg.5.18)

Thus, a wise person recognises the value of life, the soul, within all species of living beings.

Because he recognises the soul in all bodies, he does not cause any cruelty to them.

Cruelty or suffering inflicted on any living being will certainly cause harm to ourselves and regression in our own development, spiritual or otherwise.

Compassion and kindness to all beings is how we make spiritual progress.

“One who is not envious but who is a kind friend to all living entities,
who does not think himself a proprietor,
who is free from false ego and equal both in happiness and distress...

...who is always satisfied and engaged in devotional service with determination and whose mind and intelligence are in agreement with Me — he is very dear to Me.” (Bg.12.13-14)

Thus, this sort of nonviolence that is exhibited toward others, as when one abstains from eating meat,
is a godly quality, as Krishna further explains in B.G (16.2-3) :
ahimsa/nonviolence is one of the transcendental qualities that belong to godly men endowed with divine nature

THE QUESTION OF WHETHER LORD RAMA ATE MEAT IN THE RAMAYANA

There is no verse in Valmiki’s Ramayana that establishes that Lord Rama, Lakshmana or Sita ate meat while in or even out of exile.
In fact, it seems to show that He very much disliked the notion of eating meat.

The evidence for this is as follows :

The verse that comes in question in this regard in the Valmiki Ramayana, Sundarakanda, Skanda 36, Sloka 41, says:

“Na mamsam Raghava bhunkte, na chaiva madhu sevate, Vanyam suvihitam nityam bhaktamsnati panchamam.”

The literal translation of this verse is:

“Sri Rama does not take meat or honey. He partakes everyday of wild fruits and boiled (wild) rice fully sanctioned (for an ascetic) in the evening.”

No violence against animals

Aghnyaa yajamaanasya pashoonpahi
Yajurveda 1.1

“O human! animals are Aghnya – not to be killed. Protect the animals”

Pashunstraayethaam
Yajurveda 6.11

Protect the animals.

Dwipaadava Chatushpaatpaahi
Yajurveda 14.8

Protect the bipeds and quadrupeds!

Breehimattam yavamattamatho maashamatho tilam
Esha vaam bhaago nihito ratnadheyaaya dantau maa hinsishtam pitaram maataram cha
Atharvaveda 6.140.2

eat rice,barley, sesame.
These cereals are specifically meant for you.
Do not kill those who are capable of being fathers & mothers.

No violence in Yajna

Yajna never meant animal sacrifice in the sense popularly understood. Yajna in the Vedas meant a noble deed or the highest purifying action.

Adhvara iti Yajnanaama – Dhvaratihimsaakarmaa tatpratishedhah
Nirukta 2.7

According to Yaaska Acharya, one of the synonyms of Yajna in Nirukta or the Vedic philology is Adhvara.

Dhvara means an act with himsa or violence.

And therefore a-dhvara means an act involving no himsa or no violence.

There are a large number of such usage of Adhvara in the Vedas.

Agne yam yagnamadhvaram vishwatah pari bhuurasi
Sa id deveshu gacchati
Rigveda 1.1.4

O lord of effulgence! The non-violent Yajna, you prescribe from all sides, is beneficial for all, touches divine proportions and is accepted by noble souls.

It’s interesting to note what Yajurveda says about a horse.

Aswamedha does not mean horse sacrifice at Yajna. Instead the Yajurveda clearly mentions that a horse ought not to be slaughtered.

Raashtram vaa ashwamedhah
Annam hi gau
Agnirvaa ashwah
Aajyam medhah
(Shatpath 13.1.6.3)

A Yajna dedicated to the glory, wellbeing and prosperity of the Rashtra the nation or empire is known as the Ashwamedh yajna.

“To keep food pure/ to keep senses under control/ to make the food pure /to make a good use of the rays of Sun/ keep the earth free from impurities is called Gomedha Yajna”

Word Gau also means Earth & the yajna dedicated to keep Earth environment clean is called Gomedha Yajna”