Skip to content

 Home
 Temple
 ISKCON
 Teachings
 Activities
 Festivals
 Congregation
 Multimedia
 Contact
 Donate

What’s wrong with eating meat

Please take some time reading this article as you will get some information behind eating meat.
Ultimately it’s for your own benefit and benefit for the whole world.

Generally people say what’s wrong with eating meat?

People might then question, but I am not actually killing the animal but just eating, is that wrong
too?
Plants and Vegetables are also living being is it not a sin to kill them for food too?
Do animals have a soul?
What does the Bhagavad Gita Tells us about the food which we eat?
What are the Characteristics of the 3 Modes and what it leads to?
What if people who want to continue to eat meat?
What does other religions say about Meat Eating?
Table displays Features of different entities’ diets:
What is wrong in eating Onions and Garlic?
Why don’t Hare Krishna’s eat meat?
Meat – Not A Human Food.
Conclusion
 Generally people say what’s wrong with eating meat?

Every living being has a specific purpose for its existence. The purpose, definitely, is other than
being killed and eaten by others. In the Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna says sarva–yonishu
kaunteya (BG, 14.4): “In every living being there is a spirit soul.” That means even in the
animals there is a soul, so we do not have the right to kill or eat flesh. Just as there are
government laws, so there are laws of nature, or God Laws. If we kill then that binds us to
Karma, and we will get the reaction. The analogy of Karma means ‘To every action there is an
equal opposite reaction’. So either we do good or bad karma, we are still binding ourselves more
to this material world. Also just by seeing a meat dish on your plate does not mean everything is
ok, there has been so much violence gone into it before you see the finishing product. Lord
Krishna says that he is the original father of all living entities (aham bija-pradah pita – BG, 14.4),
so we do not have the right to kill anyone. If we do not have the right to give life to a living
creature we also do not have the right to kill them unnecessarily. A Devotee is full of compassion
and he cannot see anyone suffer, even the animals.

People might then question, but I am not actually killing the animal but just eating, is that
wrong too?

The Manu Samhita scriptures tells us that all the people get the reaction for being involved with
meat:-

Naakrtvaa praaninaam himsaam maamsamutpadyate kvachit. Na cha praanivadhah

svargyastamaanmaamsam vivarjayet. (MS 5.48)

Anumantaa vishasitaa nihantaa krayavikrayii. Samskartaa chopahartaa cha

khaadakashchetighaatakaah (MS 5.51)

Flesh of animals is obtained only after killing him, which is a sin, and the killer of animals never
enters the celestial abode.
All those involved in killing, consenting the killing, helping the killing, carrying, selling, buying,
cooking and eating the meat of an animal are equally sinful as the killing of that animal.

The person who eats meat is also encouraging and in one sense supporting the killing. For
example if few dacoits goes to rob a house, and one stands outside the house to look out and
other few dacoits steal from the house, if they get caught everyone will be punished by the laws,
because the person who was outside was also supporting the crime. Similarly, one who eats
meat is also involved and is liable for punishment.

Plants and Vegetables are also living being is it not a sin to kill them for food too?

This explanation is given in Srimad Bhagavatam (3.29.15) purport by the founder Srila
Prabhupada:

“Sometimes the question is put before us: “You ask us not to eat meat, but you are eating
vegetables. Do you think that is not violence?” The answer is that eating vegetables is violence,
and vegetarians are also committing violence against other living entities because vegetables also
have life. Non-devotees are killing cows, goats and so many other animals for eating purposes,
and a devotee, who is vegetarian, is also killing. But here, significantly, it is stated that every
living entity has to live by killing another entity; that is the law of nature. Jīvo jīvasya jīvanam:
one living entity is the life for another living entity. But for a human being, that violence should
be committed only as much as necessary.

A human being is not to eat anything which is not offered to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. Yajna-sistasinah santah: one becomes freed from all sinful reactions by eating
foodstuffs which are offered to Yajna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A devotee therefore
eats only prasada, or foodstuffs offered to the Supreme Lord, and Krishna says that when a
devotee offers Him foodstuffs from the vegetable kingdom, with devotion, He eats that. A
devotee is to offer to Krishna foodstuffs prepared from vegetables. If the Supreme Lord wanted
foodstuffs prepared from animal food, the devotee could offer this, but He does not order to do
that.”

So yes even plants and vegetables have souls and killing them unnecessarily and for personal
sense gratification causes sin, that’s why it is recommended to offer the vegetarian food to Lord
Krishna first then later eat that food as Prashadam or mercy. Lord Krishna can do anything so he
transforms the food offered to him into spiritual food, this will free us from sin and karmic
reactions.

Eating only food offered to Krishna is the ultimate perfection of the vegetarian diet. After all,
pigeons and monkeys are also vegetarian, so becoming a vegetarian is not in itself the greatest of
accomplishments. The Vedas inform us that the purpose of human life is to reawaken the soul to
its relationship with God, and only when we go beyond vegetarianism to prasada can our eating
be helpful in achieving this goal.

Do animals have a soul?

Srila Prabhupada: Some people say, “We believe that animals have no soul.” That is not
correct. They believe animals have no soul because they want to eat the animals, but actually
animals do have a soul.

Reporter: How do you know that the animal has a soul?

Srila Prabhupada: You can know, also. Here is the scientific proof… the animal is eating, you
are eating; the animal is sleeping, you are sleeping; the animal is defending, you are defending;
the animal is having sex, you are having sex; the animals have children, you have children; they
have a living place, you have a living place. If the animal’s body is cut, there is blood; if your
body is cut, there is blood. So, all these similarities are there. Now, why do you deny this one
similarity, the presence of the soul? That is not logical. You have studied logic? In logic there is
something called analogy. Analogy means drawing a conclusion by finding many points of
similarity. If there are so many points of similarity between human beings and animals, why
deny one similarity? That is not logic. That is not science. Science of Self-Realization (pp. 35-36)

At a monastic retreat near Paris, in July of 1973, Srila Prabhupada talked with Cardinal Jean
Danielou: “… the Bible does not simply say, ‘Do not kill the human being.’ It says broadly,
‘Thou shalt not kill.’… why do you interpret this to suit your own convenience?”

Student: Srila Prabhupada, Christianity’s sanction of meat-eating is based on the view that lower
species of life do not have a soul like the human being’s.

Srila Prabhupada: That is foolishness. First of all, we have to understand the evidence of the
soul’s presence within the body. Then we can see whether the human being has a soul and the
cow does not. What are the different characteristics of the cow and the man? If we find a
difference in characteristics, then we can say that in the animal there is no soul. But if we see that
the animal and the human being have the same characteristics, then how can you say that the
animal has no soul? The general symptoms are that the animal eats, you eat; the animal sleeps,
you sleep; the animal mates, you mate; the animal defends, and you defend. Where is the
difference?

Cardinal Danielou: We admit that in the animal there may be the same type of biological
existence as in men, but there is no soul. We believe that the soul is a human soul.

Srila Prabhupada: Our Bhagavad-gita says sarva-yonisu, “In all species of life the soul exists.”
The body is like a suit of clothes. You have black clothes; I am dressed in saffron clothes. But
within the dress you are a human being, and I am also a human being. Similarly, the bodies of
the different species are just like different types of dress. There are soul, a part and parcel of
God. Suppose a man has two sons, not equally meritorious. One may be a Supreme Court judge
and the other may be a common laborer, but the father claims both as his sons. He does not make
the distinction that the son who is a judge is very important and the worker-son is not important.
And if the judge-son says, “My dear father, your other son is useless; let me cut him up and eat
him,” will the father allow this?
Cardinal Danielou: Certainly not, but the idea that all life is part of the life of God is difficult
for us to admit. There is a great difference between human life and animal life.

Srila Prabhupada: That difference is due to the development of consciousness. In the human
body there is developed consciousness. Even a tree has a soul, but a tree’s consciousness is not
very developed. If you cut a tree it does not resist. Actually, it does resist, but only to a very
small degree. There is a scientist named Jagadish Chandra Bose who has made a machine which
shows that trees and plants are able to feel pain when they are cut. And we can see directly that
when someone comes to kill an animal, it resists, it cries, it makes a horrible sound. So it is a
matter of the development of consciousness. But the soul is there within all living beings.

Cardinal Danielou: But metaphysically, the life of man is sacred. Human beings think on a
higher platform than the animals do.

Srila Prabhupada: What is that higher platform? The animal eats to maintain his body, and you
also eat in order to maintain your body. The cow eats grass in the field, and the human being eats
meat from a huge slaughterhouse full of modern machines. But just because you have big
machines and a ghastly scene, while the animal simply eats grass, this does not mean that you are
so advanced that only within your body is there a soul and that there is not a soul within the body
of the animal. That is illogical. We can see that the basic characteristics are the same in the
animal and the human being.

Cardinal Danielou: But only in human beings do we find a metaphysical search for the meaning
of life.

Srila Prabhupada: Yes. So metaphysically search out why you believe that there is no soul
within the animal–that is metaphysics. If you are thinking metaphysically, that’s all right. But if
you are thinking like an animal, then what is the use of your metaphysical study? Metaphysical
means “above the physical” or, in other words, “spiritual.” In the Bhagavad-gita Krsna says,
sarva-yonisu kaunteya: “In every living being there is a spirit soul.” That is metaphysical
understanding. Now either you accept Krsna’s teachings as metaphysical, or you’ll have to take a
third-class fool’s opinion as metaphysical. Which do you accept?

Cardinal Danielou: But why does God create some animals who eat other animals? There is a
fault in the creation, it seems.

Srila Prabhupada: It is not a fault. God is very kind. If you want to eat animals, then He’ll give
you full facility. God will give you the body of a tiger in your next life so that you can eat flesh
very freely. “Why are you maintaining slaughterhouses? I’ll give you fangs and claws. Now eat.”
So the meat-eaters are awaiting such punishment. The animal-eaters become tigers, wolves, cats,
and dogs in their next life–to get more facility.”

Science of Self-Realization, Chapter 4

What does the Bhagavad Gita Tells us about the food which we eat?
We have to understand that Foods are in 3 different categories or Modes of Nature, which are:
Goodness, Passion, and Ignorance. The following verses are in the Bhagavad Gita:-

BG 17.8: Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one’s
existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, fatty,
wholesome, and pleasing to the heart.

BG 17.9: Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry and burning are dear to those
in the mode of passion. Such foods cause distress, misery and disease.

BG 17.10: Food prepared more than three hours before being eaten, food that is tasteless,
decomposed and putrid, and food consisting of remnants and untouchable things is dear to those
in the mode of darkness.

Meat falls in the category of ignorance, it is tamasic food. Whichever food we eat affects our
consciousness. Eating meat invokes the quality of ignorance. In the mode of Ignorance spiritual
life becomes very troublesome to follow, our mind will not be able to focus, but there are also
bad karmic reactions which we will have to suffer, this maybe in this life, after death or in the
next life.

Meat eating has a very bad effect on our spiritual life and we are in danger to become the slave
of our own senses, which we never can satisfy. And then in the afterlife it is very likely that we
meet the animals we ate or killed. But this time they will be the human and we the animal. In this
world we can’t do anything without bearing the reactions of our karma. What we have done to
others, we have done to ourselves. It’s Karma.

What are the Characteristics of the 3 Modes and what it leads to?

Mode of GOODNESS

Knowledge, inner satisfaction and happiness, purity, cleanliness, selflessness, compassion, self-
control (based on knowledge), tolerance, patience, controlled mind and senses, sense of duty,
caring, generosity, honesty, austerity (pain now for higher purpose), wisdom, religiosity,
humility, regulated habits (incl sleep, eating etc), well-organised, steady in purpose, well-
behaved, forgiving, simple-minded, merciful, satisfied, peaceful, respectful of others.

I.e. selflessness

Mode of PASSION

Agitated mind and senses, intense activity to fulfil desires of mind/senses, lust (ie self-motivated
love), strong desire for sensual/bodily pleasures, greed, endless desires, never satisfied, passion,
selfishness, ego/pride/vanity, self-glorification, acting for immediate pleasure without thinking of
consequences, hankering then lamenting, expecting/demanding honour for oneself, overly strong
attachment to one’s own body and relatives.
I.e. Me, me, me, selfishness.

Mode of IGNORANCE/DARKNESS

Enviousness, hatred, revengeful (i.e. not forgiving), madness, foolishness, unnecessary killing or
bloodshed or violence, anger, laziness, too much/too little sleep, delusion, ignorance, not
knowing right from wrong, overly-critical, chaotic, unclean, over-attachment, uncontrolled
stress, fear, hard-hearted, animalistic, depression, disease, obsessive love, cruelty, evilness,
harshness, no-respect for anything, torture, deceitful, cheating, merciless, abusive (physical or
verbal), arrogant.

I.e. Destructive qualities

These are the Characteristics which we can develop by associating with certain modes. Meat
eating can lead to destructive qualities.

What if people who want to continue to eat meat?

There is a very tight restriction if someone wants to eat meat, for example:

People have to worship Kali Maa because she accepts meat as an offering. This is a concession
only. It is only for those who are so addicted that they can’t give it up. The process is that once a
month, on a dark moon night (i.e. no moon), they’re allowed to take some lesser animal, like a
goat/pig, and they take it out into the country, where no other people are around, or in the temple
grounds (of Kali Maa), and then they chant “Mam sa khadatiti mamsah” … ie “whatever I am
doing to you, you can do to me in my next life”. Then they personally have to slit the throat of
the animal.

Mam sa khadatiti mamsah. The Sanskrit word is mamsa. Mam means “me,” and sa means “he.” I
am killing this animal; I am eating him. And in my next lifetime he’ll kill me and eat me. When
the animal is sacrificed, this mantra is recited into the ear of the animal—”You are giving your
life, so in your next life you will get the opportunity of becoming a human being. And I who am
now killing you will become an animal, and you will kill me.”

So one day the person will wake up… hang on a sec… what I am doing to you, you can do to
me… NO! I don’t want to be killed by you in my next life. Also after understanding this mantra,
who will be ready to kill an animal?

This process of worshipping Kali Maa is for people who have a lower grade of consciousness,
the mode of ignorance. People of a higher grade of consciousness do not wish to kill any kind of
animals because they know that a soul is present within that body, and that the animals do feel
great pain at the time of death. So they choose to eat so many other foods, which are free from
any kind of blood or flesh, and free from any kind of slaughter.

They say, you are what you eat. So if we eat meat, we develop animalistic qualities. And why do
you want to make your stomach into a graveyard for animals? Think about it!
It is clearly stated in Vedic literature that cruel masters who kill innocent animals will
undoubtedly be killed in the next life by a similar process.

mam sa bhaksayitamutra yasya mamsam ihadmy aham etan mamsasya mamsatvam pravadanti
manisinah

“That creature whose flesh I am eating here and now will consume me in the next life.’ Thus
meat is called mamsa, as described by learned authorities.” In Srimad-Bhagavatam this grizzly
fate of animal killers is described by Narada Muni to King Pracinabarhi, who was excessively
killing animals in the so-called sacrifices.

Narada uvaca bho bhoh prajapate rajan pasun pasya tvayadhvare samjnapitan jiva-sanghan
nirghrnena sahasrasah

ete tvam sampratiksante smaranto vaisasam tava samparetam ayah-kutais chindanty utthita-
manyavah

“O ruler of the citizens, my dear King, please see in the sky those animals which you have
sacrificed, without compassion and without mercy, in the sacrificial arena. All these animals are
awaiting your death so that they can avenge the injuries you have inflicted upon them. After you
die, they will angrily pierce your body with iron horns.” (SB 4.25.7-8) Such punishment of
animal killers may take place under the jurisdiction of Yamaraja on the planet of the lord of
death. In other words, one who kills an animal or who eats meat undoubtedly acquires a debt to
the living entity who has contributed his body for the satisfaction of the meat-eater. The meat-
eater must pay his debt by contributing his own body to be consumed in the next life. Such
payment of one’s debt by offering one’s own body to be eaten is confirmed in the Vedic
literature.

What does other religions say about Meat Eating?

Indeed all the major religions advocate the ideals of vegetarianism:

1. The Annushasen Parva, Mahabharat says “Undoubtedly all those human beings who
prefer meat to several forms of food are like vultures.”
2. The Manusmrti says “All supporters of meat eating are sinners.” It further states, “One
whose meat I eat will eat my flesh in the next life.”
3. The Christian Faith also says in Genesis (1.29) “Behold, I have given you every herb-
bearing tree in which the fruit of the tree-yielding seed, it unto you shall be for food.”
4. Guru Nanak, Founder of the Sikh Faith, said “My disciples do not take meat and wine.”
5. Lord Buddha said, “Meat is food for sub-human beings”.
6. The Acharang Sutra of the Jain Faith said, “All creatures desire self-preservation, hence
no creature should be slaughtered.”
7. Gandhiji said “I do feel that spiritual progress does demand at some stage that we should
cease to kill our fellow creatures for the satisfaction of our bodily wants.”
8. Islam, Prophet Muhammad “whoever is kind to the creatures of God, is kind to
himself”
All major religious scriptures enjoin man to live without killing unnecessarily. The Old
Testament instructs, “Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13) This is traditionally misinterpreted as
referring only to murder. But the original Hebrew is lo tirtzach, which clearly translates “Thou
shalt not kill.” Dr. Reuben Alcalay’s Complete Hebrew/English Dictionary says that the word
tirtzach, especially in classical Hebrew usage, refers to “any kind of killing,” and not necessarily
the murder of a human being.

Although the Old Testament contains some prescriptions for meat-eating, it is clear that the ideal
situation is vegetarianism, In Genesis (1:29) we find God Himself proclaiming, “Behold, I have
given you every herb-bearing tree, in which the fruit of the tree yielding seed, it unto you shall be
for meat.” And in later books of the Bible, major prophets condemn meat-eating.

For many Christians, major stumbling blocks are the belief that Christ ate meat and the many
references to meat in the New Testament. But close study of the original Greek manuscripts
shows that the vast majority of the words translated as “meat” and “trophe, brome,” and other
words that simply mean “food” or “eating” in the broadest sense. For example, in the Gospel of
St. Luke (8:55) we read that Jesus raised a woman from the dead and “commanded to give her
meat.” The original Greek word translated as “meat” is “phago,” which means only “to eat.” The
Greek word for meat is kreas (“flesh”), and it is never used in connection with Christ. Nowhere
in the New Testament is there any direct reference to Jesus eating meat. This is in line with
Isaiah’s famous prophecy about Jesus’s appearance, “Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a
son, and shall call him name Emmanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to
refuse the evil and choose the good.”

In Thus Spoke Mohammed (the translation of the Hadith by Dr. M.Hafiz Syed), the disciples of
the prophet Mohammed ask him, “Verily are there rewards for our doing good to quadrupeds,
and giving them water to drink?” Mohammed answers, “There are rewards for benefiting every
animal.”

Lord Buddha is known particularly for His preaching against animal killing. He established
ahimsa (nonviolence) and vegetarianism as fundamental steps on the path of self-awareness and
spoke the following two maxims, “Do not butcher the ox that plows thy fields,” and “Do not
indulge a voracity that involves the slaughter of animals.”

The Vedic scriptures of India, which predate Buddhism, also stress nonviolence as the ethical
foundation of vegetarianism. “Meat can never be obtained without injury to living creatures,”
states the ,manu-samhita, the ancient Indian code of law, “Let one therefore shun the use of
meat.” In another section, the Manu-samhita warns “Having well considered the disgusting
origin of flesh and the cruelty of fettering and slaying of corporeal beings, let one entirely abstain
from eating flesh.”

In the Mahabharata (the epic poem which contains 100,000 verses and is said to be the longest
poem in the world), there are many injunctions against killing animals. Some examples:

“He who desires to increase the flesh of his own body by eating the flesh of other creatures lives
in misery in whatever species he may take his birth.”;
“Who can be more cruel and selfish than he who augments his flesh by eating the flesh of
innocent animals?”; and

“Those who desire to possess good memory, beauty, long life with perfect health, and physical,
moral and spiritual strength, should abstain from animal food.”

All living entities possess a soul. In the Bhagavad-Gita, Krishna describes the soul as the source
of consciousness and the active principle that activates the body of every living being.

According to the Vedas, a soul in a form lower than human automatically evolves to the next
higher species, ultimately arriving at the human form. Only in the human form of life can the
soul turn its consciousness towards God and at the time of death be transferred back to the
spiritual world. In both the social order and the universal order, a human being must obey laws.

In his Srimad-Bhagavatam purports, Srila Prabhupada says, “All living entities have to fulfil a
certain duration for being encaged in a particular type of material body. They have to finish the
duration allotted in a particular body before being promoted or evolved to another body. Killing
an animal or any other living simply places an impediment in the way of his completing his term
of imprisonment in a certain body. One should therefore not kill bodies for one’s sense
gratification, for this will implicate one in sinful activity.” In short, killing an animal interrupts
its progressive evolution through the species, and the killer will invariably suffer the reaction for
this sinful behaviour.

In the Bhagavad-Gita (5.18) Krishna explains that spiritual perfection begins when one can see
the equality of all living beings, “The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal
vision a learned and gentle brahmana (a priest), a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater
(outcast).” Krishna also instructs us to adopt the principles of spiritual vegetarianism when He
states, “Offer Me with love and devotion a fruit, a flower, a leaf, or water, and I will accept it.”

Table displays Features of different entities’ diets:

Meat eater Plant eater Human

Licks and drinks Sucks and drinks Sucks and drinks
Sharp, pointed front teeth
No sharp, pointed teeth No sharp, pointed teeth
to tear flesh
Has claws No claws No claws
Intestinal tract only three Intestinal tract 10-12 times body Intestinal tract 10-12 times body
times body length, sothat length. Fruits donot decay as length. Fruits donot decay as
rapidly decaying meat can rapidly as meat so can pass more rapidly as meat so can pass more
pass out of body quickly slowlythrouogh body slowlythrouogh body
Small salivary glands in
Well-developed salivary glands Well-developed salivary glands
the mouth (not needed to
needed to pre-digest grains amd needed to pre-digest grains amd
pre-digest grains and
fruits fruits
fruits)
Acid saliva. No enzyme Alkaline saliva. Much ptyalin to Alkaline saliva. Much ptyalin to
ptyalin to pre-digest grains pre-digest grains pre-digest grains
No flat back molar teeth to Flat back molar teeth to grind Flat back molar teeth to grind
grind food food food
They can see during night Cannot see during night Cannot see during night
Can kill the prey without Cannot generally kill without the
Do not kill to eat
aid of weapons aid of weapon
They can digest raw meat
Do not eat meat Cannot digest raw meat easily
easily
Behaviour is generally Behaviour is not generally Becomes voracious by eating
voracious voracious meat
Do not eat grass Do not eat meat Should not eat meat
No skin pores. Perspires
Perspires through millions of skin Perspires through millions of skin
through the tongue to
pores pores
coolbody

What is wrong in eating Onions and Garlic?

According to the Bhagavad Gita and the Ayurveda, India’s classic medical science, foods are
grouped into three categories – sattvic, rajasic and tamasic – foods in the modes of goodness,
passion and ignorance. Onions and garlic, and the other alliaceous plants are classified as rajasic
and tamasic, which means that they increase passion and ignorance.

As per the story below onion and garlic came from the dead body of a cow and therefore they are
considered like eating meat. They break the non-vegetarian principle from the shastric point of
view. Strict vegetarians don’t eat onions nor garlic. Since meat is tamasic, onions and garlic are
also tamasic and rajasic food. They may have some medicinal value like even wine is used in
medicines sometimes. Thus they are taboo for followers of Vedic culture.

“Once, in Satya Yuga the rishis were performing gomedha and asvamedha sacrifices for the
welfare of the whole universe. The rishis would utter mantras and the same animal which was
sacrificed would come alive in a beautiful young body.

One time the rishi who was about to perform a gomedha sacrifice, his wife was pregnant. She
had a very strong desire to eat and she had heard that if, during pregnancy one has a desire to eat
and does not fulfil this, then the baby that will be born will always have saliva coming from its
mouth. Very strange, she desired strongly to eat meat, thus she decided to keep one piece of meat
of the cow’s body that was offered in sacrifice. She hid it and was making a plan to eat it very
soon. At that time the rishi was finishing the sacrifice and uttered all the mantras for the new
young cow to come to life. However when he saw the new cow, he noticed that there was a little
part missing from her left side. He went into meditation and realized that his wife had taken
away a piece of meat during the sacrifice. Now his wife also understood what happened and
quickly threw the meat far away. Due to the effect of the mantras uttered by the rishi there was
now life in this piece of meat. Then the blood of this meat became red lentils, the bones became
garlic and the meat became onions.
Thus these foods are never taken by any Vaishnava situated in the mode of goodness as
Vaishnavas should be because it is not considered by us as offerable due to its association as a
non-vegetarian food. Plus it is in the mode of ignorance.” “It is not vegetarian to eat onions and
garlic.

One ayurvedic doctor said that this description is there in Ayurveda:

When Lord Vishnu in His Mohini form was distributing nectar to the demigods two demons
named Rahu and Ketu sat down in the line of Demigods. By mistake the Lord served them
nectar into their mouths. Immediately the Lord was informed by Sun and Moon that those two
were demons. As soon as the Lord came to know this information He cut off the heads of both
demons. By that time nectar had not passed through their throat. It was still in their mouth. When
the Lord cut of their head , the head was separated from the body. Thus nectar did not pass
through to the stomach but fell on the ground. (That is the reason why Rahu and Ketu’s head are
still alive and their body was finished.) The nectar which was put into their mouth fell on the
ground when their heads were cut off from the body. Garlic and Onion manifested from this
nectar.

Thus Garlic and Onion are regarded as nectar but not used for Lord because these are remnants
of demons touched the mouth of two demons. Even if nectar touched the mouths of two demons
still garlic and onion act like nectar in curing the diseases. But not meant for Vishnu or
Vaishnavas. The ayurvedic doctor also said that whoever will eat garlic and onion, their body
will be very strong like demons body and at the same time their intelligence also will be
contaminated like the intelligence of demons.

Srila Prabhupada was once asked about Onions and Garlic, he narrated the below story:

Srila Prabhupada said that eating onion and garlic is as bad as eating cow’s flesh, he recited the
below story about a Muslim king, a cow and a brahmana.

For the Muslims, cow slaughter is a regular affair. This particular king however, before having
the cow slaughtered would call a brahmana and the brahmana would offer prayers to the effect
that “In this life these people are slaughtering you, but in the next life you will get the chance
to slaughter them.”

So one time a brahmana came there but he felt lusty and he wanted to eat the cow’s flesh also.
However, the system was that he was not allowed to see the slaughter going on, he was supposed
to offer his prayers and then leave. So he hid in a corner and witnessed the butchering. After the
Muslims had all taken their share of the dead cow and departed, the brahmana came to that spot
and he found an ankle of the cow. Because he was not supposed to eat any meat, he took the
cow’s ankle into the forest and buried it with the plan that he would return in the night, cook it
and eat it. When he came back he dug out the cow’s ankle and found to his great surprise that it
had turned into onion and garlic.

Srila Prabhupada then said that the cow’s hoof transformed to garlic and the ankle became onion;
garlic looks like a cow’s hoof, and just as the cow’s ankle has several layers of flesh similarly
the onion has several layers and is the color of flesh. He finished the narration by telling them
that when you eat garlic it makes a bad smell come in your mouth and when you cut onion it
makes tears come out of your eyes. The tears come because the cow was crying that in Kali yuga
even the brahmana wants to eat onion.

Why don’t Hare Krishna’s eat meat?

Animals are children of Krishna, created by God with a soul. Therefore, to eat an animal is an
affront to God. Moreover, it’s bad for your consciousness: Because the slaughter of animals is
violent, when you eat meat, fish or fowl, you are subjecting yourself to more violent thoughts
and, perhaps, violent behaviour.

Cooking is intertwined with spirituality. Hare Krishna’s believe they are cooking for the pleasure
of God. They never sample the food they are cooking, since it must be offered to Krishna first.
Moreover, also it is said that food absorbs the consciousness of the cook.

If you are angry and elbow deep in the lentils or kneading dough for chapattis (unleavened
bread), the philosophy claims that your emotions are transferred to the food — and then to the
person who eats the meal.

It is one reason monks don’t go to restaurants, because it raises the question, “Whose
consciousness are you eating today?”

Meat – Not A Human Food.

Meat is not a human food. No flesh of any animal, bird, fish or egg etc. is a human food. Meat is
not only unhealthy for the body; it poisons the mind, the intellect and the soul. Eating meat is
totally forbidden in the Vedic scriptures. Rishi Manu in Manusmiriti says:

1. “He who does not restrain, kill or hurt the living beings, is pro-life and gets lots of
happiness.”
2. “You cannot get meat without killing, and killing does not give happiness. Therefore one
should not eat meat.”
3. “Because of the way the meat is produced, the killing and torturing the animals; one
ought to stay away from eating all kinds of meat.”
4. “Any body, who kills innocent creatures in order to get happiness; he living and even
after death does not get happiness.”
5. “He, who orders to kill animals; he who cuts the flesh; he who kills the animals; seller
and buyer of animals for killing; he who cooks meat; he who serves meat and he who eats
meat these are all killers and sinner.

Vedas speak of caring and protecting animals:

1. Yajur Veda says: Oh Humans! You do not kill sheep, cow, horse etc.
2. In Yajur Veda there is a prayer: O God! Protect my people and animals.
 3. Atharva Veda says: Oh cruel man! If you kill our animals like cows, horses, etc. or
humans; then we will put you to death so that you will not be able kill them again.
4. Mahabharta says: He who wants to live, how he can kill others? Humans should wish for
others, what they wish for themselves.
5. Rig Veda tells: Do not kill our cows and horses.
6. Atharva Veda says: He, who eats raw meat, he who eats human flesh and he who eats
eggs: they all ought to be destroyed altogether.

In regards to eating, Vedas talk about grains like wheat, oat rice etc., fruits and vegetables, milk,
butter etc. Meat eating is not allowed at all. Dr. Field writes, every living being knows the life’s
happiness and fear of death. He feels the pain and joy, just like you. Same one God is the father
of all living beings – animals, birds, insects and human beings. Do the animals and birds want to
be killed? No, Not at all. Don’t they feel helpless and miserable when they are being killed?
Certainly, they do. Won’t they like to live their full life as we people do? Definitely, they would.
Every living being has a specific purpose for its existence. The purpose, definitely, is other than
being killed and eaten by others. Let each one of them be left alone to serve that purpose.

Srila Prabhupada speaks on ‘Animals Are Our Brothers’:

“Here is my American brother, and here is my Indian brother. Now let us eat this cow.” Such a
person may look on other humans as brothers, but he looks on the cow as food. Is this universal
love? A Krishna conscious person, however, thinks, “Oh, here is a cow. Here is a dog. They are
part and parcel of Krishna, but somehow or other they have acquired different bodies. This does
not mean that they are not my brothers. How can I kill and eat my brothers?” That is true
universal love-rooted in love for Krishna. Without such Krishna consciousness, there is no
question of love at all.

One may kill an animal to enjoy eating it, but he will be bound by such an action. Thus in one’s
next life he will become a cow or a goat, and the cow or goat will become a man and eat him.
This is the Vedic statement, and as with all Vedic statements, one may believe it or not.
Unfortunately, at present people are educated in such a way that they do not believe in the next
life. Indeed, it seems that the more “educated” one becomes, the less he believes in God, in
God’s law, in the next life and in sinful and pious activities. Thus modern education is simply
preparing men to become animals. If there is no education to teach a human being what he is and
whether or not he is this body, he remains no better than an ass. An ass also thinks, “I am this
body,” as do other animals. Thus if a man thinks in the same way, how is he different from any
other animal?

Srila Prabhupada speaks on ‘Extremely Bad Karma to Kill Animals’:

But we want to stop these killing houses. It is very, very sinful. That is why all over the world
they have so many wars. Every ten or fifteen years there is a big war-a wholesale slaughterhouse
for humankind. But these rascals-they do not see it, that by the law of karma, every action must
have its reaction.
You are killing innocent cows and other animals-nature will take revenge. Just wait. As soon as
the time is right, nature will gather all these rascals and slaughter them. Finished. They’ll fight
amongst themselves-Protestants and Catholics, Russia and America, this one and that one. It is
going on. Why? That is nature’s law. Tit for tat. “You have killed. Now you kill yourselves.”

They are sending animals to the slaughterhouse, and now they’ll create their own slaughterhouse.
This is nature’s law. It’s not necessary that you be sent to the ordinary slaughterhouse. You’ll
make a slaughterhouse at home. You’ll kill your own child-abortion. This is nature’s law. Who
are these children being killed? They are these meat-eaters. They enjoyed themselves when so
many animals were killed, and now they’re being killed by their mothers. People do not know
how nature is working. If you kill, you must be killed. If you kill the cow, who is your mother,
then in some future lifetime your mother will kill you. Yes. The mother becomes the child, and
the child becomes the mother.

I am killing this animal; I am eating him. And in my next lifetime he’ll kill me and eat me. When
the animal is sacrificed, this mantra is recited into the ear of the animal-“You are giving your
life, so in your next life you will get the opportunity of becoming a human being. And I who am
now killing you will become an animal, and you will kill me.” So after understanding this
mantra, who will be ready to kill an animal?

If you eat meat, that means you become implicated in sinful activities. You have to be killed by
your enemy, and he will eat you, or you become a goat or a hog or a cow, and your other person
will kill you. Just like nowadays this contraceptive, abortion, killing the child is going on, so the
same man, again he is killed by the so-called father and mother. It will act. This is nature’s law.
You cannot escape. If you have killed an animal, then you must be killed by that animal. When I
eat meat, this animal also will eat me again.” This You cannot escape this. “Life for life.” That is
the law everywhere. If you have murdered somebody, you must be killed also. So you can escape
the so-called state laws, but you cannot escape the laws of the material nature.

Note, there is one saying: as long as there are slaughtering houses, as long there will be wars.

For a peaceful world, please stop killing animals and become a vegetarian.

Conclusion

We actually do not need to eat meat, there are so many disadvantages. Generally nobody can
just eat plain meat on its own, it taste disgusting but the animals can eat it. We as humans are
not designed to eat meat, our teeth are also in different shape than that of animals. Meat eating
invokes mode of ignorance and we will not be able to understand higher spiritual topics, our
minds will not become absorbed in God. I have not seen one meat eater who can understand
God or who has any genuine devotion to the Lord. By animal killing, all pity and mercy and love
is lost. So how can we love God? It is also another form of violence, generally we would not
come across a terrorist who is a vegetarian, because by being a vegetarian and in the mode of
goodness it invokes compassion for other living entities who are also created by God, Krishna.
Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that he accepts certain foods which are vegetarian (BG,
9.26). So we can offer this to God, he did not say offer me meat. Many times people question
did Lord Krishna eat meat or did Lord Ram eat meat, of course not. God does not eat flesh.
Also another thing to understand is that God can do anything he likes because he is God so we
should not imitate God in anyway. And to be a devotee we have to only eat food which is first
offered to God, Krishna. Even just by being a Vegetarian is not all, we have to offer our
vegetarian food (without onions and garlic) to Krishna, and then take that as Prashad (Sanctified
Food or Mercy). This way we will invoke spiritual qualities. People sometime say that we eat
meat because we need to be strong or we need allot of protein, this is not true, we can get so
much protein by eating soya, dhal, wheat and other vegetarian foods.

The purpose of eating food is to keep our body and soul together, and not for sense gratification.
Just for our tongue enjoyment why do we need to eat meat? We don’t need to make our stomach
a graveyard for animals. Human life is meant for austerity, to purify our existence, and to
develop our love for God, Krishna.

Following the regulative principles as told in the scriptures such as, No meat eating, (which
includes fish & eggs), No Gambling, No Intoxication (which includes tea and coffee), and No
Illicit Sex (sex outside marriage) these four principles helps us refrain from sinful activities. By
following these four principles we are not restricting ourselves but we are freeing ourselves from
karmic and bondage reactions.

Meat-eating, illicit sex, intoxication, and gambling, these are the four pillars of sinful life. They
run directly counter to the four basic pillars of Dharma or religious life, namely mercy,
cleanliness, austerity and truthfulness.

It should be pointed that the four regulative principles of religious life, while virtuous in
themselves, are not the sum and substance of true spirituality; they are merely sub-religious
principles. While one who follows these principles (diligently) may be setting the proper stage
for approaching spiritual life, actual spirituality may still elude him. Therefore, we feel it
incumbent upon ourselves to direct you to the Srimad-Bhagavatam, which points out:

Kaler dosa nidhe rajann asti hy eko mahan gunah kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param
vrajet

“My dear king, although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age.
It is that simply by chanting the holy name of Krishna, one can become free from material
bondage and be promoted to the transcendental Kingdom.”(S.B. 12.3.51) Therefore, you are
encouraged to please chant the holy name of the Lord (Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna
Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare). By this process
one will naturally develop an affinity for following the four regulative principles. There is no
loss, and one who follows these principles will find much happiness in this life as well as the
next.

The Meat food on your plate may look good to you but have you ever thought how the animals
had been treated? If you still want to eat meat I would suggest you watch the below videos (click
on the below links). Watch all of it if you can. Then you can take that decision for yourself if
you would like to carry on eating meat. At the end of the day, the choice is yours, we do have
that free will, but what we do with that free will that is our choice and decision, if we continue
with our sins then we are liable to God and his laws, which are very subtle and powerful, it will
act upon us whether we believe in it or not.

Meet your meat – The transformation of animals into food- http://youtu.be/sDea6L9gPD8

From Farm To Fridge Video – http://youtu.be/tzrRmB40l00

‘To every action there is an equal opposite reaction’

Those sinful persons who are ignorant of actual religious principles, yet consider themselves to
be completely pious, without compunction commit violence against innocent animals who are
fully trusting in them. In their next lives, such sinful persons will be eaten by the same creatures
they have killed in this world. (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.14)

You are killing innocent cows and other animals, nature will take revenge. Just wait. As soon as
the time is right, nature will gather all these rascals and slaughter them. Finished. – Srila
Prabhupada (Founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness).

Hare Krishna

Paramesvara Chaitanya Das.

Please also visit our Vegetarianism page.

Return to Top Previous

Hare Krishna.
158 Responses to What’s wrong with eating meat

1. Kishore Gupta says:

January 6, 2012 at 5:57 pm

Hi

I thought the article about meat eating was quite interesting. One point that did jump out
at me was the story of how onions and garlic come from a murdered cow. Can I ask if
you take this story literally and think that this actually happened?

Reply

o admin says:

January 16, 2012 at 2:22 pm

Hare Krishna Kishore,

Thank you for your comments on ‘What’s wrong with eating meat’ article and I
am glad that you found it interesting. Regarding your question about the story on
onions and garlic this is a true historic event and it did literally happened many
thousands of years ago. American scientists have discovered in their laboratories
that there are 21 different types of slow poisons in onions and garlic, so they are
not innocent foods. In Satya-yuga, the rsis performed gomedha (cow) and
asvamedha (horse) sacrifices for the welfare of the whole universe. [This proved
the efficacy of the recitation of the Vedic mantras uttered by the qualified
Brahmins during the sacrifice.] A very old cow or a horse would be sacrificed by
being cut into pieces and placed in the fire. Afterwards, the rsis would utter
mantras and the same animal would come alive in a beautiful young body. Also to
note that the cows were not actually murdered but sacrificed to give them a new
bodily form.

These stories are all in the Vedic scriptures and written by Srila Vyasadeva who is
the author of Vedic scriptures. What Vyasdeva has written is very true, he was
able to see what is favourable for devotion to God and what is unfavourable. He
saw that the onion is tamasik (in the mode of ignorance). It has all the qualities
present in the meat of cows, and the same result obtained from eating cow flesh
which occurs from eating onions. One will become lusty and violent by eating it.
Srila Vyasadeva has also seen in his meditation that garlic came from the bones of
that cow. It is full with bad qualities and puts one in the mode of ignorance. We
should avoid eating onions and garlic and try to follow Vyasadeva’s instructions.
 If you do not follow, the same bad qualities will come to the person who eats it
and that comes by eating cows flesh, bones, and so on. This has been explained in
the Sastra’s, and it is confirmed by scientific evidence. Whatever has been said in
the Sastra’s or the Vedic scriptures it is all true, maybe due to our limited
knowledge we may not be able to comprehend such things but the Vedic
Scriptures are transcendental and spiritual so everything is correct and nothing has
been made up. The modern science is finding out things which had already been
mentioned long time ago in the Vedic Scriptures.

Hare Krishna,

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

o Sara Skalitzky says:

March 28, 2013 at 8:47 pm

Does that mean that we are not allowed to eat anything? Are we supposed to
starve? Since meat is an animal, it moves, it grows, it speaks, and dies, I will go
vegetarian.

Reply

 admin says:

April 3, 2013 at 10:30 am

Hare Krishna, thank you for your questions. This article was not intended
to make you starve, I am not sure if you have read the article in detail. The
point to understand that animals also have a soul and killing them for food
is not recommended, they also feel pain as humans do. We all have to eat
to live, so regarding your first question we are allowed to eat food from
the vegetarian kingdom. You will be surprised how many vegetarian
dishes you can really make. Why not visit a ISKCON Temple and find out
for yourself. There are so many people who are vegetarian and living a
very healthy life. Also the point is not just to be a vegetarian but to offer
the vegetarian cooked food to Lord Krishna first and then eating that food
as sanctified food. Eating only food offered to Krishna is the ultimate
perfection of a vegetarian diet. The Vedas inform us that the purpose of
human life is to reawaken the soul in its relationship to God, and only
when we go beyond vegetarianism to Prasadam can our eating be helpful
in achieving this goal. So no you are not supposed to starve, eat nice
 vegetarian food offered to Krishna, become Krishna Conscious, chant
Hare Krishna mantra and perfect your life.

As you mentioned precisely, an animal, it moves, it grows, it speaks, and

dies. So does the humans, it just goes to show that if humans can have a
soul then why not an animal with all the similarities. Remember an animal
does feel and pain and pleasure, violently slaughtering them for food is
surely not ideal. It clearly says ‘Thou shall not Kill’.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

2. Robinson says:

April 18, 2012 at 9:10 am

Thanks a lot for this great article. I, myself, am doing a lot of research on all religions to
prove people that each and every religion supports vegetarianism.
Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism are the three religions with the highest number of
vegetarians while Christianity, Judaism and Islam are the ones with the lowest. But,
organizations like the Christian Vegetarian Association are working hard to show that the
Bible supports vegetarianism and that Jesus was an animal lover and a vegetarian.
By the way, what does the Vedas say about drinking milk? Many animal lovers believe
that milk should not be consumed as the milk belongs to the calf.

Reply

o admin says:

April 27, 2012 at 8:39 pm

Hare Krishna Robinson,

Thank you for your comments on meat eating article. I am happy to hear you are
doing research on vegetarianism and how all religions supports vegetarianism. It
is with no doubt that all religions in its purest sense does not support or encourage
meat eating. Many things have been misinterpreted to suit their own views. For
example in the Bible it is said ‘Thou Shall Not Kill’ but people say this relates to
humans only and it is ok to kill and eat meat, if that was the case then the
commandment would be ‘Thou Shall Not Kill Humans’. ‘Thou Shall Not Kill’
means we should not kill anything animals or humans or any other creatures.
Other religions talk about surrendering to God and loving him, but on the other
side they encourage slitting throats, where is the act of love? If people had to kill
animals themselves to eat it they would had been vegetarians for sure as they
consciously know that this is another form of violence and its surely causing pain
to the animals, this is just being hypocrite.

I am happy to hear that the Christian Vegetarian Association are working hard to
show that the Bible supports vegetarianism and that Jesus was an animal lover
and a vegetarian. Jesus was truly an animal lover and lover of all, he spread the
message of love. If many people could understand this then there would be less
karmic reactions on this planet earth. The mother nature is responding to the
cruelty of humans demonic mentality, this is the reason why there are many
natural disturbances on earth such as Tsunami, Earthquakes, etc. These greatly
sinful acts are responsible for so many troubles in present society. To kill cows
and other animals means to end human civilisation. People do not know what
harm they are doing in the name of economic development. They do not realise
that only by seeing that bulls and cows are happy in all respects, human society
can be happy. This is a fact by the laws of nature.

What does the Vedas say about drinking milk?

The Vedas says that milk is certainly ok for drinking as there is no harm in the
content and it is considered in the mode of Goodness. Milk itself has many
nutrition’s which helps the fine tissues in the brain which helps us to function
better and sustain human physiological conditions for higher achievements.
People are generally unaware of the importance of cows. Cows produce, in large
quantities, the miracle food, milk. Milk is produced from the blood of the cow,
however she is happy to give her blood transformed in a peaceful, non-violent
way in the form of milk.

The cow is so merciful she is freely giving us her milk which contains all the
vitamins, proteins and other nutrients found in flesh. If people drink milk there is
absolutely no need for animal killing and no possibility of their diets being
deficient in any way. One can survive simply by drinking milk. Milk is a
complete food.

Many animal lovers believe that milk should not be consumed as the milk
belongs to the calf?

The cow produces excess milk and as long as we are not harming the cow or the
calf then it is fine to consume milk. There is a symbiotic relationship between
men and cows. If we take good care of them, ensuring they are sheltered, fed and
protected, ‘they happily produce more than enough milk for their calves’, and we
can take the excess without harming them in any way. Eating only grass, which
costs nothing to produce, the cow in turn produces milk that provides nearly all
the nutrients we need. One cow produces more milk than a whole family can
drink in one day. What is not drunk is turned into yogurt, cheese, butter and ghee
(butterfat) – the latter being the basis for so many exquisite Indian sweetmeats
and savouries. Because cows supply milk, in Vedic culture they are accepted as
our mother, and therefore worthy of reverence. How many babies are raised on
cow’s milk?

Some quotes on milk from Srila Prabhupada (Founder):-

There is a miracle in milk, for it contains all the necessary vitamins to sustain
human physiological conditions for higher achievements. Brahminical culture can
advance only when man is educated to develop the quality of goodness, and for
this there is a prime necessity of food prepared with milk, fruits and grains.
(Srimad Bhagavatam 1.16.4 Purport)

The cow is the most important animal for developing the human body to
perfection. The body can be maintained by any kind of foodstuff, but cow’s milk is
particularly essential for developing the finer tissues of the human brain so that
one can understand the intricacies of transcendental knowledge. (Srimad
Bhagavatam 3.5.7 Purport)

The milk is also conversion of the blood. Just like we drink the milk of our mother.
The colour of the milk is white, but everyone knows that milk is produced from the
red blood corpuscle. So this is the process. You drink the blood of the cow by
natural process, which turns into white milk. You’ll get better brain, better
strength. (Lecture SB 1.16.19, Hawaii, 15 January 1974)

from the milk we can make hundreds of vitaminous foodstuff…hundreds. They’re

all palatable. You cannot reject milk from the human society. As soon as there is a
child born, milk immediately required. Old man, milk is life. Diseased person,
milk is life. Invalid, milk is life. So therefore Krishna is teaching by His practical
demonstration how He loves this innocent animal, cow. (Lecture — Los Angeles,
December 4, 1968)

The Krishna Consciousness movement is developing farming communities

around the world. At Bhaktivedanta Manor (Hare Krishna Temple in Watford)
there are 46 cows and oxen. The results of the gentle Vedic method are evident
there, where the cows peacefully produce first class milk that has won many
prizes at local shows.

Hare Krishna.

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply
  Praveen Kirsur says:

April 14, 2014 at 5:36 pm

Scientifically, the cows milk is meant for her calf. But if you see in
Bharat’s villages, the villagers give some limited amount of milk to the
calf and then pull the calf back out. Why this is done when the entire milk
belongs to calf? The reason is if the calf drinks more milk, then it will
suffer from septic and may even die. Also leaving the remaining milk in
mother’s womb will suffocate mother’s breathing. Hence, the rest of the
milk MUST be taken out. This milk is consumed by people.
Jai Shri Rama

Reply

o Really? says:

July 5, 2013 at 10:18 pm

Was that why Jesus broke bread and fish for 500?some things just cant be mixed
to prove Jesus was Sattvic.

Reply

 ISKCON Birmingham says:

July 10, 2013 at 2:41 pm

Hare Krishna,

Thank you for your comments.

Just to point out that we should not make assumption of a pure devotee
without understanding his purpose. Jesus was a shakti avesha avatar or an
empowered incarnation to come and preach according to time place and
circumstances. You do not know under what circumstances Jesus had to
feed the people, so we should not make judgements on that basis. He spent
and sacrificed his life in spreading God Consciousness to people, he was
on a spiritual platform, so for your information he was beyond the Sattvic
level. The main point to understand that Jesus may have done but we
should not imitate, we should follow the commandment ‘Thou Shall not
Kill’. Below is a dialogue from the book ‘Perfect Questions Perfect
Answers’, the discussion took place between someone called Bob and
Srila Prabhupada who is the founder Guru of International Society for
Krishna Consciousness.

Bob: I asked one this, and he claimed that Jesus was also eating meat in
the Bible.

Srila Prabhupada: That’s all right. He may eat anything. He is powerful.

But he has ordered, “Thou shalt not kill. You must stop killing.” He is
powerful. He can eat the whole world. But you cannot compare to Jesus
Christ. You cannot imitate Jesus Christ; you have to abide by his order.
Then you are guided by Jesus Christ. That is actually obedience. That is
explained in the Bhagavata. One who is isvara, who is empowered, can do
anything, but we cannot imitate. We have to abide by his order: “What he
says to me, that I will do.” You cannot imitate. You say that Jesus Christ
ate meat. Admitting that, you do not know in what condition he ate meat.
He is himself eating meat, but he is advising others not to kill. Do you
think that Jesus Christ was contradicting himself?

Bob: No.

Srila Prabhupada: He cannot do that. That is real faith in him-that he

cannot do that. So why has he eaten meat? He knows, but he has asked me
not to kill. I have to follow. That is the real system. You are not Jesus
Christ; you cannot imitate him. He has sacrificed his life for God. Can you
do that? So why shall you imitate Jesus Christ? You are imitating Jesus
Christ by eating meat. Why not imitate Jesus Christ and sacrifice your life
for spreading God consciousness? What do you think? Yes, when you
preach you can say what you think. They are so-called Christians-but what
are they doing for God? Just consider the sun. The sun is absorbing urine.
Can you drink urine? If you want to imitate the sun-“Oh, here is the sun
absorbing urine. Let me drink urine”-can you? Jesus Christ is powerful; he
can do everything. But we cannot imitate; we have to simply abide by his
order. That is real Christianity. We cannot imitate a powerful man.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

 Subala das says:

August 21, 2014 at 12:04 pm

 Haribol! I just make a short comment.
As Srila Prabhupada kindly explain we cannot imitate a great
person. Further more, If Jesus actually accepted to eat meat ,the
blessing that comes with it is, that He will bring that soul back to
godhead, whereas other meat eater bring no blessings of value .

Reply

3. Amit says:

June 8, 2012 at 7:53 pm

Hello sir, this is a great article and quite informative, I want to ask few questions, if you
have time then please answer these questions. I was vegetarian since birth but eat onions
daily with food and according to this article it is same as eating meat so should we stop
eating it? I also want to tell you that I have fewer qualities of ignorance like I feel lazy all
the time, sleep too much and can’t concentrate on my studies, are these because of
onions?

My second question, some people in Hinduism sacrifice animals in honour of God,

biggest animal sacrifice festival (Gadhimai) was held in Nepal where they kill 2,50,000
animals. Are these types of killing allowed in Hinduism? Do God want sacrifice of
innocent animals?

Reply

o admin says:

June 9, 2012 at 9:57 pm

Hare Krishna Amit,

Thank you for your sending your questions, you’re most welcome to ask any
questions. Regarding your first question about eating onion at home, as you have
read in the article that even onion and garlic is not appropriate for people who
want to progress further in their spiritual lives and be a pure vegetarian. Even
onion and garlic is not classed as vegetarian according to scriptures and this food
is categorised in the modes of passion and ignorance. Surely any person who eats
onion and garlic will invoke these qualities within them, it may be subtle and not
realised straight away but it does affect the consciousness. Being lazy and
sleeping too much is due to the influence of mode of ignorance. Eating onions and
garlic tends to agitate the senses and does not help us to concentrate and focus on
meditation.
In Bhagavad Gita (17.9) Lord Krishna states that ‘Foods that are too bitter, too
sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion.
Such foods cause distress, misery and disease.’ Onion and garlic fall in this
category. They excite the baser instincts and make it difficult for one to control
the senses. Certainly one should also stop eating onions and garlic at home and
just eat pure vegetarian food and offer it to Lord Krishna. As a devotee of Krishna
and practicing Bhakti-Yoga or devotion to the Lord, we should not eat onions and
garlic because they cannot be offered to Lord Krishna. Also just for a tip, you can
replace onions with cabbage and garlic with hing (Asafoetida). They will look and
taste the same and its ok to have cabbage and hing (Asafoetida). If you just little
fry the cabbage with your other food preparations and put hing in it then it would
replace onions and garlic. Actually your food will taste much better without
onions and garlic and you will recognise the difference in your consciousness.

Regarding your second question about animal sacrifice, this is surely not allowed
in Hinduism or in any other religions. People have misinterpreted their own
beliefs and scriptures to suit their own needs. The Gadhimai killings in Nepal are
condemned as the world’s greatest wanton cruelty of animals and are a severe
danger to the environment and public health. The scriptures do not encourage
such violence and killing of innocent animals. No, God does not want animal
sacrifice. No loving God would demand animal sacrifice and God does not eat
meat, so this act is itself wrong. People should learn to sacrifice their lust, anger,
pride, illusion, envy and other such bad qualities within them and become a pure
devotee of the Lord and engage in devotional service to Lord Krishna. People
who are involved in such animal sacrifices will have to suffer for their own
actions and face terrible consequences.

The below verse is mentioned in the Vedic Scriptures:-

Those sinful persons who are ignorant of actual religious principles, yet consider
themselves to be completely pious, without compunction commit violence against
innocent animals who are fully trusting in them. In their next lives, such sinful
persons will be eaten by the same creatures they have killed in this world. (Srimad
Bhagavatam 11.5.14)

People who engage in such animal sacrifice mistakenly consider themselves to be

perfectly observing the laws of God and due to such arrogant foolishness lose all
touch with reality. When a man is raising an animal for slaughter, he feeds the
animal nicely and encourages it to grow fat. Thus the animal gradually accepts its
would-be killer as its protector and master. When the master finally approaches
the helpless animal with a sharp knife or gun, the animal thinks, “Oh, my master
is joking with me.” Only at the last minute does the animal understand that the so-
called master is death personified. It is clearly stated in Vedic literature that cruel
masters who kill innocent animals will undoubtedly be killed in the next life by a
similar process.
 I hope this answers your questions. Also may I remind you that in this degraded
age of Kali Yuga it is recommended to chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra,
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare. Please start chanting this mantra which will purify your
consciousness and the mantra is so powerful that it can counteract the negative
influence of Kali Yuga in this world. Please visit any local ISKCON Hare Krishna
temple and enquire more about the Krishna Consciousness philosophy, it will
surely be beneficial.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

4. Amit says:

June 12, 2012 at 8:07 am

Thank you sir for answering my questions,I would say that your answers are true and
very well explained. I will definately try my best to avoid onions in my diet and also tell
my friends to read this article.

Reply

5. Trivannia says:

August 10, 2012 at 11:15 am

hari bol

i find this article very interesting, i have become vegetarian recently due to reading these
article’s gaining knowledge, i now wish to become hare krishna i feel very draw to this
way of life and find it to be truthful.
i do have two questions to ask, (1) the gita say’s not to eat hot food, does that also mean
not to cook with chillies? or does that mean tempature wise not to eat hot food?
and (2) when offering the food to the lord do you add salt before offering or after offering
do you add salt?

Reply

o admin says:
 August 14, 2012 at 10:02 am

Hare Krishna Trivannia,

I am happy that you found this article interesting and that it has helped you to
become a vegetarian. This is also another form of showing compassion to other
living entities who are also created by God. If you are further interested in
Krishna Consciousness philosophy then please try to contact your local Hare
Krishna ISKCON Temple. You may be interested in reading the Bhagavad Gita
As It is by Srila Prabhupada and also you can start chanting the Hare Krishna
Maha Mantra on japa beads. You can get all this from ISKCON temple or you can
order online.

Regarding your two questions, the answer to your first question is that we can
cook with chillies but not too much. Food that are too spicy becomes in the mode
of passion so try to avoid putting too much spices in food, but moderate chillies is
ok, this is what is meant by not eating too much hot food. Your second question,
you should add salt when you are cooking the food for the Lord, so yes it is before
the offering. After you have offered and taken the dish from the alter then you
may add extra salt if needed. The main point is that we should not taste the food
before offering, remember that we are cooking for the pleasure of Lord Krishna
and then later honouring as prashad or sanctified food.

If you have any further questions then please send us a email.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

6. Abhishek Mittal says:

August 21, 2012 at 8:24 pm

great article…i’ll try my level best to avoid consumption of onion and garlic too..!!!

Reply

o admin says:

September 26, 2012 at 9:12 am

Hare Krishna,
 Well Done for trying, if you can aviod onions and garlic altogether then that
would be really purifying for your consciousness. Also please try to chant Hare
Krishna Maha Mantra to develop a higher taste in your spiritual life.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

7. mary agarwal says:

September 15, 2012 at 9:37 am

we have no right to kill anyone………..it is a crime

Reply

8. edgarchabi says:

October 7, 2012 at 11:49 am

Why where animal created if their not ment for eating then what are domestic animal for
cause, God created man and animal for comsumption if I am not mistaken I need an
answer for this because their is no way I can just stop eating meat for no reason?

Reply

o admin says:

October 10, 2012 at 9:36 am

Hare Krishna Edgar,

Thank you for your comments on ‘What’s wrong with eating meat’ article. There
is a reason for everything even for not eating meat. On the spiritual path, there are
several reasons why a person is recommended to be vegetarian. One primary
reason is that we need to see the spiritual nature within all living beings, and that
includes the animals and other creatures as well. Universal brotherhood means
nonviolence to both humans and animals. It consists of understanding that animals
also have souls. They are alive, conscious, and feel pain. And these are the
indications of the presence of consciousness, which is the symptom of the soul.
Even the Bible (Genesis 1.21; 1.24; 1.30; 2.7; and in many other places) refers to
both animals and people as nefesh chayah, living souls. Those who eat meat,
however, because of their desires to eat animals or see them as a source of food
for one’s stomach, are not so easily able to understand the spiritual nature of all
beings. After all, if you know that all living entities are spiritual in essence, and
that all living beings that are conscious show the symptoms of the soul within,
then how can you kill them unnecessarily? Any living creature is also the same as
we are in the respect that it is also a child of the same father, a part of the same
Supreme Being. Thus, the killing of animals shows a great lack in spiritual
awareness.

Regarding your question why where animals created if they are not meant for
eating? If you look around in this world there are many things which are created
but not suitable for eating. Even Humans have flesh and they were also created
does that mean we should start slaughtering humans and start eating them?
In this material world, according to the Vedic scriptures, there are 8,400,000 (8
million 400 thousands) species of life. All the living beings are busy, working to
fulfil their bodily demands – eating, sleeping, mating and defending. The detail
analysis of this is:-

jalaja nava laksani

sthavara laksha-vimsati
krimayo rudra sankhyakat
prkshinam dasa-laksanam
trimsal-laksani paravah
catur laksani manusah

“There are 900,000 species living in the water. There are also 2,000,000 non
moving entities such as trees and plants. There are 1,100,000 species of insects
and reptiles and there are 1,000,000 species of birds. As far as animals are
concerned there are 3,000,000 varieties and there are 400,000 human species.”
(Padma Purana)

Animals are also a living entity with a soul inside of them, the difference is only
due to the bodily covering. Just like Humans has a soul with a Human body so the
animal has a soul with an animal body. The tree has a soul with a tree body, a
plant has a soul with a plants body etc. Its not difficult to understand. We need to
raise our consciousness and spiritual knowledge to see all these things. The more
elevated your consciousness is in spiritual life the more conscious you will be of
other living entities.

So animals were created because God created different species and animal is one
of them, the soul within every species has different desires. God provides the
living entity with a suitable body according to their desires. For example if
someone likes to eat meat then why not just have an animal body and eat meat, if
someone likes to sleep so much then why not have a body of a bear and sleep for
hours, if someone likes to show their body then why not become a tree and stand
naked, so according to different desires of the soul different body dress is
provided by the nature. Human form of life is meant to understand God and not to
act on the level of animals.

Meat is food for the animals and not for humans, humans can simply live by being
vegetarians. Some people then question why do you eat vegetables as they also
have life. The answer is that different species have different grades of
consciousness and they suffer according to their awareness and consciousness
level. Example a plants consciousness is different to humans, the plants are not so
much conscious, so if you pluck a plant even though you are killing it still it is not
that painful to that of killing a human. We have to eat something to live so we
have to live by causing very minimum pain to other living entities, we should not
unnecessarily cause pain to other living entities.

The animals are more conscious than plants and vegetables, so by eating meat you
are causing more pain to the living entity than to a vegetable. The more pain you
cause the more Karmic reaction is there. That’s why devotees offer all vegetarian
foods to Lord Krishna before eating it, the Lord removes all the bad reactions in
that vegetarian food and makes it spiritual. Then we eat the food as his mercy.

So God did not create animal for consumption, they are living according to their
life and should not be killed for eating or for any other purposes. They also have a
soul like humans. After they die the soul will be elevated to a higher species and
eventually come into a human body where they can make progress. If humans
misuse the human form of life then they can be reincarnated into an animal body.
So please do not eat meat as it will cause allot of bad Karma and will not help you
progress on spiritual path. Live a simple God Conscious life and enquire more
how to go back to the spiritual world.

Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that your consciousness at death will
determine your next body. If you have eaten animals (meat) all your life, your
final thoughts will be that of animals, you will take birth in the animal kingdom.
If you have lived a life of charity and generosity (helping people), your final
thoughts will be that of helping people, you will take birth on one of the heavenly
planets.

“The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life
from one body to another as the air carries aromas. Thus he takes one kind of
body and again quits it to take another.” Lord Krishna (Bhagavad Gita 15.8)

“Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will
attain without fail.” Lord Krishna (Bhagavad Gita 8.6)

If you would like to find out more then please read ‘Bhagavad Gita As It Is’ by
Srila Prabhupada.
 Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

9. P2bG says:

October 8, 2012 at 5:24 pm

This is quite stupid. Only retards must think that animals have souls and plants don’t.
Maybe we shouldn’t eat anything then because that implies we have to end someone elses
life to sustain ours. Or maybe the plants don’t have life. I’ll tell you why it is easier to
think they don’t have as much “souls” as the animals we eat, its because they don’t have
eyes, or noses, or mouths or ears etc etc.So the human brain instantly and unconsciously
thinks:”Whoa!! This “thing” does not look like me at all. It does not have eyes etc etc, so
it is not living and doesn’t feel pain or suffer. So it is ok to eat it “Thats how stupid
humans can be about this. It is ok to eat meat people get over it. Meat after all is what
made the apes into the first humans and raised our intelligence so we can start
questioning what is perfectly natural. Get a clue and quit moaning about it!

Reply

o admin says:

October 18, 2012 at 3:08 pm

Hare Krishna,

First of all Thank you for sending your comments on the article ‘Whats wrong
with eating meat’. I just like to share few things on the comments which you have
made. First of all in Krishna Consciousness we do not say that plants do not have
a soul, plants do have a soul. So you are incorrect to make such judgements so
quickly. Humans, Animals, Plants, Reptiles, Trees etc all have a soul according to
the Vedic Scriptures, they are all conscious and living entities.

Yes to sustain our own life we will have to eat something which means ending
someone else’s life, unfortunately that is the way of this material world. Some
people then question why do you eat vegetables as they also have life. The answer
is that different species have different grades of consciousness and they suffer
according to their awareness and consciousness level. Example a plants
consciousness is different to humans, the plants are not so much conscious, so if
you pluck a plant even though you are killing it still it is not that painful to that of
killing a human. We have to eat something to live so we have to live by causing
very minimum pain to other living entities, we should not unnecessarily cause
pain to other living entities. The animals are more conscious than plants and
vegetables, so by eating meat you are causing more pain to the living entity than
to a vegetable. The more pain you cause the more Karmic reaction is there. That’s
why devotees offer all vegetarian foods to Lord Krishna before eating it, the Lord
removes all the bad reactions in that vegetarian food and makes it spiritual. Then
we eat the food as his mercy. We offer only vegetarian food to the Lord because
this is what the Lord asks for, he did not say offer me meat.

In the Bhagavad Gita (BG 9.26) Lord Krishna says:-

patram puṣpam phalam toyam

yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
tad aham bhakty-upahṛtam
aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ

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

No, it is not ok to eat meat as there is so much violence gone into the animal
before killing the animal. The plants and vegetables do not feel that much pain,
hence devotees try to live by giving very minimum pain to a life as they are aware
of the Karmic reactions. Even if you consider economically, it is better and
healthier to be a vegetarian rather than a animal eater.

If you want to practise spiritual life then you must develop compassionate to all
living entities, how can one say they Love God and slit throats on the other side
and also encourage violence. So it is not the people who needs to get over it, you
need to get over meat eating and find out the goal of life.

You also said “Meat after all is what made the apes into the first humans and
raised our intelligence so we can start questioning what is perfectly natural”. First
of all if you like to say something like this then make sure you back it up with a
proper authority, where does it say that meat made the apes and then into
humans? If that’s the case then Meat is here now, why it is not changing to apes
and why not into humans? If something had happened in the future then why cant
it still happen today? People say we have evolved from animals, well animals are
still here why cant we see them changing into humans now?

The Vedic scriptures gives us this information that the Soul is transmitigating
from one body to another.

dehino ‘smin yathā dehe

kaumāraḿ yauvanaḿ jarā
tathā dehāntara-prāptir
dhīras tatra na muhyati
 As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to
old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not
bewildered by such a change. (Bhagavad Gita 9.26)

There are 8,400,000 (8 million 400 thousands) species of life. All the living
beings are busy, working to fulfil their bodily demands – eating, sleeping, mating
and defending. The detail analysis of this is:-

jalaja nava laksani

sthavara laksha-vimsati
krimayo rudra sankhyakat
prkshinam dasa-laksanam
trimsal-laksani paravah
catur laksani manusah

“There are 900,000 species living in the water. There are also 2,000,000 non
moving entities such as trees and plants. There are 1,100,000 species of insects
and reptiles and there are 1,000,000 species of birds. As far as animals are
concerned there are 3,000,000 varieties and there are 400,000 human species.”
(Padma Purana).

So my friend it is you who needs to get a clue and do not speculate on life with
your limited knowledge. Just because you cannot conceive the presence of a soul
does not mean that animals and other living entities do not have a soul. They are
all conscious, being born, remaining for some time and eventually die. If you
observe entities properly they all have symptom of life so this concludes they
have a soul and killing them for eating purposes is certainly not a good idea. If
you have read the article then you would know that by eating meat causes so
much Karmic reactions.

If you would like to find out more then please read ‘Bhagavad Gita As It Is’ by
Srila Prabhupada.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

10. Krishna says:

October 31, 2012 at 2:13 pm

A very interesting read clearing up all the misconceptions some people may have! Just
one little query, quoting from the article above:
 “Due to the effect of the mantras uttered by the rishi there was now life in this piece of
meat. Then the blood of this meat became red lentils, the bones became garlic and the
meat became onions.

Thus these foods are never taken by any Vaishnava situated in the mode of goodness as
Vaishnavas should be because it is not considered by us as offerable due to its association
as a non-vegetarian food. Plus it is in the mode of ignorance.” “It is not vegetarian to eat
onions and garlic.”

Please explain about the red lentils, are red lentils also known as – masoor dal? And are
these also not offered and eaten by devotees?

Thank You

Reply

o admin says:

November 8, 2012 at 12:09 am

Hare Krishna,

Thank you for your comments Krishna on ‘What’s wrong with eating meat’
article. Yes red lentils are also known as masoor dal, you can eat other coloured
ones but not the red masoor dal. Also we do not cook and offer this to the Lord
and its not to be eaten by devotees.

Please chant Hare Krishna and read books by Srila Prabhupada.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

11. Jeevan says:

November 4, 2012 at 9:33 pm

Hi if the Dr advises you must eat meat for health and you live in a western world UK
example. Where it I easier to obtain meat products for optimum health what should you
do? Look after your health or look after you faith. If you cannot maintain a healthy
vegetarian diet in a western world then what must you do if you are given a advice vice to
eat meat to help you be healthier and you live in a western world where it is hard to eat a
vegetarian diet and where you find very little success in doing so however you find on a
daily basis that there is meat options which are healthy and make you feel more healthier
after eating and show that your body is recovering from illness then are you allowed in
hinduism to eat meat because it is helping your body recover hence making you happy
thank you

Reply

o admin says:

November 14, 2012 at 2:07 pm

Hare Krishna Jeevan,

Thank you for your comments on ‘What’s wrong with eating meat’ article.

Regarding your questions, first of all it is incorrect to think by eating meat is an

healthier option than being a vegetarian. If you read about health and meat so
many people are having health problems due to consumption of meat. In a recent
news a new study from the Harvard School of Public Health suggests that eating
any amount or type of red meat significantly increases risk of premature death,
cancer, and heart disease.

‘Below are the few diseases known to be associated with meat:

Anaemia, appendicitis, arthritis, breast cancer, cancer of the colon, cancer of the
prostate, constipation, diabetes, gall stones, gout, high blood pressure, indigestion,
obesity, piles, strokes and varicose veins are just some of the well known
disorders which are more likely to affect meat eaters than vegetarians.

Add to those hazards the fact that if you eat meat you may be consuming
hormones, drugs and other chemicals that have been fed to the animals before
they were killed and you can see the extent of the danger. No one knows precisely
what effect eating the hormones in meat is likely to have on your health. But the
risk is there and I think it’s a big one. Some farmers use tranquillisers to keep
animals calm. Others routinely use antibiotics so that their animals do not develop
infections. When you eat meat you are, inevitably, eating those drugs. In America,
over half of all antibiotics are fed to animals and I don’t think it is any
coincidence that the percentage of staphylococci infections resistant to penicillin
went up from 13% in 1960 to 91% in 1988.

The healthiness of a vegetarian diet is perhaps shown most dramatically by the

fact that lifelong vegetarians visit hospitals 22% less often than meat eaters – and
for shorter stays! Vegetarians tend to be fitter than meat eaters – as well as
healthier – and many of the world’s most successful athletes (particularly those
who specialise in endurance events) follow a strictly vegetarian diet’. (Vernon
Coleman).

So how can meat eating be a healthier option?

The Dr’s do not know that’s why they may advice people to eat meat for health
reasons, it is a myth to think that if you don’t eat meat your body would be short
of protein, that is not true. You can eat so many other Vegetarian food like Dhal,
Soya beans etc. which would provide enough protein for the body and stay
healthy.

It’s also easier to obtain vegetarian food, I know they sell meat in most places but
you can put that extra effort to buy and cook your own vegetarian food. It’s better
to put that extra effort in now rather than suffer the Karmic reactions which will
be far more suffering. All other vegetarian people are maintaining their vegetarian
diet even when living in western world so why can’t you? We have to give up this
weakness and follow the principles of human life.

If people have certain illness then they should try Ayur Vedic treatment which is
more natural, many health problems can be sorted via performing Yoga and
taking herbal medicines.

If you’re asking then I would say that we should not compromise eating meat for
health reasons, this would not be allowed in Hinduism. There are other
alternatives rather than just eat meat for health purposes. To recover the body we
can also do many exercises, go to the gym, go for a jog and carry on eating
vegetarian spiritual food (a devotee is to offer to Krishna foodstuffs prepared from
vegetables.) This will make you more happier.

Krishna Wants Vegetarian Food Offered to Him

If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will
accept it. Bhagavad-gita 9.26

One who loves Krishna will give Him whatever He wants, and he avoids offering
anything which is undesirable or unasked. Thus meat, fish and eggs should not be
offered to Krishna. If He desired such things as offerings, He would have said so.
Instead He clearly requests that a leaf, fruit, flowers and water be given to Him,
and He says of this offering, “I will accept it.” Therefore, we should understand
that He will not accept meat, fish and eggs.

Vegetables, grains, fruits, milk and water are the proper foods for human beings
and are prescribed by Lord Krishna Himself. Whatever else we eat cannot be
offered to Him, since He will not accept it. Thus we cannot be acting on the level
of loving devotion if we offer such foods.
 In the Third Chapter, verse thirteen, Sri Krishna explains that only the remains of
sacrifice are purified and fit for consumption by those who are seeking
advancement in life and release from the clutches of the material entanglement.
Those who do not make an offering of their food, He says in the same verse, are
eating only sin. In other words, their every mouthful is simply deepening their
involvement in the complexities of material nature. But preparing nice, simple
vegetable dishes, offering them before the picture or Deity of Lord Krishna and
bowing down and praying for Him to accept such a humble offering enables one
to advance steadily in life, to purify the body, and to create fine brain tissues
which will lead to clear thinking. Above all, the offering should be made with an
attitude of love. Krishna has no need of food, since He already possesses
everything that be, yet He will accept the offering of one who desires to please
Him in that way. The important element, in preparation, in serving and in
offering, is to act with love for Krishna. (Srila Prabhupada).

So my friend act for Lord Krishna and not for your own desire and sensual
pleasures. Try giving up eating meat and practise devotional service, you can do
this by reading Srila Prabhupada’s books, chanting Hare Krishna Mantra,
associate with devotees at the ISKCON temple and eat Krishna Prasadam. Just by
practising Bhakti Yoga we can achieve everything even a good health. The main
purpose of human life is develop our love for Lord Krishna, that is Hinduism that
is Sanatan Dharma.

Reply

12. amrit says:

November 6, 2012 at 11:55 am

Hare Krishna

I have a dog and he likes to eat chicken. Is it wrong or sinful of me to give him chicken?

I pray to Lord Krishna and do chant the Maha Mantra. But my hands also provide meat to
my dog. What should I do? Sometimes I boil chicken with rice to give to my dog. I am a
strict vegetarian but my dog is not.

Should I not give my dog chicken? And just stick to giving him his dog food, which also
has chicken in it? Please help.

Reply

o admin says:
November 14, 2012 at 4:05 pm

Hare Krishna Amrit,

Thank you for your comments on ‘What’s wrong with eating meat’ article.

I am glad to hear you’re worshipping Lord Krishna and chanting the Hare Krishna
Maha Mantra, please continue to do this as it will not only benefit you but the dog
also.

Regarding your question, according to the scriptures it is wrong to eat and give
meat to anyone. There is also an option to make your dog vegetarian. There are
many people who feed their pets vegetarian food only, some also give Prashadam
(sanctified food). If your pet suffers due to you not feeding them properly you can
also be held responsible as you took that responsibility of that living entity to look
after them. So it is a risky business.

It’s best not to bring meat food at home and cooking it to feed your dog. This will
contaminate your house. Anyway you can try feeding your dog approved
vegetarian food and see how it reacts to this. It may be possible to supplement
vegetarian dog food with the appropriate vitamin and minerals so that the
animal’s diet is balanced. This should be done under supervision of a veterinarian.
After switching a dog to vegetarian food, you should have the dog examined one
to two months later to have general health evaluated.

There is no scientifically known reason why dogs cannot live full, healthy lives on
a vegan diet. Furthermore, a homemade or commercial vegetarian food can avoid
the potentially detrimental health effects of many meat-based commercial foods.

Some suggest more widespread benefits: “Dogs would benefit in health and
temperament worldwide. Such a diet would also greatly reduce the risks of
cancer, strokes, heart attacks, and other comment diseases and disorders.” -
Michael W. Fox, D.V.M.

If you would like to switch a dog to vegetarian food, only purchase food that has
been tested and meets all nutritional standards for dogs. There are many brands
that offer this certification, and you can find the most variety at feed stores or at
large pet stores. There are also books devoted to making vegetarian foods for
dogs. If this is unacceptable for personal reasons, you may be better off not
adopting a dog unless the animal has had proven success with a vegetarian diet.

I cannot really decide for you as you will have to do some research yourself on
making your dog vegetarian. But a dog can also definitely eat vegetarian food
provided you are following the guidelines. If it works then this is the best option,
try also feeding dog Prashadam so the dog will benefit spiritually. We have to
 remember that the soul resides in every species and we have to somehow help
them spiritually also.

In Vedic times people did not bring dogs or animals inside the house as this
would contaminate the house, also by keeping a pet there is every chance of
becoming attached to it and thinking of it all the time. You may have heard the
story of King Bharata (click here to read story) who kept a deer as a pet and he
became attached to this deer so much that at the end of his life he was thinking of
this deer, so in his next birth according to the laws of nature he was given a deer’s
body to reside in.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

13. Jyothi says:

November 11, 2012 at 6:45 pm

Namaste Sir,

I have been deeply influenced by the teachings of Sri Bhagavad Gita. I took up my first
study of Gita on September 24 2012 out of Bhakti and Respect for Hindu’s sacred book,
but I did not expect the book to change my life. I have turned a better person than I was
previously and recommending the book to all those I know.

I have given up Non vegetarian food and garlic and onions since then. I wish to share my
experince regarding the same.

Before I started studying Bhagavad Gita, I thought I would avoid eating meat till I
complete Gita because it is a sacred book. But since I actually started studying it, I have
given up totally as instructed in the book. I started cooking for myself separately because
my family eats meat. But my family continued to have non vegetarian food and I was not
happy with it as I have to share the same vessels with my family and the nonvegetarian
food smell that I previously enjoyed started to make my stomach sick and I actually was
close to throwing up at one instance. I was still on day 10 of Gita and I put the book
infront of me, put my hands together bowed my head and my eyes were already in tears. I
told Lord Krishna ” Sri Krishna , You have made me give up meat. But I cant see my
family having meat and adding bad karma to their life. Please I beg You to make my
family give up meat. I cant stand the smell of the non vegetarian curries and gravies they
are cooking. Earlier I used to enjoy and my mouth would water, but not anymore ever
since I started styding Gita. Please make my family give up meat. Please cleanse their
bodies of the sins of eating meat. ”
This is what my prayer was, but ofcourse in my mother tongue. I did not inform my
fmqaily about this prayer. And to be honest, I was not expecting this prayer to come true,
as my family is light years away from giving up meat. 3 days later, my family made a trip
a very distant Lord Narasimha temple which was 7 hours away. I did not join them as I
had to complete my study of Gita and I told them I will join them next time. That night
after they returned, they told me that they performed a special puja to Lord Narasimha
and priest told my Mom to give up meat totally. She said the rest of the family can have
meat outside if they want to, but she is not touching meat, or eggs or anything non
vegetarian all her life from now. Can anyone believe this!!! I rushed to my room, put the
cover page of Bhagavad Gita infront and cried and thanked Lord Krishna. It was just 3
days back that I prayed for it. I have never told my family till date about my prayer. It
doesn’t make any difference. I got what I wanted.

I cannot forger this all my life. I tell this incident to all my friends everything so that they
read the book with faith. SInce my Mon stoppped cooking meat at home, the rest of the
family too turned vegetarian. They dont have meat outside at all. They dont miss meat at
all. I have never since heard the word ” meat” in my home. There still are few eggs
remaining in our refriegerator which were there before this entire episode and nobody
touches them and we don’t know how to dispose those eggs. NOW MY WHOLE
FAMILY IS A VEGETARIAN THANKS TO LORD KRISHNA’S ANSWER TO MY
PRAYER. Though I failed to convince then to give up onion and garlic. But I am happy.

Also I am not very developed in the spiritual place to preach, but I have read somewhere
online ” One cannot equal cutting grass to slitting an animal’s throat.”

We cannot eat a chair or mobile or a sponge or a nonliving thing to live. They have no
life. Living things have to eat living things to survive. But as humans we have to choose
the lowest mode of conscious beings like plants as they cannot defend themselves and as
the Admin says ” they experience least pain”. Everything that lives has a soul.

Lord Krishna Himself saiys in Bhagavad Gita that He accepts – a fruit/vegetable , a

flower, a leaf or water – as offering. So he recommends and okays these foods for
humans.

My knowledge is from Bhagavad Gita and online resourses of information.

Thanks for reading my post with patience.

With Regards,
Jyothi.

Reply

o admin says:
 November 16, 2012 at 11:32 am

Hare Krishna Jyothi,

Thank you so much for sharing your story with the ISKCON Birmingham
website. I am happy to hear how things worked out for you at the end. That’s
great to hear all your family have now become vegetarians, Lord Krishna surely
heard your prayers. Bhagavad Gita is the direct word of God and it is absolute
truth, it applies to everyone regardless who they are. How Bhagavad Gita made an
impact in your life is just amazing, so many people after reading Srila
Prabhupada’s ‘Bhagavad Gita As It Is’ are now becoming pure devotees of Lord
Krishna who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Now that you and your
family have become Vegetarians try taking a step forward or start with yourself
first to chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra and practise Bhakti Yoga at home.
Offer the food you cook to Lord Krishna and take that as Prashadam or his mercy,
chant and read more of Srila Prabhupada’s books and associate with devotees who
are on the path of Krishna Consciousness. I’m sure Krishna will listen to your
prayers and arrange everything nicely for you in life. Just keep strong faith in
Krishna and always chant his holy names.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham Temple

Reply

14. mohan says:

November 16, 2012 at 12:14 pm

Sir, thoughtful analysis indeed. Infact for a long time the thought of the severe pain these
animals undergo had been haunting me. i was wondering as to how a living creature can
pratically tolerate this unimaginable pain for hours when we consider the fact that a mere
sharp nail screwing on our body for a second can make even us scream like a child .This
resulted in me giving up beef eating at 24 years of age. By 30 , complete stop to chicken
and fish. But egg , onion and garlic … i still eat. Your analysis prompts me seriously to
stop these too. But 1 doubt… we all know in each and every passing second of time, a lot
of living beings all around the world are suffering intense pain especially for eating
purpose.One major factor behind this brutality is that people are of the impression that
they will not get the punishments for their doings because of several reasons. One reason
is that authoritative people of semitic religions advocates their followers that these things
are allowed in their holly books. 2nd reason is that the minority vegetarions(what ever be
the religion) are hesitant to give advice to meat eaters about the consequences , fearing
the harsh responses from the extrimist religious authorities , which can even be death
threats.It is sure that if severe meat eaters are intimated about the consequesnces, there
would really be great changes as whole. But who will take initiatives? The above being
the case, don’t you feel that the all powerful, kindful almighty himself need to interfere
more directly and frequently in these matters. After all who can dare to threaten God?

Reply

o admin says:

November 22, 2012 at 11:37 am

Hare Krishna Mohan,

Thank you for your comments on ‘What’s wrong with eating meat’ article.

You have said it very accurately that even when a sharp nail hurts our body we
react to the pain and scream so just imagine what sort of pain these animals have
to suffer in the slaughter houses. Those people who eat meat does not have a clue
that the animals also have a soul in them and they do feel pain and pleasure like
humans.

Regarding your first question, many religion scriptures has been misunderstood
and or has been interpreted to suit their own needs. Actually all scriptures holy
books emanates from Vedas but it is preached according to time place and
circumstances. For example in ancient times the Rishis use to do sacrifices of old
animals and brought them back in a new body, they use to do this just by
utterance of powerful Mantra’s. Now this has been misinterpreted to kill the
innocent animals and eat them. The general mass of people are misguided and the
whole world is suffering due to this. People need to wake up and see the truth and
practise a life of non-violence and devotion to the Supreme God Lord Sri Krishna.
Those religions who advocate meat eating is for people with a degraded
consciousness or animal consciousness, they will not be able to understand the
higher dimensions of devotion to God. They will believe in God but at the same
time have all the demonic qualities.

Regarding your second question, it is duty of everyone to take up this initiative

and preach about devotion to God and vegetarianism. We should not be hesitant
of preaching the absolute truth, don’t worry about the harsh responses or the
consequences Lord Krishna will surely protect his devotees.

Yes no one can threaten God. Also the all-powerful, kindful almighty himself
does time to time interfere directly and frequently in these matters, he says in the
Bhagavad Gita:-

yadā yadā hi dharmasya

glānir bhavati bhārata
 abhyutthānam adharmasya
tadātmānaḿ sr ̣jāmy aham

Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of

Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion — at that time I descend Myself.
(Bhagavad Gita 4.7)

Sometimes the Lord himself personally descends, sometimes he comes as

incarnations and sometimes he sends his devotees like Srila Prabhupada to preach
pure devotional service on earth. Also the Lord comes and gives us his message
or sometimes through the prophets and devotees, but people due to free will still
ignore the message and engage in sinful activities.

In a very recent incarnation Lord Krishna appeared as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu

who spread the chanting of:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare,

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu spread the religion of this age which is to chant the
names of God in the form of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. This was the Lords
weapon to kill the demonic mentality of people in this degraded age of Kali Yuga.
Just by chanting this mantra it will counteract all the negative influence of this
world and people would become pure and develop Love of God. Lord Krishna is
personally here in the sound vibration of Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. The Lord is
non-different to is name, he is present whenever his names are chanted.

So if you have time please chant the Hare Krishna Mantra and read Srila
Prabhupada’s books, also please help to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books
everywhere, this way the true spiritual knowledge will be spread all over the
world.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

15. Himanshu Chaudhary says:

November 20, 2012 at 10:17 am

Just one small question…

Aren’t plants are living being as well?? Is it not the sin to kill plants for our food??
Thanks
Himanshu

Reply

o admin says:

November 22, 2012 at 1:31 pm

Hare Krishna Himanshu,

Thank you for your comments on ‘What’s wrong with eating meat’ article.

Regarding your question, ‘Plants are also living being is it not a sin to kill plants
for food too’?

This explanation is given in Srimad Bhagavatam (3.29.15) purport by the founder

Srila Prabhupada:

“Sometimes the question is put before us: “You ask us not to eat meat, but you are
eating vegetables. Do you think that is not violence?” The answer is that eating
vegetables is violence, and vegetarians are also committing violence against other
living entities because vegetables also have life. Non-devotees are killing cows,
goats and so many other animals for eating purposes, and a devotee, who is
vegetarian, is also killing. But here, significantly, it is stated that every living
entity has to live by killing another entity; that is the law of nature. Jīvo jīvasya
jīvanam: one living entity is the life for another living entity. But for a human
being, that violence should be committed only as much as necessary.

A human being is not to eat anything which is not offered to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Yajña-śiṣṭāśinaḥ santaḥ: one becomes freed from all
sinful reactions by eating foodstuffs which are offered to Yajña, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. A devotee therefore eats only prasāda, or foodstuffs
offered to the Supreme Lord, and Krishna says that when a devotee offers Him
foodstuffs from the vegetable kingdom, with devotion, He eats that. A devotee is
to offer to Krishna foodstuffs prepared from vegetables. If the Supreme Lord
wanted foodstuffs prepared from animal food, the devotee could offer this, but He
does not order to do that.”

So yes even plants and vegetables have souls and killing them unnecessarily and
for personal sense gratification causes sin, that’s why it is recommended to offer
the vegetarian food to Lord Krishna first then later eat that food as Prashadam or
mercy. Lord Krishna can do anything so he transforms the food offered to him
into spiritual food, this will free us from sin and karmic reactions.
 Eating only food offered to Krishna is the ultimate perfection of the vegetarian
diet. After all, pigeons and monkeys are also vegetarian, so becoming a vegetarian
is not in itself the greatest of accomplishments. The Vedas inform us that the
purpose of human life is to reawaken the soul to its relationship with God, and
only when we go beyond vegetarianism to prasada can our eating be helpful in
achieving this goal.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

16. Raj Singh says:

November 21, 2012 at 11:03 pm

Hari Krishna,
I’ve found this article very interesting which is backed up by quality and constructive
research.
I have read and understood it with great pleasure.
Indeed, “what we learn with pleasure, we never forgot”
I have recently started chanting Maha Mantra and indeed it has magical powers.
I have a question please:
What’s the view on taking multivitamins, and other supplements?
As far as I am concerned, most of them might not have animal extracts, however I could
be wrong.
Hari Krishna

Reply

o admin says:

November 23, 2012 at 10:27 am

Hare Krishna Raj,

Thank you for your comments on ‘What’s wrong with eating meat’ article, and
glad you found the article interesting.

I am happy to hear you have started chanting the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra,
please keep chanting as it will purify the unclean heart and develop Love of God.
 Regarding your question on what is the view on taking multivitamins and other
supplements? Well that you will need to check in the ingredients when you buy
the product. You can always check and make sure that the product does not
contain any animal extracts. I dont know in detail of each supplements so it is
advised you to check with the staff working at the shop. I know that we do not
taken Seven Seas Cod Liver Oil which contains fish extracts.

May be you can check on the internet which ones are suitable for vegetarians.
Generally vitamins are good for health so you can continue to take this but just
check the suitability.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

17. priyamani says:

November 24, 2012 at 5:32 am

After this I have changed my decision of eating meat, onions and garlic. It was really
good to know the actual truth which is necessary for this life.

I have another doubt if Brahmans have higher knowledge and power by birth than any
others. Are they superior from all others. Do all humankind are equal before Almighty?
Please reply to this.

Reply

o admin says:

November 28, 2012 at 10:52 am

Hare Krishna Priyamani,

Thank you for your comments on this article. It’s good to know that it has helped
you to change your decision of eating such foods which is not suitable for
humans, especially for those who want to progress further in spiritual life.

Regarding your questions about God seeing everyone equally and about
Brahmanas, well first of all everyone is equal before the Almighty, God loves all
of his children’s and does not discriminate between them. The Brahmans are not
generally born with higher knowledge and powers, they have acquired this
through their penance and austerities. No body attains anything without going
through some sort of austerity in life, even in spiritual life there is austerity to
achieve higher realm.

To understand Brahman’s one has to understand their role in the society. There
are four divisions in society, Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that he has
created this system:-

catur-varnyam maya srstam

guna-karma-vibhagasahh
tasya kartaram api mam
viddhy akartaram avyayam

According to the three modes of material nature and the work associated with
them, the four divisions of human society are created by Me. And although I am
the creator of this system, you should know that I am yet the nondoer, being
unchangeable. (Bhagavad Gita 4.13)

There is a natural system of social organization which can bring about a peaceful
society where everyone is happy. This system is described in the timeless Vedic
literature of India and it is called Varnasrama dharma.

The purpose of the Varnasrama social system is to provide a structure which

allows people to work according to their natural tendencies and to organize
society so that everyone, regardless of their position, makes spiritual
advancement.

The practical application of the Varnasrama system is to divide the society

according to four occupational and four spiritual orders of life.

The Varnasrama system recognizes the natural talents and abilities of each person
and provides work according to a person’s qualities. There are four qualities of
work, the brahmanas are the intellectual and priestly class, the Kshatriyas are the
government, the military and the administrative classes, the vaisyas are farmers
and businessmen, and the sudras are workers.

There are also four spiritual divisions, brahmachari – celibate student life,
grihastha – married life, vanaprastha – retired life and sannyasa – renounced life.
If this system is properly implemented under the direction of qualified brahmanas
the result will be peace and prosperity throughout the world.

So Brahmanas are superior in a sense that they have a very important role to play
in the society and to guide the society in the right direction which is towards
spiritual life or Krishna Consciousness. Even in any organisation there is a
Director, Manager, Supervisor and then the Staff members. So there is some sort
of hierarchy but the goal is to work for one organisation. Similarly there are
 different classes of people i.e. brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaisyas and sudras and they
all should be working together for a better and a healthy society. Brahmans are
like the heads of the society as they guide people, now if there are no brahmanas
then who will guide the society? That is why there can be chaos in the society due
to lack of spiritual knowledge and guidance.

The classification of society into brahmanas, kshatriyas, vaisyas and sudras is

very scientific. In the human social body, the brahmanas are considered the head,
the kshatriyas are the arms, the vaisyas are the belly, and the sudras are the legs.
At the present moment the body has legs and a belly, but there are no arms or
head, and therefore society is topsy-turvy. It is necessary to re-establish the
brahminical qualifications in order to raise the fallen human society to the highest
standard of spiritual consciousness.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

18. johny scott says:

November 24, 2012 at 10:36 pm

Dear sir,
What does geeta says about watching and doing nothing to protect and save these
animals.
what can we do and to what extent so that our karma is also fine and conscious is also
clear, and we also protect the animals or punish the people who kill them?
i am really confused, your article is very good.
i kept thinking for many days, have read it many times.

Reply

o admin says:

November 29, 2012 at 2:36 pm

Hare Krishna Johny,

Thank you for your comments on this article.

It is the duty of every living being to protect the innocent and those that are most
vulnerable. Just because the animals cannot protest like humans it does not mean
that they should be slaughtered. Animals should definitely be protected from any
harm, being kind and helpful to the weak is a human characteristic. The scriptures
certainly say that one should not kill animals, but what to do in a Godless
civilisation. The Government needs to take up this initiative and stop animal
killing altogether. It is the governments duty to punish these people who are
maintaining slaughter houses and those who are selling and buying meat.

If you can help then you become Krishna Conscious and try to preach this
message to other people. This way it will certainly help the humanity at large,
people are doing all this nonsense things because the root cause is lack of true
spiritual knowledge. This Krishna consciousness movement is helping people to
revive their original consciousness which is to be Krishna consciousness. By
loving God we will automatically love all the living entities, when we truly love
God then that love reflects as being compassionate to others and also by helping
them to become God Conscious. This way you will remain free from Karma and
your conscious will stay clear.

Please read ‘Bhagavad Gita As It Is’ by Srila Prabhupada and then distribute this
knowledge.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

 Johny says:

November 29, 2012 at 8:18 pm

Thank you for your answer.

i was really waitin for it.
Recently i got in contact with an indian brahmin and he gave a totally
different view on this.

he said its a known fact that every body has to pay as per his or her’s
karma.
he said we should not interfere in nature’s process of providing justice.
According to him if any person is in any miserable condition then it is all
due to his karma of this life or the previous life.

If any person eats meat in this life and in next life he is subject to get
slaughtered as a pig or goat. BUT if we interfere this process then he
becomes free of this bad karma treatment. and in his place we are
subjected to such a treatment in one way or the other.
Secondly he also stated this is the reason that in past when ever anybody
had to Donate food/money etc… they used to give it to brahmins. as it was
believed that if you donate anything to a person in misery then in return he
gives you a part of his misery. And As humans we should not interfere in
nature’s treatment of justice as per anyone’s karma.
i wanted to know how much this theory is true…and is this also mentioned
in gita.
this was totally new for me, giving me a totally new direction…please
advice !

Reply

 admin says:

November 30, 2012 at 3:08 pm

Hare Krishna Johny,

Thank you for your further enquiry.

Whatever the Brahmin has said to you is correct, yes everyone is

suffering or enjoying according to their own karma, this may be
from this life or from previous many lives. Whatever sin we may
perform the seed gets implemented and it gradually fructifies and
the results are that we suffer for the sin which we had performed.
Some religions do not believe in Karma, but then how do they
explain someone who is born with some defect? This is when the
Vedic knowledge gives us a deeper insight and explains that the
person in their previous lives must have performed some bad
Karma and the reaction is taking place now. People build up so
much bad Karma that they cannot pay all of it in one life that’s
why it gets carried on to the next life and life after. This continues
until they break the cycle of repeated birth and death and this is
only possible by absolute spiritual knowledge and surrendering
unto God with love and devotion.

Yes God has his laws and that is how the material nature is
working. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita:

mayadhyaksena prakrtih
suyate sa-caracaram
hetunanena kaunteya
jagad viparivartate
This material nature, which is one of My energies, is working
under My direction, O son of Kunti, producing all moving and
non-moving beings. Under its rule this manifestation is created and
annihilated again and again. (Bhagavad Gita 9.10)

Someone may do a crime and hide from the government laws but
they cannot escape from the laws of nature, that person will be
punished. Everything is witnessed and controlled by the supreme
Lord and his energies.

Firstly, yes those who slaughter animals will also get the same
punishment in their next life, they will also have to go through the
same process just to balance the Karma out. Now the question
comes in about what happens when we interfere with someone’s
karma. I would like to take few things further to what the Brahmin
has said. Just to let you know that not everyone can interfere with
other peoples karma, but a devotee being surrendered to God can
be empowered by the Lord to do such a task. The devotee can
interfere up to an extent and impart spiritual knowledge. A devotee
is full of compassion and he cannot see other people suffer so they
intervene and tries to help that person come to a spiritual platform.
So the main point to understand is that a devotee does not
necessarily get involved with someone’s karma, but he can
distribute this spiritual knowledge and help that person from
committing anymore bad karma or sinful activities.

For example the devotees in ISKCON goes out on book

distribution and Harinam Sankirtan, they distribute spiritual
literature and they come across so many people who are constantly
reaping their good and bad karma’s. So only a devotee is allowed
to intervene and help other people change their karma so they
don’t have to suffer. A devotee is taking up this service just to help
the fallen conditioned souls otherwise who is going to help the
people who are in ignorance? It also becomes the duty of devotees
to spread the spiritual knowledge, if you see someone suffer
wouldn’t you naturally want to help them?

Secondly, regarding donating to a person in misery will return in

misery is also correct. This is more elaborately explained in the
Bhagavad Gita where it explains that charity falls under three
modes which are: charity in Goodness, charity in Passion and
Charity in Ignorance. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita:-

BG 17.20: Charity given out of duty, without expectation of return,

at the proper time and place, and to a worthy person is considered
to be in the mode of goodness.
BG 17.21: But charity performed with the expectation of some
return, or with a desire for fruitive results, or in a grudging mood,
is said to be charity in the mode of passion.

BG 17.22: And charity performed at an impure place, at an

improper time, to unworthy persons, or without proper attention
and respect is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

So yes if we give some money to someone and that person misuses

the money in wrong things example meat eating, alcohol etc. then
the person who donated the money is also liable to such karma as
they are also supporting the activates in the mode of ignorance. So
one should be careful where and who they donate their money.
Generally everyone should donate and do some sort of charity but
donate to people who are truly spreading God Consciousness and
helping people spiritually this will definitely benefit the donor.
There is a page about charity on this site if you like to read, you
can follow the link teaching, vedic philosophy then charity.

Yes it is true to say that humans should not interfere in nature’s

treatment of justice as per anyone’s karma, the nature will deal
with everything. But a devotee or a God’s representative has a duty
to preach God Consciousness all over the world. Just like Jesus
who freed people from their sins, but people have taken advantage
of this and continuing doing all sinful activities thinking that Jesus
will take their sin. But this is very immature understanding of
people, a self-realised person will think why should I let my
saviour suffer, I will not sin from today.

When Srila Prabhupada the founder acharya of the Hare Krishna

movement came to the west to preach he initiated so many
disciples all around the world so that they can start a new spiritual
life ahead. It is said that at the time of initiation the spiritual master
frees one from all of his Karma, but at the time of initiation the
disciple also promises that he shall not do any sinful activities from
that point onwards, which are ‘no meat eating, no gambling, no
intoxication and no illicit sex’. A devotee then leads a pure God
conscious life.

So someone might then ask what happens to all the Karma when
we surrender to the Lord? Well Lord Krishna promises this in the
Bhagavad Gita when he says:-

sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
 aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah

Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall
deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear. (Bhagavad Gita
18.66)

So Lord Krishna promises that don’t worry about your past sins
and karma, just surrender unto him and he shall deliver you. The
Lord can do anything and he will surely protect those that a
surrendered unto him.

I hope this has cleared few things, if you have any more questions
please do not hesitate to contact me.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

19. Neil Whyte says:

November 26, 2012 at 11:54 am

Hello.
Very interesting article and thankyou. I am in Australia, a researcher, health and fitness
specialist and multiple Guinness world record holder/ performer international.
I can’t say that I agree with you about the topic of milk. The mother suffers when the calf
is taken away from the mother to feed humans – absurd. We do not need it, like milk. I
am not sure how the conclusion of building a better brain occures from drinking cows
milk when after all, cows are not known for their mental gymnastics. Goats milk offers
much more, but I prefer to shy away from any kind of animal milk quite frankly. Cows
milk is toxic, often full of the same garbage as meat like hormones etc, as one famous Dr
quotes ” it is basically liquid meat”.
However, I do like much of the article – I have found much strength in eating organic
food, no animal products, quality exercise, clean water, sunshine and community spirit
and family – I am rarely ill, exceptional vitality in comparison to other 45 year olds – I
will stick with what works for me. When I am 100, I will be still full of vitality.

Reply

o admin says:
November 29, 2012 at 4:24 pm

Hare Krishna Neil,

Thank you for your comments on this article.

The topic of milk is very authoritative and needs to be understood thoroughly.

Just by taking the calf away from the mother does not necessarily mean killing it
or not bringing it back to the mother. Just like a child when distance from its
mother for a short while does not bring pain to the mother. If it’s done in a loving
environment and the cows and mothers are felt protected then they don’t
necessary suffer. Eventually the calf one day will grow up and the mother being
old will eventually leave, how long they are going to remain together? A child
may go to the school but the parents do not suffer as they know they will meet
again during end of the day, similarly the cows and calf’s even separated for a
while will come back together again.

Scientifically the milk itself has so many nutrients and does help in the
development of human body. Even in Vedic times milked has always been used
humanly and has helped to maintain the body.

Also my argument is that even when a child is born they naturally only drink milk
and can only drink milk why? The mother naturally gives milk from her breast to
the child, why does the mother produce milk only? This is natural and God
created system so it must have a reason. Why doesn’t the mother produce
anything else in the breast apart from milk? So it is reasonably accepted that when
the child grows they naturally want to carry on drinking milk which the cows then
provide. That’s why in Vedic culture the cow is considered as mother.

Almost all forms of nature stop drinking mother’s milk after infancy. So the
question here is why do we, as humans, continue to drink milk? We continue to
drink milk for its nourishment on all levels from mental to physical to emotional
to spiritual. Milk alone has countless benefits and a strong healing power. Milk
promotes Ojas, your strength, immunity, and intellect. Ultimately, milk provides
us with those benefits and nutrition that is pretty much hard to find anywhere else.
To simply phrase it, we are supposed to drink milk throughout our lives for its
nutritional values that nourishes and enhances our quality of life by increasing the
strength within our inner core and supports our immunity.

Cow’s milk is what majority of the population drinks. As mentioned earlier,

cow’s milk promotes Ojas, promotes a longer life span, increases intelligences,
improves strength, and the list continues. There are only benefits after benefits
from drinking milk. If you pay close attention, those children who grow up
drinking lots of milk, have a tendency to be healthier and have stronger immune
systems. Milk is an excellent source for calcium, phosphorous, iron,
carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins A, B12, and C.
Also, intuitively, for centuries, the human race has been drinking milk. Just like
we eat our vegetables, we should drink our milk. Our ancestors drank their milk
and it’s pretty much a tradition that has been passed down from one generation to
the next.

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, studies have shown that
drinking milk can improve kidney functioning and reduce the risk of heart
disease. In another study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,
”Boosting calcium intake by drinking milk could reduce healthy adults’ chances
of a debilitating bone break. Healthy men and women supplemented with 1,200
mg of calcium per day – the amount in four glasses of milk – reduced their risk of
bone fractures by 72 percent.” These are just a couple of studies out of thousands
that have been conducted over the years. And with that said, why wouldn’t you
want to drink your milk?

Ayurveda has also laid out the countless benefits of drinking milk. Ojas, as you
may already know is the finest product of digestion and it represents your immune
system, strength, and vitality. Drinking milk promotes and enhances the Ojas.
Milk directly nourishes the life forces and also nourishes all the tissues of the
body. It increases strength, promotes life span, excellent for the eyes and intellect,
reverses the aging process, heals wounds, and increases virility. Furthermore,
milk is used for irritable bowel syndrome, excessive thirst, is good for
hyperacidity, great for heart disorders, urinary tract problems, hemorrhoids, and
bleeding tendencies. Milk is excellent for emaciation, anemia, and fatigue due to
excess physical exertion. Milk can be hard to digest. Therefore, if you have
trouble digesting milk, boil the milk with some fresh ginger and then drink it.
Boiling the milk makes the milk lighter and easier to digest. The ginger will aid in
the digestion of the milk.

There are many more benefits than what has been mentioned. Milk is one of the
greatest nutritional drinks out there and it is recommended for everyone.
Ayurveda continues to say that milk is the first drink of life and therefore, it
should be continued throughout life. (ref. thinkvedic)
Cows may not be known for their mental gymnastics but that is the miracle that
they help humans do gymnastics and keep them healthy.

These days they treat cows and other animals so badly, just for the sake of making
volumes they inject them with all sort of chemicals which produces more fat and
milk in the animals. Also when the animal is killed due to the fear they produce so
many toxins which go inside the meat. So yes it may be right to an extent that
Cow’s milk will not be clear but this is due to not taking care of them properly in
the first place. We need to establish the Vedic principles which certainly are more
natural and pure.

I am glad that you enjoyed reading the article and it’s nice to hear you have a very
healthy diet and maintaining your body nicely. It’s certainly important to look
 after the body and more importantly is to also look after our soul. The Soul also
needs spiritual nourishment and one of the processes to fulfil that is to chant the
‘Hare Krishna Mantra’. The body is temporary and will eventually die but the
soul will continue to move according to our Karma, nobody knows how long they
will live for so we should also adopt something for spiritual wellbeing.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

20. Jeevan says:

December 6, 2012 at 1:59 pm

I have question Sir. If u eat lower animals like chicken and fish only is it less sin that
eating higheranimals like lamb pig etc . I have seen a YouTube video fro Sri Prabudhas
about if you are obliged to eat meat you must eat the lower animals. Can you explain of
obliged is if your Dr advises to eat due to health or if ur health improves with eating
chicken and fish. My questions are those of many any young Hindus who are stuck
between health and religious. And also the convenience of eating chicke aand fish in the
UK. How much dhal can you eat. How much cheese how much soya before u get sick it
and can easily buy a m and s salad with chicken which is health promoting as low infats
and high in iron protein etc … A Westerners view here who wants to be a good Hindu but
struggles to keep his health optimum at cost of con convenience….

Reply

o admin says:

December 11, 2012 at 10:54 am

Hare Krishna Jeevan,

Regarding your further questions about eating meat, well the first understanding is
that there is a soul in every species of life regardless of high or low. We should
not eat meat at all, as a Hindu you should know better about the existence of a
soul in every living entities. Whether you eat chicken, fish or insects the main
point is that by eating such things violence is necessary and this causes bad karma
in this life and life after. We do not have the right to harm or take their life span,
they are living according to their own nature. If a lion gets ill would it be ok to
give your human body for them to eat and get the lion cured? If you are not
willing to offer your body to animals to eat why should they give you their bodies
to cure your health? As I said just because the animals can’t say No does not
mean we should carry on eating them. They are conscious and have a soul. Srila
Prabhupada would not recommend to eat meat, but because people are going to
sin anyway he is saying not to eat beef or anything related to cows as cows are
auspicious and considered as our mother by providing us milk.

My friend I have explained to you before, the Dr will advise many things but it’s
also your duty to go and do your research and find other Ayurvedic alternatives.
Just because Dr says eat meat does not necessary mean you eat meat, you can eat
other things which would have protein and other things which can help you
recover. Also it does not mean that you always continue to eat meat due to health
reasons. As I explained you can enquire about Ayurvedic treatment for your
problems. I am sure it’s not life and death situation where you really need to eat
meat to live. Most of the time its due to our sense gratification and the taste of
meat which keeps us hooked on meat, actually meat is disgusting on its own it’s
just that its marinated with herbs and species which makes you feel its tasty. So
please speak to a vegetarian Dr or an Ayurvedic Dr and they will give you certain
treatment which would recover your health, I guarantee they would not say that
meat is the only option for you to live. Also if possible do physical exercises and
do yoga for curing your health.

Young people are stuck between Health and Religion because they do not know
how to look after their health and how to perform their religious duties.

Also just because chicken and fish is convenient to buy does not mean we should
indulge our senses in them, the whole point is to restrain and control your senses.
Eat nice vegetarian food, learn how to cook, offer your food to Krishna and eat
the food as his mercy then you will not feel like eating meat. By following
religious principles it will also give you good health.

There are so many people who are vegetarians and they eat vegetarian food
everyday like dhal, cheese, soya and they still haven’t got sick of eating it so how
can you? There are so many vegetarian recipes, you will be shocked to eat
different ones every day for the next several months. I would say the same thing
to you, what is in meat, don’t you get sick in eating chicken, fish, pigs, goat, lamb
etc., these things should really make you sick not vegetarian foods. You can also
easily buy salad and sandwich, why chicken?

If you want to be a good Hindu then read Bhagavad Gita As It Is and chant the
Hare Krishna Maha Mantra then see how your life becomes blissful. If you
elevate your consciousness spiritually you will naturally remain far from meat and
its smell. Human life is not meant for sense gratification, that is for the animals.
Humans are meant to do austerity and control their senses, you will be able to do
this by engaging in devotional service to Lord Krishna.
 Krishna maintains everything so why not your health? Give spiritual a chance at
least and see how your life becomes sublime.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

21. Jeevan says:

December 16, 2012 at 7:06 pm

Thank you for your answer. It is difficult to find time to make all these foods however as
a vegetarian I do and so does my family. However the temptation is always there but it is
sin therefore I agree with you. Thanks. Jeevan

Reply

22. Hello says:

December 17, 2012 at 3:01 am

Hello sir. After reading this article, I have chosen to stop eating meat, but I have a
problem. My family eats meat and they want me to eat it. I have no control over what we
eat, and I do not want my family to suffer. What can I do about this problem? Thank you
very much.

Reply

o admin says:

December 18, 2012 at 11:44 am

Hare Krishna Chris,

Thank you for your comments on meat eating article.

I can surely understand your situation and it can be difficult at times to change
something which the whole family have been following for a long time. The best
way in this instance is to try to speak to your family nicely and tell them how you
feel about animal cruelty and that you do not feel right in eating meat. I know it
 may be difficult at the beginning but I am sure they can understand your concerns
and may help you in being a vegetarian. I am not sure if you can learn to cook if
not speak to the person who cooks and if they don’t mind cooking a vegetarian
dish on side for you.

Also nobody can force you to eat meat, as an individual you do have the right to
say no and try something alternative. I can understand that you do not want your
family to suffer, but if you really don’t want your family to suffer then you can
explain the truth about meat eating and the law of karma. Are you helping your
family or are you increasing their suffering by not telling them the truth and
encouraging them to continue to eat meat? Due to free will they may not stop
eating meat but at least they can support you in being a vegetarian.

Animals do have a soul and killing them and eating meat increases our suffering
in this life and the life after. If people had to kill the animals themselves to eat
them do you really think they would continue to eat meat? I think most people
would be Vegetarians as nobody likes violence. People eat meat due to lack of
spiritual knowledge and compassion towards other living entities but this can be
gradually developed with true spiritual knowledge or Krishna Consciousness.

Try to attend any Hare Krishna temples near you where they can show you how to
prepare some simple vegetarian dishes. Also if possible try to chant the Hare
Krishna Mantra which is the most important aspect, this will certainly help you
and your family.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

23. S. Roy says:

December 21, 2012 at 11:15 pm

Jai Shri Krishna.

I am a vegetarian and avoid all forms of meat products, fishes, eggs and fat. Since I don’t
cook my food, I am aware that I consume some quantity of onion and garlic included
with the food, however, I try and keep that at a bare minimum hoping to stop it
completely at the near future.

I would like to know if there is a way for us- vegetarians to influence the meat-eating
murderers around us to stop butchering, selling and consuming non-vegetarian products
and see to it that this nefarious activity is eliminated completely from the face of this
earth?

It is extremely difficult to convince the meat-eating murderers about the evils they are
indulging in and how it is impacting the environment overall.

Also, as per the Vedas, it is permissible to engage in violence against people who indulge
in non-vegetarian food in order to stop this malpractice?

I ask this because I am more interested in the output.

May you enlighten me.

Reply

o admin says:

January 4, 2013 at 11:44 am

Hare Krishna,

Thank you for your comments on this article.

Good to hear you’re a vegetarian and planning to stop eating onion and garlic in
the near future. All the Vedic followers ultimately wishes to see that meat eating
is completely eliminated from the face of this earth. To influence the meat
industry and to the people who consume meat is that we should try to promote
vegetarianism and present the facts about killing innocent animals, eating animals
for food is murder and cruelty. If the slaughter houses had transparent windows
then most people would be vegetarians by now. Would people kill an animal
themselves to eat it? They surely wouldn’t as they know that it causes so much
pain and its violent, people are just being hypocrite.

Yes meat eating is making so much impact on the environment that its becoming
difficult to explain how bad things are, mother earth is suffering seeing all this
ghastly scenes of violence. What we throw on earth is what we will get in return.
Look at the world today, it’s in such a mess, people have misused Gods creation
and now they are suffering for it.

The root cause is ignorance and lack of true spiritual knowledge. So it is the duty
of all the Vedic followers to become pure themselves and preach Vedic
Philosophy all over the world. Try to present the teachings of Bhagavad Gita or
Krishna Consciousness to others and this would certainly make an impact on the
whole world. We need to do more Harinam Sankirtan and create a spiritual sound
 vibration on this earth and everywhere else, at the moment its full of negative
energies.

It is not necessary to get involved in violence, how many people are we going to
fight with, there so many animal eaters and killers around. I can understand your
anger and its natural to feel this way but we have to present a peaceful but yet
powerful formula. Just by violence and shouting to people to become vegetarians
is not going to solve the actual root cause of the problem, we have to present a
higher philosophy which will altogether purify a persons heart.

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the most recent incarnation of Lord Krishna, he

appeared only five hundred years ago. He especially came on earth to spread the
Hare Krishna Maha Mantra (Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare
Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare) which is the most
powerful weapon to kill the demoniac mentally of people, we are seeing this
practically that it is transforming people’s hearts. I don’t know about other
processes but I can totally recommend someone to chant and spread this Hare
Krishna Mantra which will surely awaken peoples dormant love for God and this
will naturally make them love all living entities including the animals.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

 S. Roy says:

January 4, 2013 at 12:47 pm

Hare Krishna,

Thank you for the suggestions. I shall certainly implement them.

Regards.

Reply

24. Kb says:

January 7, 2013 at 2:48 pm

There is nothing wrong with onions and garlic. They are certainly not the same as eating
animals. The reason I do not eat animals is I do not like to make other sentient beings
suffer. eating an onion does not involve the same cruelty as killing an animal.

These food restrictions according to the vedas are different all over India. In some places
only food which grows native to the region is allowed be offered to god. In Jaganatha
puri tomatoes are forbidden to be offered to Jaganatha. Its all just customs and tradition.
even the clothes hare krishnas wear are heavily influenced by Mohammadan styles due to
the muslim ruling of Bengal. However hare krihsnas think that the piece of cloth called a
dhoti or sorry is devotional clothing. Its no different then the Amish wearing 17th century
clothes.

Reply

o admin says:

January 9, 2013 at 10:41 am

Hare Krishna,

Thank you for your comments on this article.

That is nice that you are not eating any animals and that you do not like them to
suffer. Yes your right that eating onions does not involve the same cruelty as
killing an animal, but the origin of onions and garlic is from an animal according
to Vedas and it is not recommended to eat such alliaceous foodstuff. Ayurveda
says that they lead to lust and ignorance.

You are entitled to your opinion but according to the Vedic scriptures onions and
garlic should not be eaten. If the scriptures says something then it must have a
reason behind it. You may not be able to understand as you don’t follow the
process. If people really want to experience the difference in their body then they
should try to avoid onions and garlic altogether, it surely makes a difference. You
cannot challenge something which has been experienced.

There are so many people who have given up onions and garlic and felt a change
in their body and on consciousness level. If you ask in many other spiritual
traditions they also do not eat onions or garlic, for example Jains and
Swaminarayan groups, obviously there is a reason why this is so. There are so
many scientific reasons and research done about how onions and garlic is not
ultimately good for the body. Even if someone says there is nothing wrong in
onions and garlic then that is their opinion but spiritual people who follow Vedic
system do not eat it as it is condemned in the scriptures, I have provided few
quotes below from the scriptures. Even the Yogis do not partake in such foods as
it agitates the mind when performing austerity and mediation.
Also when the Vedas states something it does not mean it’s only applicable
according to a particular region, this is totally misunderstanding. The Vedas
statements are applicable everywhere, not only on earth but beyond the earth as
well. For example the Vedas mentions about 8.4 million variety of species, the
Vedas is not only covering the earth species but species from the whole universe.

We cannot offer onions, garlic, fish, eggs and meat to Lord Krishna here in UK or
anywhere around the world. Lord Krishna has already stated in Bhagavad Gita
that he only accepts vegetarian foods. So do you really think Bhagavad Gita has
another interpretation according to another country, of course not. God is the
same person everywhere. The tomatoes are not offered in Jagannatha puri because
that is what the normal custom is that no foreign food should be offered. Different
parts of the world may vary in their method in offering foodstuffs to the Lord but
the principle is the same, even in Jaganntha Puri onions and garlic is not offered
to Lord Jagannatha.

The clothes which the Hare Krishna’s wear is spiritual and again according to the
Vedic custom. Please understand that the Vedic system has existed since time
immemorial, Mohammdan styles came just recently so how can the Hare
Krishna’s clothes be influenced by someone else? For your information even in
the Vaikuntha planets they wear Dhotis and Saris. Also what did the Vedic
followers wear millions of years ago? In Mahabharata times women use to wear
saris, even Lord Krishna himself provided sari to Draupadi in Mahabharata. Other
religions only manifested in Kali Yuga which is only five thousand years ago, the
Vedas itself has no such date. And yes please do compare again the Vedic clothes
with Amish wearing, it’s nowhere near. So yes Dhoti and Sari are spiritual
clothing.

Please read the below quotes from the scriptures about onions and garlic so that
you know that it is wrong to eat onions and garlic.

From Puranas

palandu lasunam sigrum alambum grjanam palam

bhunkte yo vai naro brahman vratam candrayanam caret”

(Padma Purana, Brahma Khanda 19.10, spoken by Suta Gosvami)

O sages, one who eats garlic, onions, sigrum (a kind of plant), turnips, bottle
gourd and meat, that person should observe a candrayana fast.

“vrntakam jalisakam kusumbha smantakam tatha

palandu lasunam suklam niryasan caiva varjayet
grjanam kinsukan caiva kukundanca tathaiva ca
udumbaram alavun ca jagdhva patati vai dvijah”
 (Hari Bhakti Vilasa 8.158,159, from Kurma Purana)

One should not eat egg plant, banana leaves, sunflower leaves and asmantaka
leaves, onions, garlic. One should not eat sour gruel (a thin watery pouriage) or
the juice of the tree. One should also give up turnips and beetroots, carrots,
kinsuka, forest figs, and white pumpkin. If the twice born persons eat these things,
they all become fallen.

“palandulasunadini jagddhva candrayanam caret

sraddhe devanpitrnprarcya khadanmamsah na dosabhak”

By eating garlic and onions one becomes sinful and as atonement one should
perform Candrayana. (Garuda Purana 1.96.72)

Onions , stool-thriving pigs, Selu, garlic, Goplyusa (milk of a cow before the
lapse of ten days from calving), Tanduliya (a grain growing in faecal rubbish) and
mushrooms— all these are to be avoided. (Skanda Purana 40.9)

The householder taking the rite shall avoid heavy indigestible pulses like Nispava,
Masurika etc., stale food, defiled food, brinjals, gourds, cocoa-nuts, garlic, onions,
intoxicating beverages and all kinds of meat. (Siva Purana 7.10-12)

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

25. surend says:

January 11, 2013 at 6:26 pm

Hi Dear Admin

I need your advice on this question of mine, what is we are stranded in the middle of the
ocean like the movie ‘Life of Pi’, can we eat non-veg to survive or we have to accept that
as our karma and die there , then my second question is what if an fearsome animal lets
make it a snake tried to bite can we kill it to protect our self (i am talking about the worst
situation where you have no choice, either you kill the snake or the snake kills you). what
do you think about this? by the way i am a full vegetarian :)

Reply

o admin says:
 January 15, 2013 at 3:25 pm

Hare Krishna,

Thank you for your questions on this article.

Regarding your first question, just to survive and keep our body and soul together
we may have to eat in such situations. The only time you may have to eat non-
vegetarian food is when you are stuck between life and death as there is
absolutely no vegetarian food option left for you. As the example you have given,
if we are stuck in the middle of ocean, then just to survive we may have to eat
whatever is available. But the point is that we should not continue to eat such food
once there is vegetarian food available.

Regarding your second question, if an animal say a snake comes to kill us what
should we do in this circumstances. Well our self protection is the most important
and its the priority, if anything comes to kill us or tries to kill the innocent then we
have the full right to protect ourselves by fighting back. As for the example of the
snake, there is no harm in killing the snake if it comes to kill you and that you
have no other options left. If you don’t kill it the snake will kill you, so just to
survive you will have to kill.

The scriptures tells us to use our intelligence and also be practical when
necessary. Its not that we are fanatics and that we will just die or let other living
entities kill us just because we believe in non-violence or because we are
vegetarians, no, we have to look at each situation and use our intelligence
accordingly.

Remember we are living in a world where ones food is another ones life, its a
very troublesome place and full of misery. We have to find a permanent solution
where we don’t have to suffer the miseries of this material world, and the solution
is to become a devotee of the Lord and go back to the spiritual world.

Hare Krishna,

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

26. Vidhya says:

January 12, 2013 at 8:58 am

Hare Krishna,
i read the article above and i remember the same being told to me by my sanskrit teacher
back in school. i completely agree to wat is said about avoiding food that brings passion
and ignorance. Moving on the path of krishna consciouness i wanted to clarify one thing.
I stay in a hostel due to my employment and as such it is not possible for me to offer food
to God before it is consumed by anyone. As you said even killing plants is a sin and
hence food is to be first offered to God before consuming. please suggest me what should
i do in my case. I am a vegetarian and i have also decide to cut down on garlics and
onions. Is it okay to to offer food to lord after it has been consumed by several other .
Also please tell what sloka could be recited while offering food to lord to purify from the
sins of killing the plants . . thank you !

Reply

o admin says:

January 15, 2013 at 3:53 pm

Hare Krishna Vidhya,

Thank you for your questions on this article.

The general and the ideal process would be to cook yourself and offer the food to
Lord Krishna before eating the food. I can understand your situation, the best
thing to do is when the plate is in front of you try to mentally offer the food to
Lord Krishna and you can just chant the Hare Krishna Mantra three times. Pray to
the lord by asking him to please accept this food offering then you may eat that
food.

One should always remember that Lord Krishna always considers the love and
devotion in which the food is offered to him. He has all the food in the spiritual
world, he may or may not eat the food we have offered to him but he will surely
accept our love and devotion. So even in this circumstances you can think of Lord
Krishna and pray to him.

The below link will show you how to offer the food to the Lord properly. If you
are out and cannot recite all the prayers and mantra’s then as I mentioned just
chant the Hare Krishna Mantra thrice which will purify everything.

http://iskconbirmingham.org/congregation/how-to-offer-food-to-krishna

Hare Krishna,

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply
27. ABCD says:

February 4, 2013 at 3:02 pm

Avoiding meat on moral ground is pure hypocrisy! Plants can also feel pain. If God did
not like human eating meat, He would have created human as herbivore instead of
omnivore. In ancient world people did not know plants feel pain so they thought only
eating animals is bad. Moreover, poultry animals are genetically modified and they are
killed instantly – so they don’t feel pain.

Reply

o admin says:

February 12, 2013 at 2:32 pm

Violently killing the animals, slaughtering them, still eating meat even after
understanding they do feel pain and pleasure is also pure hypocrisy. I think you
have not read whole of the article. Plants and vegetables do feel pain but to a very
less degree as their consciousness is not so developed like animals or humans.
The article mentions that to live in this material world we do have to eat
something so it’s better to live with minimum Karma and violence. Also we don’t
eat vegetarian food without first offering, we offer the vegetarian food to God first
then we eat as his mercy.

God created different species uniquely and naturally humans as herbivore, but
humans by their free will act in the level of animals which makes them omnivore.
Humans have a tendency to lord it over the material nature and dominate over
lower species, this is a demonic mentality. God created everything perfectly, he
gave us the ability to do more things than animals but that does not mean we
misuse these abilities to kill those who are more vulnerable and defenceless than
us. A human can live by being a vegetarian, animals food is meat.

People eat meat as they don’t know that animals also have a soul, the animals also
eat, sleep, mate and protect themselves just like humans do. If one can raise their
consciousness level by making it spiritual then one will be able to see all this. We
need to develop a spiritual vision so we can see things as they really are. An ideal
civilisation would be to have no violence and a peaceful environment, so by being
a vegetarian we are creating that natural environment.

You must have come across mad cow disease, swine flu and other such animal
related issues, this is because the nature is responding to such cruelty. Have you
ever heard of mad cauliflower disease? Of course not because vegetarian food is
healthy, natural and recommended. Killing animals is not natural. What you throw
 at nature that you will get in return. People are now even mixing horse meat with
other meat, God knows what else they will be mixing. At least the vegetarian
knows what they are eating, they don’t get tomato’s in their potato’s.

In ancient times people were more clever in terms of living a natural and simple
life, these days due to materialistic advancement there are now so many problems,
people are more stressed, frustrated, psychological problems etc., no one is really
happy, this is because we have moved away from that natural way of living. In
ancient times people well knew that plants are conscious, they too require water,
air and light to survive.

According to scriptures just by being a vegetarian is also not enough, one has to
spiritualise the food by offering to God. This is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita.
The Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna more than five thousand years
ago and this knowledge is still practised.

Whether the animals are genetically modified or not, you don’t know exactly
what that means, the animals must be suffering due to that act, how can you put
your own thoughts when you can’t experience it? Also the point is not about
modification the point is that they are still killing, whether instantly or not
instantly. It says ‘Thou Shall not Kill’, this does not mean killing instantly is ok
and killing slowly is wrong, why do people misinterpret according to their own
level of understanding? This is hypocrisy. Those that kill animals instantly or
whether they eat meat will also get their reactions, when bad Karma will come it
will be instantly genetically modified by God. What goes around comes around,
its Karma, its laws of nature.

Reply

28. Willem says:

February 9, 2013 at 11:37 am

Why may people not eat eggs in your article about Hare Krishna?
Chickens lay eggs , and in these eggs there’s no birth to another chicken, and sometimes
they eat their own eggs. I tought that eggs were a vegetarian food source.

Reply

o admin says:

February 15, 2013 at 11:45 am

Hare Krishna,
Thank you for your question.

The myth about vegetarian eggs and its health-promoting qualities are misleading.
Its consumption by so many vegetarians is really shocking. The ignorance of such
matter has spread so far that people resist believing that an egg has potential life
and that an egg has an unborn chick within its shell. Man’s desires for food has
made him go to extremes and leading him to eat those foods that are coloured
with violence and pain. Nature has its reason for eggs, not by way of food for man
but as an important link in the reproductive system of hens. It is the craving for
violent food that actually numbs the feeling and thinking capacity of the human
being. He ignores going deep into the subject and shuns the truth of the matter.
But how long will he remain in darkness? For facts are facts and they will never
change whether he accepts it or not.

According to the famous American scientist Mr. Philip J. Scamble, no egg is

without life in it. The scientists at Michigan University in America have proven it
beyond doubt that no egg – fertile or infertile – is without life (inanimate).

Whether the egg is fertile or infertile, life is essentially there; and it has all the
symptoms of life, such as respiration, brain, feeding ability, etc. There are 15,000
porous-breathing holes on the shell, the cover of the egg.

Just because some people want to satisfy their sensory desire (of eating), they find
ways to categorise the food as per their convenience that bypasses the scriptures
and their conscience while filling their stomach.

People even go to the extent of eating Fish by calling it ‘river vegetables’.

As far scientific studies are concerned the eggs are going through the first stage
(development of embryo) single cell thus it is considered to be an living entity
who is about to take birth, so how can we consider it an vegetarian diet we are
killing the being before coming to life.

Egg is the menstrual fluid of a female and I don’t know why people want to eat it.
Have you ever thought why it’s called an egg? So egg is actually not vegetarian
even though it seems like it because there is a life inside the egg, it’s just that eggs
are taken away and kept under certain temperature which stops the egg growing
any further. Please read the below conversation.

{Srila Prabhupada, room conversation with Dr. John Mize, June 23, 1975}

John Mize: The question has been asked about the unfertilized eggs, why they
should not be eaten.
Srila Prabhupada: Unfertilized, but there is potency of fertilization. You check the
progress of one living entity coming out of it.
 John Mize: Once the egg is laid, there is no chance for it to be fertilized.

Srila Prabhupada: No, egg is… The living entity is already there. Just like a
woman is pregnant means the living entity is already there. So as soon as there is
egg, the living entity is already there. It is taking time to come out. Just in the
womb of the mother, the child is taking time to grow and become fit to come out.

John Mize: True, but the egg in the mother has been fertilized by the male sperm,
whereas the egg laid by a chicken was not fertilized.

Srila Prabhupada: Not necessarily. They have got that potency. There are four
kinds of birth: from the egg, from the vegetable, from fermentation, and from
embryo. So from any of these four kinds of sources the living entity comes out.
Anda-ja, udbij-ja, jaraya-ja, and sveda-ja, the Sanskrit name. Sveda-ja, simply by
perspiration. Just like unclean bed they produce bugs. The man gets perspiration,
bad perspiration, and in contact with air, with this perspiration, the living entity
comes. Your coat, shirt, if you don’t cleanse, or your body is unclean, you will
find so many moths within the shirt. How it is coming? From the perspiration, bad
perspiration, bad smell. Not that every time the male female combination
required. There are other sources also.

We do not recommend prohibition of eggs because of living entity. It is not very

good food. It agitates the senses. Therefore we prohibit.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

29. L Carnes says:

February 9, 2013 at 12:56 pm

The CREATOR Eloheim, Jehovah, the Christ, Lord Jesus, made all things, animals
included. God in the O.Testament stated man could EAT animals but NOT their blood.
Animals were made on a lower scale and did NOT bear the IMAGE of God like man did
so they are NOT one and the same in the order of living creatures made by God. So to say
we can’t kill an animal and use it for food or for the Old Tesatment folks who sacrificed
them unto God is absolutely foreign to God and to Christians and/or Jews! In fact the
REAL God has spoken hear Him!

Reply
o admin says:

February 15, 2013 at 3:42 pm

Hare Krishna,

Please read and understand the Bible yourself:-

Bible references about Vegetarianism

Meat-eating

While the Bible – in many places – seems to endorse meat-eating, these sections
should not be taken out of context. Instead of using Noah’s emergency expedient
(following the flood in which all vegetation was wiped out) as outlined in Genesis
9:3. a more important diet is the original one, enunciated by the Lord in Genesis
1:29:

“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb-bearing seed and every tree,
in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat (food).

“God further indicates-in the very next verse that this diet is “good,” while the
later diet referred to – the one containing meat – was allowed “simply to satisfy
their lust.” This is outlined quite clearly but, again, it must all be studied in
context.

The example of the quail God purportedly arranged for the children of Israel, after
they “tired” of His manna (Numbers 11:31), is a prime example of quoting out of
context. Indeed, verses 31 and 3 2 (of Numbers) describe the quail and the
feasting that followed, but verse 33 must be read to secure the full impact of this
passage:

“And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of
the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote them with a great
plague.”

He was not happy with their meat-eating. It also becomes clear when one studies
the early history of the Church that the founding fathers espoused the vegetarian
ideal. You can study their lives: Tertullian, Pliny, Origen, St. John Chrysostom,
the list goes on and on. Parenthetically, that these early Church fathers were
avowed vegetarians makes a large statement as to what we may have read in the
Bible before it was worked on at the various Ecumenical councils

It was not until the time of Emperor Constantine (Fourth Century) that vegetarian
Christians had to practice underground – this was because Constantine was a
meat-eater. He was also a maniac, and Church history books abound with the
stories of how he would pour molten lead down the throats of Christian
vegetarians for their chosen diet. Incidentally, he also killed his wife by setting
her in a vat of boiling water.

Scriptural knowledge is simple for the simple – but it is difficult for the twisted.
The Bible clearly says “Thou shall not kill” (Exodus 20:13). It could not be stated
more simply. The exact Hebrew is lo tirtzach, which accurately translates:

“Thou shall not kill.”

One of the greatest scholars of Hebrew/English linguistics (in the Twentieth

Century) Dr. Reuben Alcalay has written in his mammoth book The Complete
Hebrew/English Dictionary that “tirtzach” refers to “any kind of killing
whatsoever”. The word “lo,” as you might suspect, means “thou shalt not.”
DON’T KILL! Let’s face it, the Bible is clear on this point.

The Vedic* literature is also clear on this point. In fact, the Vedas take this point
beyond vegetarianism, because there is still a sinful reaction in killing vegetables.
Therefore, the Vedic prescribe a lacto-vegetarian diet, the diet which is least
harmful to living beings – and a special process to free one from the minimal
sinful reaction that is there from killing the plants. The process is given in
rudimentary form in Bhagavad-gita*, and is elaborated upon in Srimad-
Bhagavatam*. After applying the process – which centers about the chanting of
the holy Name of the Lord with love and devotion – the foodstuffs are known as
prasadam, a Sanskrit word which means “the Lord’s mercy.”

Many Bible scholars persist with the theory that Christ ate animal flesh, obviously
swayed in their opinions by personal habits. The desire to accede to prejudice and
uphold existing tradition has been a human characteristic for many centuries, but
truth appears now even more important as man exerts his independence in so
many aspect of life.

__________________________

Respected Bible scholar Rev. V.A. Holmes-Gore has researched the frequent use
of the word “meat” in the New Testament Gospels. He traced its meaning to the
original Greek. His findings were first published in World Forum of Autumn,
1947. He reveals that the nineteen Gospel references to “meat” should have been
more accurately translated thus:

Greek Number of References Meanings

Broma 4 “Food”
Brosis 4 “the act of eating food”
Phago 3 “to eat”
Brosimos 1 “that which may be eaten”
Trophe 6 “nourishment”
Prosphagon 1 “anything to eat”

Thus, the Authorised Version of John 21:5, “Have ye any meat?” is incorrect. It
should have been translated: “Have ye anything to eat? “

“Fish” is another frequently mistranslated word in the Bible. Its reference is often
not to the form of swimming life, but to the symbol by which early Christian
could identify each other. It was a secret sign, needed in times of persecution,
prior to official acceptance of Christianity as a state religion.

The sign of the fish was a mystical symbol and conversational password, deriving
from the Greek word for fish,“ichthus.” As such, it represented an acrostic,
composed of leading letters of the Greek phrase, “lesous Christos Theou Uios
Soter” “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour.”

Frequent references to fish are intended as symbolic of The Christ, having nothing
to do with the act of eating a dead fish. But the symbol of the fish did not meet
with Roman approval. They preferred the sign of the cross, choosing to
concentrate more on the death of Christ than on His brilliant life. Perhaps this is
one reason only ten percent of His life record appears in the canonical scriptures.
Most of His first thirty years is omitted.

How many worshippers go home from church and sit down to a feast cut from a
once proud beast in defiance of the very commandments they have just been
advocating? The verses below should clear up any misgivings the reader may
have in this connection.

DISCUSSIONS OF MEAT IN THE BIBLE (OLD TESTAMENT)

“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is on the
face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding
seed; to you it shall be for meat.” Genesis 1:29

Shows that the true diet of man is vegetarian.

“But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. And
surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I
require it.” Gen. 9:4-5

Shows that man is not allowed to eat meat, and if he does he will pay with his
own life. And he will be killed by the one he kills. This is called karma.*

“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? Saith the Lord: I
am full of the burnt offering of rams, and the fat of beasts; and I delight not in the
blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of goats. When ye spread forth your hands, I
will hide Mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear,
for your hands are full of blood.” Isaiah 1:11,15

Seems that God does not accept the prayers of a meat-eater.

“He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man.” Isaiah 66:3

Shows that cow killing is equated with murder.

“It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings,
that ye eat neither fat nor blood.” Leviticus 3:17

A trick commandment: you cannot eat meat and not eat blood. This is the origin
of the idea of Kosher food (meat with the blood drained out of it). It has been
compared to passing stool and not passing a drop of urine. Impossible!

“And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of strangers who among
you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set My face against that soul that
eateth blood.” Leviticus 17:10

Note the term “any manner of blood”. All flesh comes from blood.

APPEARANCES OF THE WORD “MEAT” IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

This section shows how certain words were translated wrongly in the King James
Version of the Bible. The correct translations are taken from the Nestle Interlinear
Greek-English New Testament, which also references the King James Version.

“And the same John (the Baptist) had his raiment of camels hair, and a leathern
girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.” Matthew 3:4

The word used here is trophe, nourishment. Also note that the word “locusts”
refers to locust beans, or carob, St. John’s bread.

“And her spirit came again (referring to a woman Jesus raised from the dead), and
she arose straightaway: and he (Jesus) commanded to give her meat.” Luke 8:55

The word used here is phago, to eat.

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a young woman shall
conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. “Butter and honey
shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.” Isaiah
7:14,15
Christians are fond of quoting the first part of this verse as proof that Jesus is the
saviour, but they rarely quote the very next verse, which says he will be a
vegetarian.

“And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he (Jesus) said unto them
(his disciples), Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled
fish, and of a honeycomb. And took it, and did eat before them.” Luke 24:41-43

The word used here is brosimos, eatable. Note the use of the word “it” (my
underline), which is in the singular. Jesus was offered fish and a honeycomb, but
took only one. Judging from Isaiah 7:15, we know which he chose. “For his
disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.” John 4:8

The word used here is trophe, nourishment.

“And when he had received meat, he was strengthened.” Acts 9:19 The word used
here is trophe, nourishment.

“And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying,
this is the fourteenth day ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken
nothing. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is your health: for there
shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. And when he had thus spoken,
he took bread, and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all: and when he
had broken it, he began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also
took some meat.” Acts 27:33-36

All three words used here are trophe, nourishment. Note that even though they say
meat, they show clearly that what he was referring to was bread, which they all
took.

“And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and
rejoice, believing in God with all his house.” Acts 16:34

The word used here is trapesa, table. It says he set a table before them!

“But if thy brother be grieved with that meat, now walkest thou not charitably.
Destroy him not with thy meat, for whom Christ died.” Romans 14:15

Both words used here are broma, food. This is actually a reference to spiritual
food.

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, joy
in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17

The word used here is brosis, act of eating.

This is a reference to the fact that the kingdom of God is not material.

“But meat commendeth us not to God, for neither, if we eat, are we the better,
neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.” I Corinthians 8:8

The word used hereis broma, food. This verse does not say that it doesn’t matter if
we eat meat or not, but that the activity of eating has little to do with our
relationship of God.

“Wherefore, if meat makes my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the
world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.” I Corinthians 8:13

“And (they) did all eat the same spiritual meat;” I Corinthians 10:3 The word used
here is broma, food.

“For meat destroy not the word of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil
for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink
wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made
weak.” Romans 14:20-21 A very good verse.

The word meat used here is broma, food. It shows that it is not food that is wrong,
it is not eating prasadam* food offered to God. The word flesh used here is kreas,
flesh. So it is clear that meat eating is not good.

Srila Prabhupada Letter to Madhudvisa, January 26, 1970:

“Actually, one who is advanced will not find any contradiction. The Christians
teach love of Godhead, and we practically do it. So one has to understand from
the practical point of view. A man is judged by his activities. We see that they are
engaged in smoking habits, eating meat and indulging in free mixing of boys and
girls; these are not the activities of religious persons. Lord Jesus said and the
Bible also says, “Thou shalt not Kill.” But they are eating meat. So we must see
practically if someone is leading a pure life and not be blinded by some sentiment.
Our students are strictly observing the four rules or restraints from impure habits
and they are factually living according to the highest standard of religious life. So
we are actually following the principles of pure living in Krishna Consciousness,
but it appears that these followers of the Christian philosophy have fallen down
from the transcendental platform.

Notes:

*Prasadam : Krishna devotees eat Prasadam. Vegetarian food that is offered to

God. It is a Sanskrit word which means “the Lord’s mercy.”

*Karma: The law of action and reaction. Every action follows an equal reaction.
*The Vedas: The ancient Vedas (Sanskrit ववववव véda, “knowledge”) are a
large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the
texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of
Hinduism. The Vedas are apauruṣeya (“not of human agency”). They are
supposed to have been directly revealed, and thus are called śruti (“what is
heard”), distinguishing them from other religious texts, which are called smṛti
(“what is remembered”).

*Bhagavad-gita: The Bhagavad Gita (Hindi: ववववववव ववववव वववव,

Śrīmad bhagavad gītā : The Song of the Bhagavan, often referred to as simply the
Gita, is a 700-verse scripture that is part of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. This
scripture contains a conversation between Pandava prince Arjuna and his guide
Lord Krishna on a variety of theological and philosophical issues.

*Srimad-Bhagavatam: The Bhāgavata Purāṇa (Devanāgarī: वववववववववव,

also known as Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, or Bhāgavata) is one of the “Maha” Puranic
texts of Sanskrit literature, with its primary focus on bhakti (religious devotion) to
Krishna, who is “Bhagavan, God himself”. The Sanskrit text comprises twelve
skandas (cantos or books) and some 18,000 verses.#

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

 S. Roy says:

February 16, 2013 at 11:41 am

Dear Prabhu,

PAMHO.
AGTSP.

We need this kind of ‘prachar’ (propagation) more and more amongst

people of the Abrahamic faiths so that can get enlightened and stop
murdering our unfortunate brothers and sisters in the animal kingdom.

Hare Krishna.

Your servant.

Reply
30. ALI says:

February 15, 2013 at 10:52 pm

You did a great job writing this article. I have a question, I hope you can come up with an
answer.
A Tiger cannot eat grass, and even if we manage to force feed him he cannot digest it. A
Goat cannot eat flesh, if we manage to force feed, he cannot digest it. But a human is
capable of digesting veg and non-veg, why? Why did GOD made us in a way to eat veg
and non-veg?

Reply

o admin says:

February 20, 2013 at 2:46 pm

Hare Krishna Haroon,

Thank you for your comments on the article.

Regarding your questions, meat eating is not an healthy option as it contains so

much fat that it can harm the body. Why do the health organisations now
encourage more to eat vegetables and fruits, it’s for a simple reason, its healthy
and good for the body. Our intestines is not designed to digest meat as it takes
such a long time to digest meat. Our intestines are so long that meat actually starts
to putrefy before we can pass them through.

Some people then say why did God give us canine (sharp) teeth. Well God gave
us canine teeth so we can break and eat solid vegetarian foods. It’s not that we
should be having meat because we have canine teeth. Also humans “canines” look
nothing like a carnivore’s. A human can’t run fast enough to catch its food but the
tiger can, you don’t have the nails or teeth to kill it and tear it apart. You can’t eat
it raw or you get sick. Your jaw does not only move vertically like a carnivore’s.

Humans are not designed to eat meat, but people still do after some unnatural
processing. Vegetarian/Vegan diets are healthier because of our body design in
relation to food. Human intestines, like herbivore intestines, are longer to digest
plants.

Carnivores have shorter intestines so that the meat does not stay in the body too
long and start to poison it as it rots. The canine teeth in humans are very
misleading. Look at a gorilla. They have very large canines despite being
vegetarian animals. These teeth are better suited to bite into fruits and plants than
 animals. In fact, carnivores have claws that they use to hunt which are vital in
catching prey. In addition, carnivores have very few molar teeth if any. Animals
like horses and humans, have many flat teeth intended for grinding plants.
Carnivores swallow more than chew meat. They need the canine teeth to tear
meat, not chew it.

Humans don’t tear meat. They first cook it (no other animals does this to food,
therefore unnatural) then they cut it with a tool like a knife, (there goes away
whole canine theory) then they chew the meat, not swallow it whole. Then the
meat stays in the intestines too long for it to be healthy. That’s why vegetarian
people have a significantly reduced risk of cancers related to the colon.

There is nothing really natural about eating meat. People do eat meat but our
bodies are not intended to do so. If you add all the science around the issue, you
will start to see that humans are not intended to eat meat like they do.
Vegetarianism is healthier and makes more sense regarding our body design. God
has made everything perfect but humans due to being imperfect misuse things and
are violating laws of nature. If you find any scriptures mention about meat eating
it’s been interpreted, meat word has been referred to food in general like
vegetables or nourishment, but just to suit their own needs people have used meat
as in animal flesh. The whole civilisation is marching towards hell, as equal
karma needs to be made according to ones actions.

Anyway in Krishna Consciousness just by being a vegetarian is not enough, it’s

also a sinful act to eat food for personal sense gratification. That’s why the
devotees of Lord Krishna according to the Bhagavad Gita offer pure vegetarian
food without onion and garlic to the Lord, then eat that food later as sanctified or
spiritual food which has now become karma free food.

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

31. Sara Skalitzky says:

April 3, 2013 at 11:22 am

About the ‘Christianity’ thing, I am a Christian. I do not know of the gods and goddesses
you speak of in this. That is true, my family believes that animals and plants have no
souls. I’m not sure which to believe. May you please help? I mean, I try to treat animals
like family, I would LOVE to garden, and whenever I see an animal getting abused or
slaughtered, I get emotional. Animals are animals, humans are humans. We are living, are
we not? Is there anything more to ask?

Reply
 o admin says:

April 3, 2013 at 2:28 pm

Your family does not believe because they don’t have complete information or
knowledge about spiritual life. An advanced spiritualist can perceive the existence
of soul in all species and living entities. People have surely misinterpreted the
Bible to suit their own views, it clearly says ‘Thou Shall Not Kill’. This means we
should not kill anything even animals, Christians say that this commandment
means not to kill humans only, well if that was the case then the commandment
would be ‘Thou Shall not Murder’ or ‘Thou Shall not Kill Humans’, why do
people misinterpret to suit their own needs. This is not following the Bible
correctly.

If we truly Love God then we would love all living entities regardless of their
body covering. When we Love God then this reflects as being compassionate to
all the living entities. I like your views, yes we should see all living entities with
an equal vision as we are all related to that one Supreme God. We are all spiritual
family and we should not harm anyone. In the Bhagavad Gita (5.18) it is said: 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.

When I mean Krishna, I am referring to God. Just like Christ. God has many
names, Krishna means the ‘All Attractive’ supreme person. In the Vedic literature
the information about God is given in very detail.

If you would like to know further then please browse through our website for
more information about God. Also you may want to read the ‘Bhagavad Gita As
It Is’ by Srila Prabhupada, you will gain so much information and guidance about
spiritual life. Also there is a book called ‘The Science of Self Realisation’ by Srila
Prabhupada, this is a very interesting book and it discusses few topics about
Krishna and Christ.

If you have any further questions then please feel free to ask.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

32. krishan says:

April 25, 2013 at 9:34 am

Why don’t you have a look on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.13.47

Those who are devoid of hands are prey for those who have hands; those devoid of legs
are prey for the four-legged. The weak are the subsistence of the strong, and the general
rule holds that one living being is food for another.

and also,
Manusmriti (Chapter 5 / Verse 30) says,
“It is not sinful to eat meat of eatable animals, for God has created both the eaters and the
eatables.”

last one,
Rigveda (10/85/13) declares, “On the occasion of a girl’s marriage oxen and cows are
slaughtered.

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

April 26, 2013 at 9:30 am

Hare Krishna,

Thank you for your email.

The Srimad Bhagavatam 1.13.47 verse which you have quoted is correct but you
have entirely misunderstood the verse. This is what is happening these days,
people are looking at scriptures and then taking things out of context to suit their
own whimsical ideas. Unless you hear Srimad Bhagavatam or other Vedic texts
from a Vaishnava who is a pure devotee of the Lord you will come to the wrong
conclusion and mostly misinterpret the verse according to your own limited
understanding. You have very easily quoted the verse but have you read the
purport to this verse and understood it:-

A systematic law of subsistence in the struggle for existence is there by the

supreme will, and there is no escape for anyone by any amount of planning. The
living beings who have come to the material world against the will of the
Supreme Being are under the control of a supreme power called māyā-śakti, the
deputed agent of the Lord, and this daivī māyā is meant to pinch the conditioned
souls by threefold miseries, one of which is explained here in this verse: the weak
are the subsistence of the strong. No one is strong enough to protect himself from
the onslaught of a stronger, and by the will of the Lord there are systematic
categories of the weak, the stronger and the strongest. There is nothing to be
lamented if a tiger eats a weaker animal, including a man, because that is the law
of the Supreme Lord. But although the law states that a human being must subsist
on another living being, there is the law of good sense also, for the human being is
meant to obey the laws of the scriptures. This is impossible for other animals. The
human being is meant for self-realization, and for that purpose he is not to eat
anything which is not first offered to the Lord. The Lord accepts from His devotee
all kinds of food preparations made of vegetables, fruits, leaves and grains. Fruits,
leaves and milk in different varieties can be offered to the Lord, and after the Lord
accepts the foodstuff, the devotee can partake of the prasāda, by which all
suffering in the struggle for existence will be gradually mitigated. This is
confirmed in the Bhagavad-gītā (9.26). Even those who are accustomed to eat
animals can offer foodstuff, not to the Lord directly, but to an agent of the Lord,
under certain conditions of religious rites. Injunctions of the scriptures are meant
not to encourage the eaters of animals, but to restrict them by regulated principles.

The living being is the source of subsistence for other, stronger living beings. No
one should be very anxious for his subsistence in any circumstances because there
are living beings everywhere, and no living being starves for want of food at any
place. Mahārāja Yudhisthira is advised by Nārada not to worry about his uncles’
suffering for want of food, for they could live on vegetables available in the
jungles as prasāda of the Supreme Lord and thus realize the path of salvation.

Exploitation of the weaker living being by the stronger is the natural law of
existence; there is always an attempt to devour the weak in different kingdoms of
living beings. There is no possibility of checking this tendency by any artificial
means under material conditions; it can be checked only by awakening the
spiritual sense of the human being by practise of spiritual regulations. The
spiritual regulative principles, however, do not allow a man to slaughter weaker
animals on one side and teach others peaceful coexistence. If man does not allow
the animals peaceful coexistence, how can he expect peaceful existence in human
society? The blind leaders must therefore understand the Supreme Being and then
try to implement the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God, or Rāma-rājya, is
impossible without the awakening of God consciousness in the mass mind of the
people of the world.

So my friend this verse is clearly talking about the dangers in this material world
and how the stronger tries to kill the weaker entity, BUT that does not mean you
create slaughter houses and start killing innocent animals and continue to eat
meat. This verse is not about eating meat, also it is not in anyway encouraging
anyone to eat meat. Its discussing about the dangers of the material existence. It
mentions that one living being is food for another which means that we all need to
eat something to sustain our life, but generally animals are killing the animals in
the jungles and the humans are eating vegetables which also has a life, so killing
is done on both sides but that does not mean humans should be eating the animals
food. Human can clearly live with vegetarian food. Also the consciousness level
is different in a vegetable to that of an animal and the karmic reaction is also
different. By killing and eating an animal the Karmic reaction is much higher. So
we have to live and eat to a bare minimum karma. Also the purport clearly says
that we should be vegetarians and offer all the vegetarian food to Lord Krishna
before eating it, this will free us from the karmic reactions. The Lord does not
sanction offering meat to him so we should not eat meat. This has already been
discussed in this article, please read the article thoroughly again. Also if you want
to eat meat then why not go to the jungles and do your own prey, why not catch
the animals yourself and eat it, if not then we are being hypocrite. How about
catching a tiger, will you be able to prey? The tiger has no hands but you have
hands so why don’t you go and prey on the tiger? If your presenting the quote
then I am asking you to follow and apply it on a practical level. Also it says:
Those who are devoid of hands are prey for those who have hands; those devoid
of legs are prey for the four-legged, this can also be referred to animals as some
has hands and legs and some don’t. If sometimes a scripture mentions meat eating
this is meant to restrict them by regulated principles. On a higher level meat is not
recommended at all, meat eating is for those people who have a degraded
consciousness and cannot follow higher standard of spirituality. But we should
not remain degraded as we will have to suffer the consequences and be liable for
such punishment for killing and eating the animals. One has to go through hellish
conditions and balance their karma. So its very risky to eat meat.

Also this scenario is about Dhritarashtra Quits Home, he will be leaving to go to

forest so there was general discussion about his safety. Mahārāja Yudhisthira is
advised by Nārada not to worry about his uncles’ suffering for want of food, for
they could live on vegetables available in the jungles as prasāda of the Supreme
Lord and thus realize the path of salvation.

Also if you are quoting from Srimad Bhagavatam why don’t you look at:

SB 11.5.14: Those sinful persons who are ignorant of actual religious principles,
yet consider themselves to be completely pious, without compunction commit
violence against innocent animals who are fully trusting in them. In their next
lives, such sinful persons will be eaten by the same creatures they have killed in
this world.

If you really would had read the whole Srimad Bhagavatam you would become a
vegetarian and a devotee of Lord Krishna and surrender unto him. It’s really easy
to just browse the net and find verses to suit our needs. If your quoting from
Srimad Bhagavtam then you must also accept it, and the Srimad Bhagavatam goes
much deeper saying that one should offer his life to Lord Krishna.

You quoted:-

Manusmriti (Chapter 5 / Verse 30) says,

“It is not sinful to eat meat of eatable animals, for God has created both the eaters
and the eatables.”
Rigveda (10/85/13) declares, “On the occasion of a girl’s marriage oxen and cows
are slaughtered.

You are quoting these verses but do you know the actual Sanskrit verses to these
so called English translations? You have only quoted the English translations
which has been interpreted by western people who have no clue whatsoever about
Vedic knowledge. They are fools and we are also fools for following such
people’s translation to Vedas. The material presented here is based on a thorough
and objective analysis of roots of Vedic words, the context in which they appear,
Vedic Vocabulary, Philology, Grammar and other tools critical for correct
interpretation of the Vedic mantras. Thus this research series does not merely rely
on blind reproduction of works of Max Muller, Griffith, Wilson, Williams and
other ideologists on Vedas and Vedic language. While they are more popular in
contemporary western academia, we have objective reasons to conclude that their
works are far from authoritative.

The verses you have quoted is not the real translations of the Vedic Mantra.
Please read this:-

A) Rigveda (10/85/13) declares, “On the occasion of a girl’s marriage oxen and
cows are slaughtered.”

Fact: The mantra states that in winter, the rays of sun get weakened and then get
strong again in spring. The word used for sun-rays in ‘Go’ which also means cow
and hence the mantra can also be translated by making ‘cow’ and not ‘sun-rays’
as the subject. The word used for ‘weakened’ is ‘Hanyate’ which can also mean
killing. But if that be so, why would the mantra go further and state in next line
(which is deliberately not translated) that in spring, they start regaining their
original form. How can a cow killed in winter regain its health in spring? This
amply proves how ignorant and biased communists malign Vedas.

B) Rigveda (6/17/1) states that “Indra used to eat the meat of cow, calf, horse and
buffalo.” (translation by Avatar Gill and group)

Fact: The mantra states that brilliant scholars enlighten the world in the manner
that wood enhances the fire of Yajna. We fail to understand from where did Avtar
Gill and his friends discover Indra, cow, calf, horse and buffalo in this mantra!
Also, there is a word “Gavyam”, which are five in numbers according to
Aayurved-cow’s milk, curd, butter, Mutra and Apashisht. Where does the flesh
come into the picture? Mantra clearly says that the king should be well built
through Saatvik bhojan like Ghrit, so that he can defend his country and kill the
monsters.

Can you now see how western interpreters of Vedas has clearly messed up the
translations without really understanding Sanskrit grammar. It takes nearly 11
years just to master Sanskrit language, so how can these western people translate
the Vedic texts, also they are not devotees of the Lord so how can they can they
comment on such scriptures. Also do not get any texts from Islam sites about
meat eating, its all been altered to suit their needs, but eventually truth will
prevail. The whole economic is falling apart and causing severe damage to the
environment by eating meat.

Also can I leave you with the following quotes about no meat eating in the Vedic
scriptures, please read them:-

Yasmintsarvaani bhutaanyaatmaivaabhuudvijaanatah
Tatra ko mohah kah shokah ekatvamanupasyatah
Yajurveda 40.7

“Those who see all beings as souls do not feel infatuation or anguish at their sight,
for they experience oneness with them”.
How could people who believed in the doctrines of indestructibility,
transmigration dare to kill living animals in yajnas? They might be seeing the
souls of their own near and dear ones of bygone days residing in those living
beings.
———————————————
Anumantaa vishasitaa nihantaa krayavikrayee
Samskartaa chopahartaa cha khadakashcheti ghaatakaah
Manusmrithi 5.51

Those who permit slaying of animals; those who bring animals for slaughter;
those who slaughter; those who sell meat; those who purchase meat; those who
prepare dish out of it; those who serve that
meat and those who eat are all murderers.
———————————————
Breehimattam yavamattamatho maashamatho tilam
Esha vaam bhaago nihito ratnadheyaaya dantau maa hinsishtam pitaram
maataram cha
Atharvaveda 6.140.2

O teeth! You eat rice, you eat barley, you gram and you eat sesame. These cereals
are specifically meant for you. Do not kill those who are capable of being fathers
and mothers.
——————————————–
Ya aamam maansamadanti paurusheyam cha ye kravih
Garbhaan khaadanti keshavaastaanito naashayaamasi
Atharvaveda 8.6.23

We ought to destroy those who eat cooked as well as uncooked meat, meat
involving destruction of males and females, foetus and eggs.
——————————————-
Anago hatya vai bheema kritye
Maa no gaamashvam purusham vadheeh
Atharvaveda 10.1.29

It is definitely a great sin to kill innocents. Do not kill our cows, horses and
people.
How could there be justification of cow and other animals being killed when
killing is so clearly prohibited in the Vedas?
———————————————
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!

———————————————-
Kravy da –kravya[ meat obtained from slaughter] + Ada [ the eater]—the meat
eater.
Pisacha — pisita [meat] +asa [eater]—the meat eater.
Asutrpa — Asu [breath of life] + trpa [one who satisfies himself on]—one who
takes others life for his meals.
Garba da and Anda da – the foetus and egg eaters.
Mans da – the meat eaters

Meat eaters have always been looked down in Vedic literature. They have been
known as Rakshasas, Pisacha and so on….All these words are synonyms of
demons or devils that have been out-cast from the civilized human society.

Please read the Bhagavad Gita As It Is and Srimad Bhagavatam by Srila

Prabhupada and purify your existence. If you can please visit ISKCON Hare
Krishna temple and do some seva. Most importantly always chant: Hare Krishna
Maha Mantra which is: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare,
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

Hare Krishna
ISKCON Birmingham

Reply
33. bioscientist says:

May 5, 2013 at 11:10 am

Hello,

I completely accept your premise that vegetarianism is the way to go, out of compassion
for everything living, but I feel vedic explanations do not suffice to provide answers to all
the ethical quandaries that come to mind in the science-driven times we live in.

I will jump straight to my questions, as they will automatically enforce the point I’m
trying to make.

1. CELL BIOLOGY

All cells arise from pre-existing cells. One cell divides into two, which divide into four,
and so on. Is this considered one life or as many?

Isn’t bacterial life considered sacred? Yogurt (curd) and cheeses are the result of bacterial
cultures and by consuming one teaspoon of yogurt we are knowingly consuming
(murdering?) billions of bacteria. Thinking this way, butter and ghee (made from yogurt)
should also be banned, should it not? Or do you group bacterial life with the plants for
sake of convenience?

What is the vedic standpoint on eating mushrooms?

2. MEDICINES/VACCINES

Everybody knows that almost every single pharmaceutical drug (and more specifically,
vaccines) on the market is tested/manipulated on/in animals, and in most cases these
animals die from adverse reactions in horrible gut-wrenching ways. However, these
medicines continue to save billions of lives everyday.

The person who wrote this article would probably be long dead if it weren’t for vaccines,
along with a huge percentage of people who have visited this page. However, by
consuming medicines and vaccines, we have blood on our hands (in the same way eating
meat is wrong, even though we didn’t personally kill the animal)

Aren’t we aiding and abeting in this mortal sin by taking medicines, giving our children
vaccines? Or should we gamble with our babies’ lives and not give them vaccines?

What about mosquito repellents? Should we stop using them and risk malaria?

Knowingly or unknowingly, we are all mass murderers. In spite of this, we turn a blind
eye to the things we can’t control and live in an illusion that we are innocent.
Imagine the trees that were cut down (and all the birds, insects) that died in the
construction of your ISKON temples, hospitals, etc…. I could go on and on… you are not
as ‘sattvic’ as you might think you are.

Again, I do not disagree with you, my aim is to point out the insufficiencies of the vedic
scriptures, as they are outdated, and cannot address contemporary ethical issues that they
could not have even imagined at the time the vedas were written.

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

May 28, 2013 at 3:20 pm

Hare Krishna,

Thank you for your questions.

Q. All cells arise from pre-existing cells. One cell divides into two, which divide
into four, and so on. Is this considered one life or as many?

Good question! Each cell will have an individual soul. But in the body, there is
one overall controller of the body. In biology, it is understood that cells are dying
and being replaced constantly, and after 7 years there is a completely new body,
the cells in the body have been completely replaced, but there is one soul that
remains ever present. And only at the time of death, does that main soul leave the
body. So many bacteria, parasites, and other entities also live in the body, but
again, they are not the main controller.

Q. Isn’t bacterial life considered sacred? Yogurt (curd) and cheeses are the result
of bacterial cultures and by consuming one teaspoon of yogurt we are knowingly
consuming (murdering?) billions of bacteria. Thinking this way, butter and ghee
(made from yogurt) should also be banned, should it not? Or do you group
bacterial life with the plants for sake of convenience?

Other life forms by nature have a very short life span. Even when we are
breathing we are killing so many bacteria, when we wash our hands, when we sit
down on a chair we crush so many, every step we take, we are stepping on
something. So we do get bad karma for that. It is the nature of this world. But the
point is to kill as less as possible. As I understand it, the bacteria in yoghurt
actually help in digestion, they don’t get killed like that. But as I said before,
anyway, bacteria have a short life span. Thats the way nature has made them. If
you want to know about the evolution of consciousness and reincarnation, I can
explain it next time, and that will put life forms into perspective. Depending on
how ‘conscious’ a life form is, there is more or less bad karma. The less conscious
a life form, the less pain there is in death, so the less bad karma. The more
conscious or aware an organism is, then the more it feels pain at death and
therefore more bad karma. It is impossible to avoid killing. Even killing
vegetables has bad karma, because it is still painful for a plant to die – less pain
than in animals, but nonetheless, it is still painful.

So that is why Krsna says in Bhagavad Gita, chapter 18, verse 66, that give up all
religion, and just become His devotee, and He will free you from sin. He also says
(BG 3.13) whatever you eat, offer it to him in sacrifice. This frees the devotee
from sin, even from killing a vegetable. However, Lord Krsna does not eat meat,
therefore we don’t kill animals. Also, the nervous system of a plant is very
undeveloped compared to an animal. Animal feels lot more pain, than a plant. So
these are some points regarding why we eat vegetables and yoghurt.

Q. What is the vedic standpoint on eating mushrooms?

Mushrooms are considered lower class (mode of ignorance) food because it grows
in dirty places (eg where animals have left dung). But they are considered on
same level as plants in terms of their nervous system, it is not very developed and
therefore there is not as much pain as an animal when a mushroom is plucked.

Q. Everybody knows that almost every single pharmaceutical drug (and more
specifically, vaccines) on the market is tested/manipulated on/in animals, and in
most cases these animals die from adverse reactions in horrible gut-wrenching
ways. However, these medicines continue to save billions of lives everyday. The
person who wrote this article would probably be long dead if it weren’t for
vaccines, along with a huge percentage of people who have visited this page.
However, by consuming medicines and vaccines, we have blood on our hands (in
the same way eating meat is wrong, even though we didn’t personally kill the
animal). Aren’t we aiding and abeting in this mortal sin by taking medicines,
giving our children vaccines? Or should we gamble with our babies’ lives and not
give them vaccines?

The first point is that it is impossible to live in this world without harming other
living entities. However, we should reduce any killing or harming anyone else as
much as possible. When it comes to animal testing for luxuries, eg cosmetics
(lipsticks, makeup etc), that is avoidable. You’re not going to die if you don’t
wear make up. But for medicines, the purpose is higher, that of survival. So that is
allowed. However, it doesn’t give license to kill/harm animals as they please.
Everyone who uses the medicine will have to take some percentage of the bad
karma for harming the poor animal. So that has to be taken into consideration
when deciding whether we want to take medicine or not. If it is life or death
situation, we would probably favour taking the medicine, but avoid if possible.

Krsna says that if we surrender to Him, then He takes our bad karma. So
ultimately we have to take shelter of Him. Anyway, medicine will only work if
the Lord wants it to work, ultimately it is the Lord who will save us. Many
devotees don’t like to take medicines and instead they chant His holy names, and
depend on the Lord to save them.

Q. What about mosquito repellents? Should we stop using them and risk malaria?

Repellents are ok, they don’t actually kill mosquitoes, they just repel them so they
don’t eat us for lunch.

Q. Knowingly or unknowingly, we are all mass murderers. In spite of this, we

turn a blind eye to the things we can’t control and live in an illusion that we are
innocent. Imagine the trees that were cut down (and all the birds, insects) that died
in the construction of your ISKON temples, hospitals, etc…. I could go on and
on… you are not as ‘sattvic’ as you might think you are. Again, I do not disagree
with you, my aim is to point out the insufficiencies of the vedic scriptures, as they
are outdated, and cannot address contemporary ethical issues that they could not
have even imagined at the time the vedas were written.

I agree that the Vedas were written long time ago but they are still very relevant
today. The way that they are relevant is through the principles. If you can apply
the principles of what they teach, then you have clocked the Vedas. The details
have to be changed according to the circumstance. In our discussion, the principle
is to not kill unnecessarily. If you have to chop many trees to build a temple, that
is ok because you are doing in service of God. Temple is not for OUR pleasure, it
is for God’s pleasure. To open slaughterhouses and kill on a mass scale is not for
God’s pleasure, it is for OUR pleasure, to satisfy the tongue. That is the
difference. Everything we do should be done under God’s guidance, through His
representatives. The more close we come to the Lord, the more we will be able to
hear His instructions and guidance from within, and this will be backed by the
scriptures and other devotees. There are thousands of devotees all over the world
who are practising the principles given by the Vedas, specifically the teachings of
Bhagavad Gita, and are finding their true purpose of life, and finding immense
spiritual joy and having life-changing experiences. Ultimately the Vedas are there
to connect us with God, to help us develop a loving relationship with Him, and
when that happens, we see everything as God’s creation, we feel respect and
compassion for every living entity. In that condition why would we want to kill or
harm anyone or anything. So as realisation develops in the heart, we automatically
understand the purport of the Vedas and God’s will.

If we look at the battle of Kuruksetra, the premise on which the Bhagavad Gita
was spoken. Millions of men died in that war, but Krsna Himself was present in
that war, and He had willed it, because He wanted to rid the earth of the demoniac
people at that time. This world belongs to God, so when He decides to kill
someone or something for the benefit of the world, that is OK, because whatever
He does, He does out of love. Everyone who died on the battlefield got liberation
because Krsna Himself was present, so whatever He does, He always helps the
 living entity. But when we do things for our own pleasure and is against the will
of God, then there will be bad consequences.

Answered by Nitai Kirtan Das

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

o Javier says:

February 23, 2015 at 8:58 pm

Vaccines are a hoax, I also believe there is a cause for every disease and virus. I
am not a conspiracy theorist I just question everything and use my intuition. How
did native Americas lived a better life than Europeans especially those who lived
in Mexico Tenochtitlan and the Mayans in Guatemala? The answer is lifestyle.
Domestication of animals especially slaugherhouses are unclean as were the
lifestyle of uncivilized people. For example, the ancient Mexicans had a word for
the people living in the northwestern part of Mexico “purepechas” which means
unclean or dirty and they actually called them that for a reason, since not all
people behave the same way that actually caused wars. The human sacrifice is a
myth by logic, the priestly class were actual vegetarians when most of the
population ate fish and vegetarian foods. When the spanish came they brough
dozens of diseases and you can relate that to European lifestyle at that time.
Indians in what is now Mexico city once had a golden age of abundance and good
family values, no need for vaccines or animal domestication which attracts
disease.

Reply

34. Kiranbabu says:

June 18, 2013 at 10:17 am

Hare krishna Hare Krishna … Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama … Rama Rama Hare Hare

Is eating Honesy is not sin? Honey Bees gather Honey with so much effort that we
humnas overpower them and extract honey by killing them? Is it not a Sin?? Please can
you explain
 Regards,
Kiranbabu G

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

June 28, 2013 at 12:52 pm

Hare Krishna Kiranbabu,

Thank you for your question.

Eating honey itself is not a sin, it is made from bees and produced naturally.
Killing the bees is a sin, it is not necessary to kill the bees to extract honey from
the beehive, those people who kill unnecessarily are liable to Karma. They have
to take great care when dealing with other living entities. So eating honey is not a
sin but it has to be non-violence and offer to Lord Krishna first.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

35. Jason says:

July 6, 2013 at 9:12 am

It’s all well and good to quote from a scripture that was written a long time ago and state
that this is how one should live their lives and to not do so will incur karmic reactions,
but, you have no proof whatsoever that anything written in Vedas is actually true. You
can’t prove the laws of karma, and you can’t prove that animals or other entities have a
soul, heck, you can’t even prove that you have a soul. Go on, prove it. In the end,
everything that you have quoted comes down to belief, everything and yet you take it as
fact, unverifiable fact. Even the stories written in scripture you take as fact when a large
part are allegories.

BTW, these scriptures you so happily quote and blindly follow aren’t as old as you think.
It’s accepted in the academic community that the Purana’s were written between 400BC
and 1000AD.

If you want to look at the oldest recorded culture on the planet, look to the Egyptians,
whose history is able to be traced back and verified to 3100BC.
I know people need to believe in something, but, admit when you make mistakes. Vedic
priests did sacrifice and kill animals. And talk about hypocrisy, it’s ok for the Pandavas
to eat meat but not anyone else? Try to explain that one by quoting from some scriptural
text. I suppose you just blindly accept any explanation given right without thinking about
the matter for yourself.

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

July 9, 2013 at 2:32 pm

Thank you for these comments and raising these questions. I hope you dont mind
if I argue the points strongly.

Firstly, you mentioned that we quote a scripture that was written a long time ago.
In fact, Bhagavad Gita was supposed to have been spoken 5000yrs ago. Let’s say
that’s true, for your argument, because that is a very long time ago. How can it
still be relevant today? The answer is that the words in this scripture are absolute
truth, not relative truth. Relative truth changes according to time. So for example,
it may be sunny and hot today, but it may not be on another day, so “It is sunny
and hot” is a relative truth. However, the Bhagavad Gita was true 5000yrs ago, it
is still true today, and in 5000yrs time, it will still be true. I think it’s amazing that
people all over the world are still talking about a book that was written 5000yrs
ago. There must be something valuable in it, otherwise it would have died out a
long long time ago.

Regards the comment about faith, yes, I agree things are based on faith. But the
thing that you may not realise is that it is NOT blind faith. We are taught to use
our intelligence, and doubt and question, just as you are doing. I myself am a
software engineer, so I come from a scientific background. I have asked all the
questions that you are asking. So why is it that I am practising Krishna
consciousness now, 20yrs later. It is because I have had experience.

You see, science means, there’s a theory, and then you do the experiment, and
then you observe the results, and then you draw a conclusion, is the theory correct
or not? The process of Krishna consciousness follows the same scientific process,
read the scriptures, APPLY it, then observe the results, and then make your mind
up if they’re true.

I can say this, Krishna consciousness (KC) works. Unless you have tried it for
yourself, and applied yourself properly, you can only speculate about KC, about
the scriptures, and anything about it. In fact, I would be bolder, and say if you
really dont believe in KC, try it, because only then will you know for sure. Read
the scriptures, chant Hare Krishna, listen to kirtan, and then tell me if it doesnt
work. I meet countless people, Chinese, Indian, British, Russian etc etc, some of
whom were athiests, some were Muslim, Christian etc who have tried the process
of KC, experienced the wonderful results, and are so dedicated to Lord Krishna it
would shock you. And these are intelligent people, well educated etc. The reason
why they have taken up this process is because they have experienced the effects
of KC. It is very scientific. The scriptures are very scientific.

Regards your point about the soul, Bhagavad Gita gives a very simple analogy.
Just like in this body, we change from boyhood, to youth to old age, similarly we
change bodies at the time of death. So that means, even in this very life we are
changing bodies. If you ask anyone from a medical profession, they can confirm
that science says that every single cell in our body changes every 7yrs. That
means effectively, we are reincarnating even in this very life, many many times.
So what is it that stays the same? That is you, the soul.

Also, when you compare a living body with a dead body, what is the difference?
The heart is there in both, liver, brain, blood, etc etc, all the material elements are
there in both, yet the relatives of that dead person are crying, “Oh, why have you
left us?” So what is that thing that has left? The body is lying right in front of
them, so it is the soul that has departed.

Again, if you practice KC, you will soon realise that there is a soul, you will
experience it. Many ppl have had out of body experiences, ppl who are not
religious or spiritual. There are thousands of cases of children who have related
about their past lives, Muslim kids, christian kids etc. Look up Ian Stevenson in
Wiki, and you’ll see what I’m talking about. There is so much evidence of the
soul, but if you want to remain blind to it, you can easily dismiss scriptures, or
any of this stuff. And say its all made up. But then, I would say you are following
blindly!

Regards Pandavas eating meat. Even if they did, you cant use one example to
dismiss everything that KC teaches. KC teaches not to eat meat because it is in the
mode of ignorance, and hampers our spiritual life. That means for us, we should
not eat meat. Let us argue that point first, and then we can discuss Pandavas.

Hope that gives you food for thought.

Nitai Kirtan Das

Reply

 Jagd says:

March 26, 2015 at 4:31 am

Science are not exactly about theory—>experiment—>observation—
>conclusion. That thing is called research and can’t exactly represent more
than 10% of what science is. Science is more about how to observe the
world and the law of nature in logical manner. You see, religions and
other spiritualism demand you to be enlightened to understand the
teaching. It’s not easy and often clash between different faction. Science
might consist a theory but it mostly can be observed by layman as well as
the experts. You can teach even kids about what do you consume in meat
what might it cause and provide them with enough information so they can
make their own choice, consciously. The spiritual based are often just
misguiding children with irrelevant example. Everything can be similar if
you change your way or thinking and you use that characteristic to make
eating meat as a bad thing.
The regular pattern of using similarity in spiritual based thinking:
to acknowledge what “good” as similar
to denying what “bad” as not similar

You simplified thing by separating meat eater and plant eater, but in
nature there’s millions in between. Some primate consumed both bugs and
nuts. They can eat meat not happening since they lacking in human’s
bipedal locomotion which prevent them to carrying tool for a long time.
Primates are the closest (if you insist of using animal) example in term of
teeth structure, digestive system, and intellectual(consciousness in you
language I guess) but you prefer using vague “plant eater” instead. Oh I
see your denial if you ever reply this and I don’t surprised if you trying to
denying your similarity with primates (a.k.a monkey) but think about your
preach about animal having soul and consciousness.

Such is spirituality.

Reply

 ISKCON Birmingham says:

April 23, 2015 at 2:41 pm

Hare Krishna.

Thank you for contacting ISKCON Birmingham.

Science is the truth and Sprituality is also the truth based on the
Vedic teachings. Spirituality does not reject science. A scientific
theory is something that can be proven, spirituality is also
something that can be proven to produce good results.
Unfortunately the scientists are not always correct, becase they
make mistakes and assumptions. For example the big bang theory,
the scientists cannot prove that a bag can create anything, thus the
scientifc theory of big bang creating the universe is un-scientific,
because it cannot be proven. The scientific theory of life
originating from chemicals is also un-scientific, because the
scientists cannot create life from these chemicals which are freely
available. The scientific theory of evolution is also un-scientific,
because they cannot explain how the males and females in every
spicies evolved at the same rate, and so on.

The Vedic knowledge is not man made, it comes from God

Himself. Man is fallible, he makes mistakes, his memory is not
perfect, his vision is not perfect, his senses are not perfect, his
knowledge is limited to individual experience, and so on. Thus
anything that is man made will be full of defects, including
knowledge originating from man. For example the theory of Adam
and Eve beings the first humans on Earth, some 6000 years ago.
This is man made knowledge and this has been proven to be false.
The scientists have proven that it’s impossible for the human
population of the world to originate from one couple. The
knowledge that comes from the Vedic scriptures is from Lord
Krishna (God). He is the compiler of the Vedic scriptures. The
Vedic theory of human origin is that we originated from thousands
of couples and not just one, and humans have existed for 155.522
trillion years in the current cycle and not just 6000 years. This is
one example of the difference between man made and God given
knowledge.

http://eternalreligion.org/time-structure-of-universe/
http://eternalreligion.org/the-science-of-the-embryo-development/
http://eternalreligion.org/the-science-of-the-soul/
http://eternalreligion.org/evolution/

Man is fallible (will be wrong many times).

“There are two classes of beings, the fallible and the infallible. In
the material world every entity is fallible, and in the spiritual world
every entity is called infallible.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita
15.16)

God is beyond the fallible and the infallible (Never wrong).

“Because I am transcendental, beyond both the fallible and the

infallible.. (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 15.18)
Lord Krishna (God) is the origin of all Vedic knowledge.

“I am the compiler of Vedānta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.

(Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 15.15)

Spirituality is to follow the Laws of God

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Fearlessness;

purification of one’s existence; cultivation of spiritual knowledge;
charity; self-control; performance of sacrifice; study of the Vedas;
austerity; simplicity; nonviolence; truthfulness; freedom from
anger; renunciation; tranquillity; aversion to faultfinding;
compassion for all living entities; freedom from covetousness;
gentleness; modesty; steady determination; vigor; forgiveness;
fortitude; cleanliness; and freedom from envy and from the passion
for honor – these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong
to godly men endowed with divine nature.” (Lord Krishna,
Bhagavad-Gita 16.1-3)

“One who is not envious but who is a kind friend to all living
entities.. (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 12.13-14)

Above Lord Krishna is telling us to be a good human beings, this is

spirituality, so how is spirituality bad?

Fasting is Spirituality

To give the stomach a break is good for us, this is basic common
sense logic.

Meat Eating

Many scientific studies have concluded that eating meat can

seriously damage your health, this is from the scientists
themselves. The Bhagavad-Gita followers are strict vegetarians for
many reasons including humanity (not harm others), show mercy
to animals by not eating them, environmental (because killing
aninmals also kills nature), and human brain scientific logic
(killing animals leads to a mentality of killing humans too). To
stop terrorism, the Vedic scriptures have the only answer. No
meat=No killing=No mentality of violence in humans=No
terrorism.

http://eternalreligion.org/my-dear-humans/
http://eternalreligion.org/why-do-animals-exist/
 Hare Krishna

Kamlesh Patel

Reply

o Ravikumar Shukla says:

March 26, 2014 at 12:06 pm

Hare Krishna Jason,

Dandavat Pranams

As you mentioned rightly, Everything is Based on Faith, so whats wrong with

that, I would say that right now, when you wrote to this article, you had Faith that
someone’s going to read this or maybe reply to it, you had Faith that you were
writing this to a Person and not to a computer program I would say, right from
your Birth till your Death, you do nothing but put Faith on different people at
different times and in different circumstances, for ex: when you grow up slowly,
you come to know who is your father, mother etc….tell me, if you don’t put
Faith, is it possible for you to check who is Father or Mother, you would probably
say, i would check it through a DNA test, firstly it is not at all practical to do a
DNA test of each and every human on this planet, same time even if you beleive
on DNA test, you will have to beleieve a Doctor or a Specialist, now again you
are putting Faith on a Doctor to know who is your father, or else you might also
consider learning about DNA tests, again when you learn you put Faith on a
Teacher who would say this is called as Ribosome and you accept that, you can
go on like this…..

point is, you have no other choice but to put Faith, and thats perfectly fine, untill
you put Faith on the right authority, and the biggest authority is God, and his
words, and how to beleive in God’s Words, its very simple, just Pray to him
sincerely, he will guide you. because he is your real well wisher, he is always
there with you waiting for you to turn towards him, only thing we have is our
intelligence, by which we can choose to put Faith, and how to choose, you can
choose by following Scriptures, any Holy Scriptures not only Bhagvad Gita but
any Holy book, but before that we have to put faith and then move ahead, and as
someone mentioned very nicely, that first you need to practice and see the results
after some amount of time, only then can we comment on something,

Also, I would ask you, if you say that “it is accepted in Scientific community”,
doesn’t that sound something based on Faith, can anyone prove “What is Science”
at first place, Can anyone prove, the amount of Love you have for your parents or
vice-versa actually, there are some things in this world which are beyond the
 boundaries of proving and disproving, for them we require Faith, and its really
wonderful and joyful to have FAITH…

you love your life, your Friends, your Parents, your pet dog etc…Can anyone
prove how much Love you have, but when you put Faith, you get reciprocation
and only by experiencing that reciprocation can we say something so, following
any Scriptures is not Blind Faith, but yes you can call it as Faith, and why to have
Faith because you want Love and Happiness, which is only available with your
True Friend, True Well Wisher….Krishna

All the Best

Hare Krishna
Dandavat Pranams

Reply

36. priya says:

July 12, 2013 at 5:46 am

HARE KRSNA
what about mushrooms? We don’t offer them to the (temple) Deities and most Hare
Krishna devotees never touch them, though some do.So Mushrooms are actually edible
for devotees or not? Are they technically acceptable within ISKCON ?

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

July 29, 2013 at 12:25 pm

Hare Krishna Priya,

Thank you for your questions. In regards to mushrooms, devotees do not eat
mushrooms and they cannot be offered to the deities. Srila Prabhupada said that
because mushrooms grow in a filthy place, they are not usually offered to
Krishna. They are, after all, a fungus, and do not help to elevate the consciousness
like ‘sattvic’ foods do. Hence they are generally included in the category of
‘tamasic’ foods or mode of ignorance. So they are technically not acceptable
within ISKCON.

Hare Krishna
ISKCON Birmingham
 Reply

37. mahakaaal says:

December 13, 2013 at 12:36 am

Dear, Hare Krishnaji

Why is it neccesary to bribe Krishna by placing offerings of plant kingdom which also
has life, why this bias? By offering to Krishna how can you be so sure that he has
exempted you from sin because he himself cant change the rule of nature for you. How
he can be happy to see his plant kingdom getting destroyed everyday, will all
vegetranians be plants in next life and vice versa? Please enlighten us with your great
vedic knowledge.

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

December 16, 2013 at 1:00 pm

Hare Krishna,

Thank you for contacting ISKCON Birmingham. Regarding your questions, well
first you need to understand what does Krishna want and what is he asking us to
do, and ultimately what is pleasing to him. To find this information we have to
find out what he tells us, and he vividly explains what we need to do in the
Bhagavad Gita.

We are not bribing Lord Krishna by offering the food to him because that is what
Lord Krishna asks us to do, below is the verse from Bhagavad Gita 9.26:-

patram puspam phalam toyam

yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tad aham bhakty-upahrtam
asnami prayatatmanah

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

Also Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita 9.27

yat karosi yad asnasi

yaj juhosi dadasi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kurusva mad-arpanam

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.

So from the above verses we understand that Lord Krishna wants us to offer the
vegetarian food without onions and garlic to him with love and devotion and he
says he will accept it. So we are only doing what God is asking us to do.

Regarding your second question, How can you be so sure that he has exempted u
from sin because he himself can’t change the rule of nature for you?

Krishna is God and God is not under any rules, he can make rules and he can also
break rules. He can do anything, he can turn matter into spirit just by a glance. For
a devotee who offers food with love and devotion he personally says in the
Bhagavad Gita that he accepts that food, so when Krishna eats that food it
becomes spiritual, it does not remain matter anymore so there is no sin left, that is
how we become purified of sin. So we can be sure by offering the food we eat to
Krishna and see if it helps us progress spiritually, this is the test. Devotees in
ISKCON offer their food to Lord Krishna and we have seen such devotees
advancing nicely in Krishna Consciousness. Krishna Consciousness is very
scientific, if you read something from Bhagavad Gita then that is theory, but then
if you apply the teachings then you will come to some results, from the results
you can come to a conclusion whether it works or not. I am sure it works as the
consciousness starts to become pure and it helps us become more attached to Lord
Krishna.

Regarding your last question, How he can be happy to see his plant kingdom
getting destroyed every day, will all vegetarians be plants in next life n vice
versa?

As the above verses from the Bhagavad Gita explains that we can offer vegetarian
foods to God because he has sanctioned it, patram means a leaf, especially the
tulsi leaf can be offered, also you can offer the tulsi leaf with the vegetarian food
and the Lord will accept it. I am not sure if you have read the article properly but
it has been mentioned about vegetarian food as well. If we eat vegetarian food
without offering to the Lord then we are only eating sin, but as living beings we
need to eat something to live, so even though the plants and vegetables has life
because God has sanctioned it we can eat it, God has not sanctioned meat eating,
so we should not eat meat, fish, eggs etc. No, vegetarians will not become plants
in their next life, if they have offered the food to Lord Krishna and have taken that
as Prashad or sanctified food then they will progress spiritually.
 I would advise to please read the Bhagavad Gita As It Is by Srila Prabhupada and
also other books such as Srimad Bhagavatam, you will gain all the knowledge
about material and spiritual life and how to live in this world without being
attached or bounded by Karma.

If you get the chance please visit your local ISKCON temple and chant the Hare
Krishna Maha Mantra.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

o Pawan Alluru says:

January 15, 2014 at 2:37 pm

Mahakaalji,

Plants have life no doubt in that. God has created plants to provide food for us.
They give us fruits, vegetables, flowers and leaves. They feed us and help us in
continuing our lives. If we pluck the flowers or fruits, does the plants stop
growing? No. To get fruits, vegetables, leaves or flowers, we need not kill them.
Plants give us new fruits, new vegetables, new flowers and new leaves time and
again. God has given that power to the plants. God did not ask us to kill the plants
to get food. Killing plants and trees is a sin. Killing them is like killing ourselves.
They feed us so they are equal to our mothers.

Reply

 ISKCON Birmingham says:

February 6, 2014 at 10:31 am

Hare Krishna Pawan,

Thank you for your comments. Yes when we pluck fruits, Vegetables and
flowers we generally don’t kill the whole tree or plants. This is gifted by
God. So to be grateful to God we should offer all these items to God
before using them for ourselves, this is Bhakti or devotion and being
grateful to the creator. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that we
should offer everything unto him as he is the Supreme enjoyer, also by
 offering to Krishna we will think of him more and more and this will help
us progress on the spiritual path.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

o Ravikumar Shukla says:

March 26, 2014 at 10:53 am

Hare Krishna Prabhuji,

Dandavat Pranams,

Mahakaalji, Please go through the below mentioned link, if you read the complete
article sincerely, then it will just become a matter of CHOICE for you.

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2012/01/are-there-any-logical-reasons-to-
choose-vegetarianism/

Hare Krishna Prabhuji,

Dandavat Pranams

Reply

38. nilesh says:

January 1, 2014 at 10:17 am

respected sir
is it fine if we kill mosquitoes ,cockroach ,rats , Insects ,which harm us in one or the other
way

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

February 5, 2014 at 3:07 pm

Hare Krishna Nilesh,

 Thank you for your question. We should not be killing anything, we have no right
to kill or take anyone’s life. Every creature is part of God and a devotee never
wants to hurt anyone. Generally small insects are not much harmful, there are
other methods which can be used to keep them away, but killing them is not
allowed. When Lord Krishna protects then what will an insect do to us, if the
Lord wishes then even the smallest insect can kill us. Have faith in Krishna and he
will surely protect us, chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra and read Bhagavad
Gita As It Is by Srila Prabhupada.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

39. Animal Lover says:

January 13, 2014 at 1:37 pm

Hare Krishna

Meat Eater!!! I am just confused about genesis 1.29, can you explain me in simple terms
that what bible is saying about meat eating as i wanted to explain to my kids.

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

February 5, 2014 at 3:31 pm

Hare Krishna

About genesis 1.29, it mentions about plant and fruit to be eaten, it does not
mention meat.

Hebrew: God said, “See, I give you every seed-bearing plant that is upon all the
earth, and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit; they shall be yours for food.

Greek: And God said, “Behold, I have given you every seed-bearing grass, which
is on the earth, to produce seed, and every tree, which has in itself the fruit of the
seed that it has produced–it will be food for you–
Old Latin: God also said, “See, I have given you every seed bearing plant bearing
its seed over all the earth, and every tree that has seed bearing fruit. These will be
food for vou.

Vulgate: And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which
is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree
yielding seed: to you it shall be for food.

Peshitta: And God said, Look I now give to you all the herb which propagates by
seed over the face of the whole earth and each tree in which there. the fruit of the
tree whose seed shall be food for you.

Even though some people say after the flood it was ordained, but this is the start
of Kali Yuga where people will not discriminate against food. Meat eating was
not allowed from the creation, due to people being in ignorance they think it is ok
to eat meat. If you are true Christian you would follow the commandment ‘Thou
Shall Not Kill’ and not engage in violence against innocent animals. Every
humans can live by being a vegetarian no need for unnecessary pain to other
creatures who are also God’s creatures.

In simple terms you can tell your kids that an ideal world would be of no violence
and no killing, everyone should be living peacefully. Also you love cats and dogs
but then go on eating other animals which is not fair, how and where do you draw
the line, this is a pet and this is for food. This is simply cheating and will not help
to progress on spiritual path. Every blood which is shed due to animal killing that
person will be accountable to Jesus. “But you must not eat meat that has its
lifeblood still in it. And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I
will demand an accounting from every animal.” Genesis 9.1-5. This simply means
we should not kill animals whilst they are living especially for food.

After all the meat problems in the world do you really think God wants people to
eat meat? For further detailed explanation please see this link:-
http://iskconbirmingham.org/vegetarianism

Hare Krishna
ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

 Animal Lover says:

February 6, 2014 at 1:44 pm

Thank so much…Hare krishna

 Reply

40. ASHISH SHAHI says:

January 16, 2014 at 10:47 am

Jai Yogeshwar, Jai Keshaw

Thank you, I also feel that this life in invaluable, and should not go in vain, should be
utilized for our purification and divine attainment.

Thanks and regards,

Om Tat Sat
Jai Ishwari, Parmeshwari…

Reply

41. Neeti says:

January 25, 2014 at 7:24 am

Hare Krishna! Im very pleased to have come across this page. It has every possible
arguement answered in the best way. As for my query, Im a practicing devotee for many
years now. And i havent failed to notice quite a few devotees wearing silk sarees.
Considering the kind of cruelty that goes under making silk and the number silkworms
that are killed, how is the use of silk justified? Eagerly awaiting your answer. Hari Bol!

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

February 6, 2014 at 11:22 am

Hare Krishna Neeti,

Thank you for your comments. Nothing can really be justified if an animal is
killed for our purpose. Regarding your question about silk, silk is something
produced by the larvae of an insect. Also an insect such as raspy crickets can
produce silk throughout their lives without being killed. It’s something like a cow
producing and giving milk. But yes every cautious need to be made to see that the
insect are not being killed in the process, if so then there is an karmic reaction
 involved. If a devotee is to use a saree for devotional purpose then Krishna will
see this. Even when we sit down we kill so many germs and bacteria, so some
accidental sins cannot be avoided, but we can try to follow to our best standard.
We should follow the four main regulative principles which are No Meat Eating,
No Gambling, No Intoxication and No Illicit Sex, and to chant minimum of
sixteen rounds of Hare Krishna Maha Mantra every day. By following this
Krishna will protect us and help us progress in Krishna Consciousness. Lord
Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that we should simply surrender unto him and
become his devotee and he will surely protect us from all sinful reactions.

Try to go more deeper in your Krishna Consciousness, read more of Srila

Prabhupada books and render devotional service. We should also seek out more
association of devotees who will help us advance more.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

42. Divya says:

January 27, 2014 at 6:05 am

Hare Krishna
I am 21 years old and I became an ardent devotee of Krishna after reading about him 1
month ago,I stopped eating Non-Vegetarian foods because Krishna didn’t like it.But
since my family do eat Non-Veg foods , my relatives and cousins are forcing me to eat,
and since i am lean, they are telling “already you are lean and if you stop eating non-veg
foods, you ‘ll become like a stick”. And they also mentioned that since for females it is
indispensable to eat because they have to carry children.I defended them telling all
brahmins and Jains do beget children without taking meat.
Whatever happens, I have decided that I will not take meat . But what foods should i take
to develop my stamina in vegetarian ?(After offering to Krishna )

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

February 13, 2014 at 2:06 pm

Hare Krishna
Thank you very much for your correspondence. It is very inspiring and
encouraging to hear that you have developed a deep interest in Krishna and have
already started to make changes in your lifestyle where you are trying to please
Krishna and follow His instructions.

I can understand it must be difficult to have family members who are not
encouraging you in your decision to become vegetarian, it is a natural reaction of
non-vegetarians to respond in such a manner because it is a way of life that they
are accustomed to. Meat is not needed in your diet at all, as meat eating is not a
natural tendency of the human body, physically, emotionally or spiritually in fact
it is very hard to digest as the human stomach does not have the right amount of
hydrochloric acid to break down meat and digest it. To be a healthy vegetarian
you need to ensure you are consuming a balanced diet, as any nutritionist would
recommend. A mix of fresh fruits, salads, vegetables, greens, beans/legumes/
dahls/ pulses for protein, carbohydrates, milk products such as milk, cheese
yoghurts, nuts etc. The UK government recommendation is to have at least 5
portions of fruit and vegetables daily, that could be in the form of frozen, fresh,
tinned or juices. I hope this helps, there are many websites that could help here is
one: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/5ADAY/Pages/Why5ADAY.aspx and also the
Iskcon desire tree website has many recipes to give you ideas.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to ask. I think I will also
mention, that I have been vegetarian all my life and am a healthy and well-built
individual and Krishna has blessed me with two healthy and strong children, so
please do not worry about your family’s concern for the future and child bearing.
Krishna has planned out everything for us very nicely and the way of life He has
set out for us is practical, healthy and karma free.

Many thanks

Hare Krishna

Vrindavani Devi Dasi

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

 Divya says:

February 14, 2014 at 6:30 am

Hare Krishna !!
Thank you mam for those comforting words !! I feel as if Lord Krishna
has spoken to me !! Thank you so much !!
 Reply

43. ganesh says:

February 10, 2014 at 1:43 pm

Respected sir, please do tell us how do we know that god is accepting our lovingly
offered food sir?

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

February 10, 2014 at 3:10 pm

Hare Krishna Ganesh,

Thank you for your question. If you continue to offer the vegetarian food to Lord
Krishna before eating it he will one day reveal the spiritual knowledge to you that
he does accept the offerings. Not only does God accepts your food, he mainly
looks at the love and devotion which the food is offered in. You can also know
that God has accepted the food because after you have the food as Prasadam or
mercy, you will make nice progress in your spiritual life. The food which you
offer transforms into spiritual food, which helps to develop spiritual intelligence
and senses, this basically means we start serving the Lord more and more, and we
engage ourselves in the Lords service. Also we need to have strong faith in the
process and God’s words, Lord Krishna personally says in the Bhagavad Gita
9.29 that if one offers the food with love and devotion he accepts it. So please
continue to offer the food and have complete faith in the Lord. By serving the
Lord we think of the Lord and this helps us to revive our relationship with the
Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Shri Krishna.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

44. Santoshi Harish says:

May 15, 2014 at 11:57 am

Hare Krishna!!
This article has helped me in understanding about meat-eating a lot. However, I’ve a few
doubts.

I accept that the Gita and other scriptures speak of meat-eating. I believe that Vedas are
the purest form of our religion. Some believe only the shrutis or vedas and not in
smritis(like the Gita). And the Vedas say that eating sheep,horse and cow is sinful. It
doesn’t mention about the other forms of meat. Are there phrases that talk about it in the
Vedas?And could you please tell what the vedas state about vegetarian food.

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

May 19, 2014 at 9:58 am

Hare Krishna

Thank you for your questions to ISKCON Birmingham.

Regarding your first question,

Well ultimately the scriptures do prohibit consuming all forms of meat. Bhagavad
Gita is summary of all the Vedas. By understanding a drop of ocean we can know
the taste of all the ocean, similarly one who knows the purpose behind the Vedas
knows everything.

Someone asked me about why at times scriptures do mention about meat eating,
this was my reply:-

When the scriptures mention about meat eating it is a section only for people with
a lower grade of consciousness, they eat certain food so they act in certain way so
that their materialistic desires get fulfilled. For example Even though Islam says it
is ok to eat meat in Quran but think about this one, the meat has to be halal. So
this mean that they can’t just eat meat on its own but has to be halal, so this halal
is a restriction. Now why has God put a restriction on food if he is telling them to
eat in Quran? This is because they need to come to the sense that if something has
a restriction then ultimately that thing is not right and should be eventually given
up.

So those who are advance spiritually will come to understand that meat is not
ideal for humans, it is only meant for animals. Also Allah does not say offer me
halal food, because God does not himself eat meat. But Krishna in Bhagavad Gita
says offer me fruit, flower, leaf etc, he accepts it with love and devotion.
 Humans can survive very well with simple vegetarian food. Also Caitanya
Mahaprabhu defeated Chand Kazi a Muslim leader that cow slaughter and eating
beef was not even in the Quran. Actually no animals should be killed for food.
But you see halal is there because there are so many people who are not going to
follow the orders of God in its highest standard, so that’s why different religions
is necessary to help and elevate their consciousness, that’s why there is Islam,
people want to eat meat and also pray, so God has designed in such a way that
they can pray and eat meat but in a restricted way, but the Muslims have to
understand that this not the highest form of worship. There are different levels of
worship for different people as they have variety of material desires. For the
Muslims, at least they are praying, so this will gradually elevate them. These are
the main points to understand.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

45. Yolanda Williamson says:

July 13, 2014 at 5:10 am

I used to eat meat until I watched a good amount of videos on Internet on how animals
are killed in slaughterhouses, I feel ashamed for being ignorant. These criminals punch
the animals, torture them, some are cruel to the animals before slaughtering, I don’t care
how delicious a barbecued steak may smell, I refuse to be part of such cruelty. Erroneous
preconception that meat gives lots of protein, beans have the same protein, meat eaters
are responsible for overcrowded hospital, high cholesterol. On top of that, they have
come up with a law that prohibits videotaping such barbaric cruelties, if people would
only watch the videos and see what happens inside slaughterhouses, the bloody walls,
screams of animals, you have to have a soul of iron not to feel responsible for
contributing to this misery. I eat veggie burgers (bun, lettuce, tomato, mayo, ketchup,
bread and butter pickles), Chinese vegetable Lomein is super delicious, people have the
wrong idea that a vegetarian only eat grass like a rabbit. Becoming vegetarian is a
spiritual decision. The miseries of this world will never stop until people develop
empathy. What kind of empathy will people develop when they allow so many animals to
be killed everyday? When they don’t do nothing about it? They can’t speak, they need us!

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

July 25, 2014 at 10:40 am

Hare Krishna Yolanda.

Thank you for your email on the meat eating article.

You are very sincere person and I can see that you have a great compassion for
the animals. Yes people need to know the truth about the slaughterhouses, people
are also hiding from the truth as they want to continue to eat meat for sense
enjoyment. They don’t care how much pain the animal actually feels when being
slaughtered. They try to avoid such videos because deep down they know it is
wrong and sinful to eat animals. The meat eaters really need to see such slaughter
videos then they will be able to come to some sense that vegetarian or vegan is the
best option, then from that have the Karma free food which is to offer the food to
the Lord first then eat that as sanctified food.

The meat eaters don’t know but they are part of destroying the planet, mother
earth is reacting to such sinful activities which is going on around the world. The
world is in such bad state due to people’s ignorance of the real understanding of
life and spirituality.

We need to help these people come to a spiritual understanding and awareness,

once they raise their consciousness level they will be able to feel the pain of
animals also. The Hare Krishna movement is helping people around the world to
come to a higher platform of consciousness, we hold Kirtans in public places and
distribute books which would help people to come out from ignorance.

The meat eaters are unaware of the terrible consequence they will be facing due to
the Karmic reactions. We can see the world around us and how people and earth
is suffering. We need to really pray and spread the message wherever we can.

Also your other question: Do shrimp suffer when they are caught for
consumption? What about scallops, mussels, oysters?

Yes, shrimp, scallops, mussels, oysters and other sea species do suffer. Their
consciousness level is not as developed as Humans but they are also living
entities. Living entities are everywhere be he moving or non-moving. Just because
we can’t hear them scream does not mean they don’t suffer. For example a fish,
when taken out of their natural living condition which is within the water they
gasp for water and they eventually die. They suffer when taken away from their
natural living environment. So when we take even sea life species to eat we are
enduring Karma.

Also another point to understand is about the three food categories which could be
in the following modes: Goodness, Passion and Ignorance. Sea life food also falls
in the category of mode of ignorance. Any spiritualist would not partake in food
which are in mode of passion and ignorance.
 Please read Bhagavat Gita As It Is by Srila Prabhupada for more information on
the three modes of material nature. You may like to visit a Hare Krishna temple
near you and find out what sort of food they cook. There is so much variety and
healthy vegetarian food which can be cooked and consumed after offered to the
Lord.

The Lord says in Srimad Bhagavatam (5.5.26): My dear sons, you should not
envy any living entity—be he moving or non-moving. Knowing that I am situated
in them, you should offer respect to all of them at every moment. In this way, you
offer respect to Me.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Thank you once again for your comments and question.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

46. Arun T says:

July 30, 2014 at 5:06 am

Sir,

I would like to now about consuming dairy products in modern times, I mean how milk is
begin produced. I have read in lot of places, Dairy cows are artificially inseminated every
year. That’s the only way to keep them lactating.

By taking dairy products are we not indirectly contributing to this curetly. Request to
share you thoughts on this.

hare krishna.

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

July 31, 2014 at 10:22 am

 Hare Krishna Arun,

Thank you for your question on meat eating article.

Yes we are up to an extent contributing to the cruelty by taking dairy products.

The Cows are also not treated fairly and to derive the milk they are artificially
using machines which causes pain to the Cows. That’s why in ISKCON Temples
they are trying produce their own farms and having their own cows. Everything is
done naturally by hand to derive milk from the Cows. We now have such farms at
the Manor and Leicester temples. Also they are now selling Ahimsa Milk, which
is violence free milk.

So we can go even higher than Vegan and take care of the Cows and produce
natural milk. From milk so many other items are made and then offered to Lord
Krishna at the temple, then we have this as Prashadam or sanctified food.

So just being a vegetarian or vegan is not going to solve everything, we need to

spiritualise the food. Cows can produce enough milk to supply to the people so
we should utilise this and not give up milk altogether, the main thing is that the
animals are treated nicely and without any pain.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

47. Jess Gingras says:

August 5, 2014 at 7:07 pm

There’s nothing wrong with eating meat, and I feel that people trying to guilt us out of it
or spread lies about how it harms the environment is extremely selfish and prejudiced.

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

September 15, 2014 at 3:32 pm

Hare Krishna,

Thank you for your comments on ISKCON Birmingham website on the meat
eating article.
 In regards to your comments that there is nothing wrong in eating meat and that it
is extremely selfish and prejudiced to talk about vegetarianism and the
environment. Well do you think it is Ok to be violent and slaughter other living
entities? Look at the world and environment around you, there is so much
violence taking place, remember one thing ‘Violence breeds Violence’. These
days people are suffering due to so much violence on earth. This is not just
happening by chance, it is a reaction, what you throw at the nature, the nature will
throw back at you. It’s very scientific how this world operates but due to
ignorance and lack of true spiritual knowledge this world is marching towards
hellish conditions. If you agree with animal killing, slaughter and violence then
you must agree with all the violence around the world.

A person is so engrossed in sense gratification that he misses the point to

understand that life exist even in other creatures. This meat eating article presents
scientific arguments that the soul does exist even in the animals so no one has the
right to kill, the animals have their existence as we humans do.

In regards to the environment well here is another strong evidence which you
need to consider from the Climate Scientists and the Scientific Community. Beef,
studies show, creates 5 times more carbon emissions than say chicken, pork, lamb
or other forms of meat. And climate change is important for everybody to wake
up to. It cannot be ignored and it is not a religious injunction, that people of other
religions are free to ignore.

The finding in National Academy of Sciences recent paper published in June

2014, unambiguously finds Beef to be clear culprit in inflicting maximum damage
on environment, at times when precarious climate conditions are making
humanity’s existence unsustainable.

Beef production not only causes five times Green House Gas emission, but also
requires, 28 times more land, 11 times more irrigation and 6 times more water.
All in all it makes for bad economics and bad health choice. Indeed beef
consumption threatens human existence on the planet earth. In view of this the
case against Beef, has strong scientific backing.

So my friend, please consider the facts. It is not at all selfish or prejudiced to

present the truth. People need to wake up and give peace a chance.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

48. Randhir says:

 October 10, 2014 at 1:06 pm

Hare Krishna

I am very happy going through your answers and points which is very well explained.
Your service attitude is really inspiring for me. May our Dear Lord Sri Krishna bless us
all.

Hari Bol!!!

Reply

49. swapnil says:

December 25, 2014 at 1:34 pm

As drinking milk is accepted but it is product of an animal, so, eating egg is accepted ?
As it is also an product of an animal. …

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

January 5, 2015 at 4:19 pm

Hare Krishna,

Milk is a product of an animal but after taking the milk from a cow the milk does
not grow into a cow again. Whereas an egg has a potential to hatch if left under
certain condition. Also egg is a chickens period, just like womens period so why
do we want to eat that anyway. Do you get the point.

Please read below for further info about eggs:-

http://iskconbirmingham.org/whats-wrong-with-eating-meat#comment-242

Hare Krishna
ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

50. anjaan vichare says:

February 13, 2015 at 2:32 am

I can understand not eating animals which are vegetarian themselves. But hens are
themselves non-vegetarians.

They say that we are always clearing our debts in every birth. So the animal that is killed,
is it clearing some debt that it had with the butcher, seller, cook and the eater?

If everyone turned vegetarian what do we do with the lakhs of chicken and other animals
we have reared and who then are going to compete with each other for food and space?

What about the bed bugs, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and lizards people kill in order to
make their lives comfortable? Are we not sinners here too.

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

March 11, 2015 at 3:37 pm

Hi Anjaan,

Thank you for your question on the meat eating article.

It is said that we should not be eating meat regardless whether the animal
themselves are vegetarian or not. The point to understand is that the animals have
a soul and killing them for food is not recommended for those who want to
progress spiritually, and those who eat meat are involved with karma. You can
judge for yourself whether an animal feels pain or not, just watch any slaughter
clips.

Yes the animals are clearing their debts but what right do we have to clear
someone else’s debt by killing and eating meat, those who do this intentionally
are ignorant of true knowledge. If that what was the case then people would be
killing without any discrimination, they would kill wherever they would see an
animal. You see those who are elevated in consciousness or spiritual people
would think that why do I want to entangle myself in karma so rather I would be a
vegetarian, and to take it further offer the pure vegetarian to God before eating it.

Also its not only the animals that are clearing the debts it’s also the Humans, so
would we also go around killing people? Would we kill our own parents? So this
is not a logic reason why we should eat animals just because they are clearing
their debt.
 We have to go beyond this duplicity mentality and become Krishna Conscious,
we should offer all our vegetarian food to Lord Krishna and only eat Karma free
food.

You don’t have to worry about what would happen to this world if everyone
became vegetarians, actually it would become a better place as violence breeds
violence and generosity breeds generosity. Also don’t forget the chickens and
other animals are artificially and forced to reproduce due to the demand in meat
eating industry, this is the reason why there are so many animals for food. Also
the nature will take care of the population we don’t have to artificially start
killing, if the humans gets over populated does that mean we start slaughtering
them, No. Lord Krishna says this in Bhagavad Gita that everything is controlled
by the Laws of Nature.

God has provided enough vegetarian food for everyone to live and survive, also
there is plenty of space on this earth. It is when people start to become greedy
then there is a problem. It is said that three things leads to the path of Hell which
are Lust, Anger and Greed so we should give these up.

Yes if we go around killing insects and other creatures just for the sake of our
pleasure then we are liable to Karma. That is why if we live, eat, survive and do
everything for the pleasure of Krishna we naturally become free from all
reactions, but if we do anything for ourselves or someone else we are binding
ourselves to the laws of nature. Arjuna was also killing on the battlefield but the
point is that he was doing on the order of Krishna, he was fighting for Dharma
and not for himself, it’s in what consciousness we do things matter.

We have to live in this material to survive so the best method is to live with
minimum necessities of life otherwise we are just causing more problems for us at
a later stage.

I would suggest you read ‘Bhagavad Gita As It Is’ by Srila Prabhupada with an
open mind and heart and try to understand its teachings, you will be amazed to
find out how we can live in this world but not be part of this world.

Hare Krishna
ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

51. Vedika says:

March 7, 2015 at 1:24 pm

In thus Kali Yug which is the Yug of darkness of ignorance and inhumanity, so many
people slaughter animals in the so called sacrifice to God which is not sacrifice which is
just sin which is just killing and it is absolutely against Sanatan Dharma ( Hinduism ) and
against the Bhagvad Gita and against God. To sacrifice our bad qualities, irreligious bad
thoughts, bad manners, bad habits, bad behavior, bad irreligious activities, it’s the real
sacrifice and God says to sacrifice these. Never ever Sanatan Dharma and God said to
slaughter and kill any animal on the name of sacrifice, it’s just a sin so how can God ever
say to do it because it’s sin and against Dharma ( Righteousness ) and God can never say
and teach to do any sin and adharm. All those people who kill and slaughter animals on
the name of sacrifice are sinners of doing adharm and sinner of doing something which is
against Dharma, sinner of doing something which God never ever said and allowed to do,
which is against God’s teachings, against God’s path, they are doing something which is
never ever allowed by God and by Sanatan Dharma. And Bengali and south people eats
non veg because it’s their irreligious, ignorant culture which culture is created by them so
they consider it right according to their foolish, ignorant, irreligious philosophies and
their own made culture, it can be allowed by their culture because people creates culture
based on their thinking and philosophies but It is never ever allowed by Dharma because
Sanatan Dharma ( Eternal Righteousness, God’s Eternal law, eternal religion of
righteousness ) is the path which leads to the God, it’s God made not man made so it’s
divine not foolish and ignirant like the man’s made evil cultures. It is the righteousness
which leads to the God so that’s why meat eating and killing of any living being is not
allowed by Sanatan Dharma, not allowed in Hindusim because it is not allowed by God.
Even in the southern regions of India, people marry even their cousins which is against
righteousness, against Sanatan Dharma, against the teachings of God but they do it
because according to their ignorant thinkings they created their culture for them and not
Dharm, and Bhagvad Gita, they follow and believe in their this ignorant man made
culture which they created for them, instead of following Dharma they follow this. To
slaughter any living being, to kill any animal, any living being and to eat non veg is
against Sanatan Dharma and against Bhagvad Gita ( which leads to the path of
righteousness ) It’s against the teachings of God which leads to the path of God. Bhagvan
never allows human being to eat any non veg. Eating flesh is sin. May God Vishnu
destroy the darkness of ignorance from all the Human Being’s mind and heart and fill
everyone’s mind and heart with the divine light of gyan, righteousness ( Dharm ) and
Krishna consciousness. Hare Ram. Lok Samast Sukhino Bhavantu Sarva Bhavantu
Sukhina.

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

March 11, 2015 at 4:04 pm

Hare Krishna Vedika.

 Thank you for your comments on ISKCON Birmingham website on the meat
eating article.

Yes we need to guide people back to light and on the path righteousness, people
are living in darkness and have forgotten their spiritual nature and how to live in
harmony with each other and with mother earth, we should continue to spread the
teachings of Bhagavad Gita As It Is more and more.

Hare Krishna
ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

52. Santo Roy says:

April 8, 2015 at 11:36 am

If animals are Krishna’s children, then why are dogs not allowed inside temples? I
haven’t seen another person express as much apathy to dogs as Krishna worshipers,
though I’m not telling all are like that. The majority is. Now, don’t tell me dogs are not
animals, but ‘dogs’.

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

April 13, 2015 at 3:22 pm

Hare Krishna Dear Santo.

Thank you for contacting ISKCON Birmingham. In regards to your question the
Krishna devotees do not have anything against dogs. I am not sure why you are
saying this, maybe you have come across some incidents before but I can assure
you that generally Krishna devotees do not a have a problem, well I can say this
for myself.

The reason why dogs are not allowed in the temple is only due to hygiene, they
will end up doing wee and poo within the temple which is not nice, it’s a place of
worship so there are some standards and purity which has to be maintained. It’s
kind of common sense really. All religions follow this standard. Would you allow
hogs and pigs into your house? If not does that mean you are against them. I hope
you understood the point.
 Our founder Guru Srila Prabhupada once said that everyone can take part in this
chanting of Hare Krishna Mantra, even the dogs can. When devotees go out to do
Sankirtan on streets they chant loudly and the humans and all the animals
including dogs also benefits by hearing the spiritual names of Lord Krishna. Now
you tell me which religion do this, but ISKCON devotees care for all living
entities, the compassion reaches out to everyone.

Also there is more to life that just understanding why dogs are not allowed in the
temples. Why not go beyond this and try to understand the spirituality and its
teachings. The Bhagavad Gita teaches that we are not this body but spirit souls
and we have to revive our God consciousness. The human form of life is very
short and rare and it is meant for understanding who we are, what is our duty and
how to develop our love for the Lord. So please read ‘Bhagavad Gita As It Is’ by
Srila Prabhupada and perfect your life.

Hare Krishna.
ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

53. Pranjal says:

April 11, 2015 at 4:13 am

How do you offer food to the lord and then eat? What if you’re hungry and have to go to
school early in the morning. When do I offer food to the lord,the time,year or date would
help.And you also said it is ok to eat vegetables, but some sastras tell that it is not ok to
eat vegetables and fruits. How do i stop eating veges and fruits? Yes, i can offer to god
but i cant eat before offering to god right? How do I convince my parents not to eat this
stuff?For my final statement, i dont mean to be rude, but even animal killing is ok. This is
because the present animals killed me, so it ok for me to kill these animals. And my final
question: do i have to live 2 lives? is this my first or second life?How do I get out of these
lives? Can i be set free from this world to god after 3 births or something. And my final
question, WHat if school does not provide any good vegetarian lunch. do i stay hungry
the whole day? i try but cant focus.

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

April 30, 2015 at 10:05 am

Hare Krishna Pranjal,

Thank you for contacting ISKCON Birmingham Temple. I have tried to answer
your questions below.

1) How do you offer food to the Lord and then eat?

Please see the below link which explains in detail on how to offer food to Lord
Krishna.

http://iskconbirmingham.org/congregation/how-to-offer-food-to-krishna

2) What if you’re hungry and have to go to school early in the morning?

I can understand being hungry but I am sure you can manage to wait just 5 or 10
minutes extra. Maybe wake up 10 minutes before your normal school time so you
get the time to offer the food to Lord Krishna. We have to find the right balance in
life, so try your best to offer to Krishna. Even if you have to offer it mentally but
offer to Krishna first before eating the food.

3) When do I offer food to the lord, the time, year or date would help?

Whenever you cook food that is the best time to offer, so you offer food every
day. The ISKCON Temple’s has certain time during the day when they offer the
food but at home you can offer your food after its been cooked and without
tasting it first.

4) And you also said it is ok to eat vegetables, but some sastras tell that it is not ok
to eat vegetables and fruits. How do I stop eating veges and fruits?

The Sastras does not say that we cannot eat vegetables and fruits, we are allowed
to eat vegetables and fruits. The Sastra says that we should eat vegetables and
fruits. What we cannot eat is Meat, Fish, Eggs and also we do not eat onion and
garlic. These food are in mode of ignorance and gives a negative effect on our
consciousness. So yes you can eat vegetables and fruits.

5) Yes, I can offer to god but I can’t eat before offering to god right?

That’s right, you can’t eat or taste food that your cooking. First you have to offer
pure vegetarian food or fruits to God, leave with God for 5 to 10 minutes then
take the food, mix with the rest of the food in the pot then you can eat. When you
offer food to God, you can offer small portions of each item on a separate plate.
It’s always good to keep a clean and a separate dish just for God. You offer the
food plate to a picture or Murti of Krishna.

6) How do I convince my parents not to eat this stuff?

First understand yourself, once your happy and convinced then you can explain
why it is good to become a vegetarian and offer our food to Lord Krishna. You
can maybe write the main points down from this meat eating article and present it
to your parents, or just ask them to read it themselves. The basic point is that
animals also have souls so by killing them and eating them we are causing them
suffering and pain. Onion and Garlic food disturbs the mind and it is not good for
meditation. To live a pure and God conscious life is very important, as humans we
have to worship God and follow what he says. You can know what he says by
reading the ‘Bhagavad Gita As It Is’ by Srila Prabhupada.

7) For my final statement, I don’t mean to be rude, but even animal killing is ok.
This is because the present animals killed me, so it ok for me to kill these animals.

If we are in danger and we think the animal is going to kill us then to protect
ourselves we do it, but not for eating meat. We can’t unnecessarily kill the
animals to satisfy our tongue taste. Killing is not recommended as we get a bad
Karma reaction.

8) And my final question: do I have to live 2 lives?

We have to live many many lives not just 2 lives. We can be in this world forever
if we don’t desire to love and serve God.

9) Is this my first or second life?

That only Krishna knows because he is God. Also this question is not relevant, we
cannot know for sure how many lives we have gone through. The soul can be in
this world for millions of years, the soul is eternal but accepting different bodies
according to our mind and consciousness. An example given by the Founder of
the Hare Krishna movement, he once said that if someone’s house is on fire he
can’t sit around and ask when did the fire happen, the main business is to get out
from the house. So this world is considered like a house on fire and we the souls
are trapped, now our main business is to get out. A Guru who is a pure devote of
Krishna can help us get out from this material world.

10) How do I get out of these lives?

This is an intelligent question and I happy that you asked this. We get out from
this material world by becoming a devotee of Lord Krishna. We have to read the
Bhagavad Gita As It Is, we have to chant the names of God such as the Hare
Krishna Maha Mantra (Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare,
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare), we have to associate with other
devotees of Krishna. Also we can do worship and pooja at home. So we have to
do devotional service and not sins. We have to keep Krishna in the center of all
our activities then we can be happy in this world then after the body dies the soul
can leave this world and go to the spiritual world and associate with Lord
 Krishna. We can then serve Lord Krishna directly and live with him, then there is
no suffering, we will always be happy.

11) Can I be set free from this world to God after 3 births or something.

You can be set free in this very life, why wait for 3 births. You don’t know where
you will be born in next life so better to start devotional life in this life and attain
perfection. You just need to follow the above things which I mentioned, most
importantly is to chant Hare Krishna Mantra every day.

12) And my final question, What if school does not provide any good vegetarian
lunch. do I stay hungry the whole day? I try but can’t focus.

As long as the school is providing something vegetarian then you can eat, no need
to stay hungry. You can offer the food in your mind to Krishna, chant the Hare
Krishna mantra then eat it. Also another way is to take your own food from home
to school if this is possible.

I can understand from your message that you are still at school and your young. I
would recommend you take things gradually. Try to read and study the Bhagavad
Gita under the guidance of another devotee. With your parents, go to your nearest
ISKCON Temple and attend the Sunday feast programs. The devotees will
explain more to you and your parents. You have to respect your parents and set a
good example by becoming a devotee. You should continue your study and
become what you want to be in life professionally, but do everything for the
pleasure of Krishna and work for him.

Hare Krishna.

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

54. Mallika says:

April 22, 2015 at 2:39 pm

Dear Sir,
Hare Krishna and all glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Thank you for the wonderful article!
I am a vegetarian since birth but I consume tea, chocolates, onions, garlic and
mushrooms. I have resolved to give up these intoxicants and foods.
I am deeply interested in the Gita and I want to dedicate much of my time to reading and
studying it. I am totally convinced of all that your article says, but I have a query – Lord
Krishna clearly stated that we could offer Him flowers, fruits, leaves and water. In this
case, are we permitted to offer Him root vegetables like beets and carrots? Wouldn’t
plucking and cooking a root vegetable equal robbing the whole plant of its life? I got
these questions after looking at the Jain diet, that advocates against the consumption of
root vegetables. Hence, would you advise us to consume root vegetables?
Thank you very much!

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

April 28, 2015 at 1:11 pm

Dear Mallika,

Hare Krishna, All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Thank you for contacting ISKCON Birmingham. It is nice to hear you want to
dedicate your time in reading and studying the Bhagavad Gita, this knowledge
will surely help you in every aspect of life. One who follows Lord Krishna’s
instructions and by sincerely cultivating the authentic spiritual science of
Sanatana-dharma presented in the Bhagavad-gita and other Vedic scriptures, one
can become free from anxiety and revive their natural state of pure, unending,
blissful consciousness. Also the most effective means for achieving God
consciousness in this Age of Kali, or quarrel, is to chant the holy names of the
Lord: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare
Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

In regards to your question about consuming root vegetables. In ISKCON and

among all Vaishnavas, as far as I know. We don’t follow like the Jains. We do
offer and eat beets, carrots, potatoes, and other root vegetables. The Jains don’t
eat any root vegetables. I think they don’t even eat egg plants. We live on
potatoes and eggplants.

Because we offer to Krishna, we are forgiven for all sins committed. The
scientific reason for not eating certain foods is that it affects our consciousness in
a negative way. For example onions and garlic affects the most out of all foods
after meat. Thus we don’t eat these. Meat is also sinful because we take life and
the killing animals mentality leads to killing humans. All violent criminals are
animal killers.

The Jains are in ignorance of Krishna and so this is a very negative consciousness,
so we have to be practical also. If we are ignorant of Krishna and don’t eat certain
foods, what’s the value? Anyway the Jains are good.

ISKCON Birmingham.
Reply

 gopi says:

May 9, 2015 at 7:53 am

Hare Krishna ! !
Sir, I have a doubt. I left non-veg completely and only eating vegetarian
food. Is it ok to eat green gram sprouts? As the seeds are germinating, they
have life and eating them may not be good. I feel guilty when eating them,
but before going to gym I have to eat them. Please sir, help me in this
regard .Hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare!!! Hare rama
hare rama rama rama hare hare!!!

Reply

 ISKCON Birmingham says:

June 8, 2015 at 3:56 pm

Hare Krishna.

Thank you for your question to ISKCON Birmingham.

As far as I know eating green gram sprouts is Ok. It is vegetarian

and can be consumed. Remember our main point is to offer all our
food to Krishna first before eating it.

Everything has life in veg food aswell, so best to offer the food.

When you get the chance please read and study ‘Bhagavad Gita As
It Is’ by Srila Prabhupada and always chant the Hare Krishna
Maha Mantra.

Also you can associate and attend ISKCON temple programs.

Its good to take care of our physical body but also we have to do
more for our souls upliftment.

Hare Krishna.

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply
55. avadhut says:

May 12, 2015 at 8:21 pm

Dear sir,
Thank you for such great article !
I have realised that eating meat is bad because we don’t have any right to take someone’s
life. But i ate meat in past, so i want to know that is there any way for the remedy of this
sin?

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

May 15, 2015 at 2:27 pm

Hare Krishna Avadhut.

Thank you for contacting ISKCON Birmingham.

It is nice to hear you have realised that eating meat is not the right thing to do, it’s
a very intelligent decision you have made. In regards to your question for the
remedy of eating meat in the past is to just surrender unto the Lord Krishna and
chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. The Lord is very merciful, if your
intentions are not to eat meat again and you continue your Krishna Consciousness
then the Lord will surely forgive you. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita
18.66 that just surrender unto him and he shall protect you from all sinful
reactions. So the remedy is to just become a devotee. Read ‘Bhagavat Gita As It
Is’ by Srila Prabhupada and by chanting Hare Krishna Maha Mantra one purifies
their existence. Krishna is all powerful and he can nullify all the sinful reactions
of not just this life time but from our many previous lives. Try to visit your local
ISKCON Hare Krishna Temple and associate with devotees, by association with
ISKCON Krishna devotees you will gain much more knowledge and progress in
your Krishna Consciousness. It will also help you to stay strong in your practise
and keep you away from maya.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply
56. Ankit Kumar says:

June 15, 2015 at 2:03 am

Dear sir there are 2 questions i want to ask you

1)Sir I play cricket so i need lot of energy…so i eat chicken and egg…but i dont feel
much powerful after eat veg food..so what should i do because in cricket i need so much
energy which i got easily from chicken and egg

2)My another question is you said we should not eat garlic and onion…but in many
things garlic and onion are present even in tomato sauce and potato chipps..it means i
have to sacrifice everything
Hare Krishna

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

June 23, 2015 at 10:52 am

Hare Krishna Ankit.

Thank you for your questions to ISKCON Birmingham on the meat eating article.

There are surely other means to get energy for playing cricket, not that you have
to eat meat, chicken and eggs. You are getting some temporary happiness for
playing cricket but you are avoiding the permanent happiness of the soul. Eating
meat is not recommended for those who want to elevate their consciousness and
progress in their spiritual life. Why do the animals have to suffer for your
temporary happiness of playing cricket? I am sure there are many cricket players
who are vegetarians. You can eat soya, dhal and other veg protein to give you
energy. Also there are Yoga techniques for physical well-being and strength, you
can apply those techniques. Why go for meat eating which is not ultimately good
for the health. You can maybe also go gym and strengthen your muscles. Anyway
our point is not only being a vegetarian, we have to understand who we are and
what the purpose of life is, we have to perform spiritual austerity and go deeper in
our Krishna Consciousness. If you can take time out for cricket then why not for
chanting Hare Krishna and reading the Bhagavad Gita?

To avoid onion and garlic we have to see the ingredients. Not all potato chips and
tomato sauce has onion and garlic, you just have to buy the ones that don’t have
it. It is not hard to ask or read the label of the product and check the ingredients.
Generally it is also not very hard to make potato chips and sauce at home. You
can cook and offer it to Krishna first then have it as Prasad.
 You don’t have to sacrifice everything, you just need to give up things which are
not favourable to Krishna Consciousness or Bhakti. If you think about it why are
we so attached, one day we will have to give up this body and sacrifice
everything. Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that he is Time, and he takes
everything away. So why not give up the unnecessary things in your life and
utilise those things which you have for Lord Krishna’s service. Krishna
Consciousness does not mean you give up everything, its matter of changing our
consciousness and engaging everything for Lord Krishna’s pleasure.

I would recommend you read the ‘Bhagavad Gita At Is’ by Srila Prabhupada and
also start chanting the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. If you can please visit your
local ISKCON Temple and engage in some service and take devotees association.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

57. STN says:

July 4, 2015 at 6:18 pm

This blog enlightened me in many ways, Thank you Sir. Before reading this blog i was in
utter confusion if meat eating was part of food chain or just like most of the things, we
humans have made it a habit. Everytime i ate non veg food the thought that i have killed
an animal would haunt me. I really don’t think much about the spiritual life or something
but i do think about the other animal’s situation, i feel the pain they are going through. In
the present environment that i am living, its not easy to leave eating non veg but i would
try and reduce it gradually n finally get rid off it completely. Thanks again.

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

July 9, 2015 at 2:03 pm

Hare Krishna

Thank you for your comments, it is nice to hear you found the article helpful.
Naturally our instinct tells us that meat eating is wrong, but most of the time
people ignore. This is due to mode of ignorance which clouds the mind to think
on a spiritual platform. Every living entity needs love and to be loved, being
compassionate is natural, but due to false ego we don’t recognise this and we
 think everything is made for my pleasure. When we raise our consciousness level
we can understand that everything belongs to God or Krishna and he has created
everything, so everything should be utilised for his pleasure. We have no right to
exploit material nature or other living entities. If you get the chance please read
Bhagavad Gita As It Is which would surely help you in the right direction and
help you give up meat altogether.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

58. Himanshu says:

July 15, 2015 at 3:39 pm

Billions of people who consume non vegetarian food , i think are not really connected to
the killing part of animal because everything has been commercialized on large scale
hence dont experience first hand sight of cruelty 80% of people would faint or vomit at
sight of blood and if they think its ok to eat and kill one should also introduce this to thier
children which i belive no one ever would do…
Anyhow my question is do people who are tribal,living alone in wilderness like eskimos
in extremely cold weather where lots of fat is required for keeping oneself warm ,islands
and gypsies in desert both cold and hot who have lived for centuries on staple non veg
food is it ok for them to comsume that food and kill animals for basic survival because
they were born at a place far from vegetation or lack of knowledge of same and have no
choice with limited funds ….
And if survival calls in critical situations wherein a person is lost in hostile terrain or
remote place can one consume flesh for basic survival…..

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

August 5, 2015 at 2:51 pm

Hare Krishna

Thank you for your question on the meat eating article.

Yes, people are not aware how meat is actually made, the process surely is full of
cruelty and violence. As they say, if the slaughter houses had glass windows
everyone would be vegetarians. People need to wake up to the truth and realise
 what they are eating. But those who consume meat regardless whether they are
involved in killing or not, they are still connected to the killing as they eat meat. If
they are not part of the solution they are part of the problem. Karma is very subtle
at times and it will act for those who associate with meat.

Regarding your question about meat eating for those people under certain critical
situations such as stuck in a remote place etc. I have already answered to this
similar question before. Please visit this link:-

http://iskconbirmingham.org/whats-wrong-with-eating-meat#comment-233

If you have time please read the Bhagavad Gita As It Is by Srila Prabhupada and
chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. By this we can create a spiritual
environment which will help people come to the real understanding of life.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

59. ISKCON Birmingham says:

August 6, 2015 at 12:58 pm

Hare Krishna

Thank you for your question on the meat eating article.

Q: Why does God allow animals to be killed and eaten by other animals?

A:

We have to think outside our tiny head and life to realize the truth.

Humans have free will and thus if human beings eat flesh then they will be put in bodies
so they can enjoy flesh daily and naturally, in animal bodies. That’s why animal bodies
exist, so that some souls can enjoy animalistic life due to their desires and deserves.

The souls in animal bodies are ex-humans, they were once in human bodies. Human
beings who eat flesh will be put in animal bodies after this life or in the future lives.

God is most merciful and fair to all living beings. Kill and be killed, eat and be eaten, an
eye for an eye, this is the infallible Law of Karma.
 Yes it is sad to see animals being killed and eaten, but we cannot understand this unless
we see the whole picture. If we knew the past of all the souls, we could clearly see and
understand everything. It’s for our own good that we don’t know the past, otherwise our
present life will be difficult to live. For example if one was murdered in their last life and
could remember it, this life would be hellish. So it’s for our own good we don’t know the
past of ourselves and others.

We have to accept everything that happens to us and others as what we deserve and
desired.

There are many beggars on the street, we feel sad for them, but we know what they
behaved badly and thus they became beggars. They deserve to be beggars, it’s due to
their own doing that they are beggars. In a similar way the souls in animal bodies are
suffering due their own doing. The souls in human bodies are also suffering.

There 8.4 million species or bodies that the soul can occupy, exactly based on it’s desires
and deserves.

When a crocodile eats an animal like a goat, we feel sad for the goat, but human beings
are daily killing and eating goats, pigs, chicken, cows and other animals. Why don’t we
feel sad then? The pain that the animals feel when killed by other animals is the same as
the pain felt when killed by humans. Pain is universal.

Hare Krishna

Regards
Kamlesh

Reply

60. ganesh datt says:

August 29, 2015 at 12:53 pm

SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE OF PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS

ABSTRACT
This study examines the spiritual intelligence of prospective teachers. The sample of the
study comprised of 400 prospective teachers (203 vegetarian and 197 non vegetarian)
randomly from HNB Garhwal University. The tools used for the study is Roqan Spiritual
Intelligence Test (developed by Prof. Roquiya Zainuddin and Anjum Ahmed). The major
finding of the study revealed that vegetarian prospective teachers have high spiritual
intelligence than non-vegetarian prospective teachers.
 Ganesh Datt
Research Scholar
School of Education, Birla Campus,

HNB Garhwal (A Central) University, Srinagar Garhwal

Reply

61. ERSHAD HOSSAIN says:

October 10, 2015 at 3:33 pm

Eating meat may be compared to habitual smokers, drug addicts and alcoholics. Once the
pallate gets used to the taste of meat, the person may even kill you if you want him to
stop eating meat. I live in a carnivorus society, not relishing meat has always been a
negative point against me. Unless there is a strict law banning the consumption of meat
we can make any amount of effort in reforming people to vegetarianism, they will never
learn or follow. All arguments, talks ,logic and positive proof against eating meat has no
relevance with them, which they may laugh it off. They are half-human beings with no
trace of civilisation in them. The cattle, poultry and seafood if diseased or contaminated
with diseases, people would be afraid to touch them leave alone buy and eat them. This
will only restrict slaughtering animals in the society.

Reply

62. Myth Crusher says:

October 13, 2015 at 2:45 pm

My question to you is why do you believe that you are holier than God? Clearly God
designed our bodies to eat meat. Why can’t we eat rock, wood or grass? Why did God
give our bodies not only the ability to digest it but also absorb nutrients from it? He could
make it as dangerous as eating lead. So it’s clear that God designed our body this way
and he intended that we can eat it. So if you think it’s immoral you are like a pot
complaining about the potter who formed you. It’s like you think that you’re holier than
God.

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

October 16, 2015 at 1:45 pm

Hare Krishna,

Thank you for your question to ISKCON Birmingham.

First of all I do not consider myself holier than God, God is always the most
holiest. I am just a servant of God (Krishna).

There is a reason for everything even for not eating meat. On the spiritual path,
there are several reasons why a person is recommended to be vegetarian. One
primary reason is that we need to see the spiritual nature within all living beings,
and that includes the animals and other creatures as well. Universal brotherhood
means nonviolence to both humans and animals. It consists of understanding that
animals also have souls. They are alive, conscious, and feel pain. And these are
the indications of the presence of consciousness, which is the symptom of the
soul. Even the Bible (Genesis 1.21; 1.24; 1.30; 2.7; and in many other places)
refers to both animals and people as nefesh chayah, living souls. Those who eat
meat, however, because of their desires to eat animals or see them as a source of
food for one’s stomach, are not so easily able to understand the spiritual nature of
all beings. After all, if you know that all living entities are spiritual in essence,
and that all living beings that are conscious show the symptoms of the soul
within, then how can you kill them unnecessarily? Any living creature is also the
same as we are in the respect that it is also a child of the same father, a part of the
same Supreme Being. Thus, the killing of animals shows a great lack in spiritual
awareness.

The person who thinks in this way does not have any facts. Based on scientific
studies, eating meat can seriously damage your health, because the human body is
not made for flesh eating. It has been confirmed by many scientific studies that
those who eat meat are much likelier to suffer from cancer, heart disease and
other diseases compared to vegetairians. A vegetarian diet is much more healthier
than a meat based diet, this is from science.

The Bhagavad-Gita teaches that God is truly merciful, He is kind to all His
creations, which include the animals. One should not hurt or kill the animals.
There is justice system to ensure all the criminals are punished. This is the Law of
Karma, if one kills then he/she will also be killed. An eye for an eye, a life for a
life. This is the fair law of justice. Why should God be partial to the humans and
ignore the other living beings? God is fair to all. Like in a family, all the children
are equally dear to the father. In a similar way, all living beings are the children of
God and He ensures justice and equal treatment for all His children.

“Having obtained real knowledge from a self-realized soul, you will never fall
again into such illusion, for by this knowledge you will see that all living beings
are but part of the Supreme, or, in other words, that they are Mine.” (Lord
Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 4.35)
Regarding your question why where animals created if they are not meant for
eating? If you look around in this world there are many things which are created
but not suitable for eating. Even Humans have flesh and they were also created
does that mean we should start slaughtering humans and start eating them?

In this material world, according to the Vedic scriptures, there are 8,400,000 (8
million 400 thousands) species of life. All the living beings are busy, working to
fulfil their bodily demands – eating, sleeping, mating and defending. The detail
analysis of this is:-

jalaja nava laksani

sthavara laksha-vimsati
krimayo rudra sankhyakat
prkshinam dasa-laksanam
trimsal-laksani paravah
catur laksani manusah

“There are 900,000 species living in the water. There are also 2,000,000 non
moving entities such as trees and plants. There are 1,100,000 species of insects
and reptiles and there are 1,000,000 species of birds. As far as animals are
concerned there are 3,000,000 varieties and there are 400,000 human species.”
(Padma Purana)

Animals are also a living entity with a soul inside of them, the difference is only
due to the bodily covering. Just like Humans has a soul with a Human body so the
animal has a soul with an animal body. The tree has a soul with a tree body, a
plant has a soul with a plants body etc. Its not difficult to understand. We need to
raise our consciousness and spiritual knowledge to see all these things. The more
elevated your consciousness is in spiritual life the more conscious you will be of
other living entities.

So animals were created because God created different species and animal is one
of them, the soul within every species has different desires. God provides the
living entity with a suitable body according to their desires. For example if
someone likes to eat meat then why not just have an animal body and eat meat, if
someone likes to sleep so much then why not have a body of a bear and sleep for
hours, if someone likes to show their body then why not become a tree and stand
naked, so according to different desires of the soul different body dress is
provided by the nature. Human form of life is meant to understand God and not to
act on the level of animals.

Meat is food for the animals and not for humans, humans can simply live by being
vegetarians. Some people then question why do you eat vegetables as they also
have life. The answer is that different species have different grades of
consciousness and they suffer according to their awareness and consciousness
level. Example a plants consciousness is different to humans, the plants are not so
much conscious, so if you pluck a plant even though you are killing it still it is not
that painful to that of killing a human. We have to eat something to live so we
have to live by causing very minimum pain to other living entities, we should not
unnecessarily cause pain to other living entities.

The animals are more conscious than plants and vegetables, so by eating meat you
are causing more pain to the living entity than to a vegetable. The more pain you
cause the more Karmic reaction is there. That’s why devotees offer all vegetarian
foods to Lord Krishna before eating it, the Lord removes all the bad reactions in
that vegetarian food and makes it spiritual. Then we eat the food as his mercy.

So God did not create animal for consumption, they are living according to their
life and should not be killed for eating or for any other purposes. They also have a
soul like humans. After they die the soul will be elevated to a higher species and
eventually come into a human body where they can make progress. If humans
misuse the human form of life then they can be reincarnated into an animal body.
So please do not eat meat as it will cause allot of bad Karma and will not help you
progress on spiritual path. Live a simple God Conscious life and enquire more
how to go back to the spiritual world.

Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that your consciousness at death will
determine your next body. If you have eaten animals (meat) all your life, your
final thoughts will be that of animals, you will take birth in the animal kingdom.
If you have lived a life of charity and generosity (helping people), your final
thoughts will be that of helping people, you will take birth on one of the heavenly
planets.

“The living entity in the material world carries his different conceptions of life
from one body to another as the air carries aromas. Thus he takes one kind of
body and again quits it to take another.” Lord Krishna (Bhagavad Gita 15.8)

“Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will
attain without fail.” Lord Krishna (Bhagavad Gita 8.6)

Also violently killing the animals, slaughtering them, still eating meat even after
understanding they do feel pain and pleasure is not being a good civilised human
being.

God created different species uniquely and naturally humans as herbivore, but
humans by their free will act in the level of animals which makes them omnivore.
Humans have a tendency to lord it over the material nature and dominate over
lower species, this is a demonic mentality. God created everything perfectly, he
gave us the ability to do more things than animals but that does not mean we
misuse these abilities to kill those who are more vulnerable and defenceless than
us. A human can live by being a vegetarian, animals food is meat.
 People eat meat as they don’t know that animals also have a soul, the animals also
eat, sleep, mate and protect themselves just like humans do. If one can raise their
consciousness level by making it spiritual then one will be able to see all this. We
need to develop a spiritual vision so we can see things as they really are. An ideal
civilisation would be to have no violence and a peaceful environment, so by being
a vegetarian we are creating that natural environment.

You must have come across mad cow disease, swine flu and other such animal
related issues, this is because the nature is responding to such cruelty. Have you
ever heard of mad cauliflower disease? Of course not because vegetarian food is
healthy, natural and recommended. Killing animals is not natural. What you throw
at nature that you will get in return. People are now even mixing horse meat with
other meat, God knows what else they will be mixing. At least the vegetarian
knows what they are eating, they don’t get tomato’s in their potato’s.

In regards to protein and nutrients, we can get this so much and even better in
vegetarian food. Dhal has more protein than meat. I am a vegetarian and I believe
to be quite healthy.

In ancient times people were more clever in terms of living a natural and simple
life, these days due to materialistic advancement there are now so many problems,
people are more stressed, frustrated, psychological problems etc., no one is really
happy, this is because we have moved away from that natural way of living. In
ancient times people well knew that plants are conscious, they too require water,
air and light to survive.

According to scriptures just by being a vegetarian is also not enough, one has to
spiritualise the food by offering to God. This is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita.
The Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna more than five thousand years
ago and this knowledge is still practised.

If you would like to find out more then please read ‘Bhagavad Gita As It Is’ by
Srila Prabhupada.

Hare Krishna.

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

63. ashish says:

October 16, 2015 at 3:50 pm

Does taking bodybuilding supplements such as whey protein is considered the as eating
meat?

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

October 20, 2015 at 2:31 pm

Hare Krishna,

Thank you for your question to ISKCON Birmingham.

As long as its written or checked that it is suitable for vegetarians then it is fine.
There is a website where you can check. Please read the below:-

Is whey protein vegetarian?

In its pure form, absolutely! BUT… be VERY careful – not all products you see
advertised as ‘whey protein’ will actually be suitable for vegetarians…
Whey protein comes from milk, so it’s a perfect source of protein for vegetarians.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out that whey protein is not suitable for vegans. If
you want to find protein supplements that are suitable for vegans then check out
our vegan protein page.

However it is not unusual to see whey protein shakes on the market that are
actually not suitable for vegetarians. This is mainly due to some ingredient used
for flavouring or colouring.
To take a random example: Maximuscle’s Viper Active in Orange. Nutritional
constituents look good and it’s whey protein so must be ok for vegetarians, right?
Sadly not – Maximuscle’s Viper Active in Orange contains cochineal. What is
cochineal? Essentially, cochineal is crushed beetles – certainly not vegetarian.
And who wants to supplement their diet with a nice glass of crushed beetles?
vegetarian whey protein

The dangerous thing is there are numerous websites advertising the above product
as suitable for vegetarians. To their credit, Maximuscle themselves do not do this,
and have indeed specifically confirmed to VegetarianProtein.co.uk that this
product is not suitable for vegetarians. Unfortunately, too many third-party
websites are not so discerning, and simply label all whey protein products as
‘vegetarian’.

How can I tell if a whey protein product really is vegetarian?

 So how do you really know whether a whey protein product really is vegetarian?
Simple – check here at VegetarianProtein.co.uk. Then you can buy your products
safe in the knowledge that if they’re featured here then we have actively opened
that dialogue with the manufacturer about what goes into your protein shake.

So you can check on that website the particular one you use. Also I’m sure if you
do more research then they will tell you which ones are 100% suitable for
vegetarians.

Also just a side note, its really good to look after the body and make it healthy,
but it is even more important to nourish the soul within through spiritual a
process. Its good to do both. May I also encourage you to read the ‘Bhagavad Gita
As It Is’ by Srila Prabhupada and also if you can chant the Hare Krishna Mantra
everyday. We need to look after our mental, physical and spiritual aspect together
to bring complete happiness.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

64. Shruti says:

January 10, 2016 at 4:49 pm

Being a yoyng girl, I eat whatever is prepared at home and my family won’t change their
lifestyle and switch to complete vegetarianism. What should I do in such a situation
keeping in mind that it is a sin to eat meat, onions or garlic?

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

January 14, 2016 at 2:33 pm

Hare Krishna.

Thank you for your email.

Q1. Law of Karma

This is the infallible law of justice created and administered by God Himself to
ensure perfect judgement and fair rewards/punishment. This law applies only to
the human beings and not the animals. The animals can kill and eat other animals,
there is no punishment for them. But if a human being hurts or kills others
(humans or animals or plants) they will be fairly punished. An eye for an eye, this
is the fairness of the law. In the eyes of God all living beings are equal, and thus
everyone is held responsible for their actions. Just like in a family, if one child
misbehaves, he is punished by the father. In a similar way, Lord Krishna is the
father of all living beings and if one living being (human) hurts or kills another
one of his brother/sister, he/she will be punished exactly according to the crime.
The animal/plant bodies are in gross ignorance and they are on a fixed
transmigration from one body to another through the 8 million species in the plant
and animal kingdoms. The human species which number 400,000 are not on a
fixed cycle, the souls in human bodies have free will, they can choose to stay
human or go down to the plant and animal kingdoms, depending on their
behavior. The souls in plant and animal bodies are basically ex-humans who hurt
and killed plants and animals and they are now undergoing punishment for their
crimes. If one is not vegetarian, he is responsible for murder and he too will be
murdered by others. This is fair justice for all living beings.

“Life is an intelligent design, nothing happens randomly” (Steve Jobs, founder of

Apple)

Lord Krishna is present everywhere and thus He is the perfect witness to

everything we do. Nobody can get away with any wrong doing.

Q2. Why waste milk, oil and other things on offering to God?

We give gifts on birthdays, wedding, anniversaries and other events. Why? The
persons getting the gifts are not beggars, they have the money to get the same
items or they might already have them. So why do we give gifts? By giving gifts
to others is how we show our appreciation and love for others, and not that they
need them.

On mother’s day, the children will give flowers to the mother using the mother’s
money. Why? She could buy the flowers herself. The giving of flowers, gives the
children a way to show their appreciation and love for their mother. In a similar
way, we offer milk, oil, flowers, fruits and other items to Lord Krishna to show
our appreciation and love for Him. He has everything and He is the source of
everything, He does not need anything. By offering His things to Him, this is how
we can show our appreciation and love for Him. So we are not wasting milk, oil
and other things what are offered to God. We are unappreciative, ungrateful, and
thieves, if we don’t offer them to God.

Q3 Why do we first offer to God then eat ourselves?

Just like a son will give something to the father and the father will say ‘thank
you’. The father does not need anything from the son, because he has everything
 and he provides the son with everything. But the son will give to the father to
show his appreciation and love for his father. In a similar way, everything belongs
to Lord Krishna (God), and we first offer food to Him before we eat to show our
appreciation and thank Him for giving everything to us. Not that He is hungry or a
beggar. Lord Krishna is so merciful that when we offer Him food, He eats it
completely but the food still remains on the plate in complete for us to enjoy. This
is how great and merciful Lord Krishna (God) is. Food that is offered to Lord
Krishna is called parsad. We should only eat parsad, thus showing our
appreciation and gratefulness.

Q4 Living to meet God?

Lord Krishna (God) is the father of all living beings and just like any child is
eager to see the father. We are also eager to see our supreme father, Lord Krishna.
This is natural for all sober people.

Q5 Why God created us?

We are not slaves of God, because we have free will. All living beings are eternal
souls covered in a material body, based on the desires and deserves of the souls.
We all originate from the spiritual manifestation, where there was no old age, no
disease, no death, no misery of any kind. Due to free will, we came to this
material manifestation where everyone is subjected to old age, disease, misery,
death, and repeated birth in the 8.4 million species of living beings. Lord Krishna
wants all His children (all souls) back in the spiritual manifestation, asap. This
can be achieved by performing devotional service unto Him.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

65. Dharmendra Chawla says:

January 13, 2016 at 8:36 pm

Hi, I am an not vegetarian and I believe in karma, I don’t hurt and make anyone’s loss I
help others if I can, I believe in God bt dnt wnna worship him by wasting milk, oil, n
other thing, I wnna worship by my deeds, and I have one simple question, why God
created us in this article I got that whatever we eat, do, n on ur rplys to comments u took
name of hare krishna! Why? Why we have to first feed our God thn we can eat it as
vegetables are too living n we have to make it as Prasad to eat it,.? Wots the reason
behind it? Why we have to worship God? Or God Created us just he can get worshipped?
Why we r living to meet God? Wot we ll get n wot God will get if we meet him.? wot ll
happen if we meet God? Shanti? Seriously tht sit? I don’t understand r we just living to
worship God.?Means God creatd us as human to live our life or for him Or as slave?
Please ans my questions

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

January 15, 2016 at 9:59 am

Hare Krishna

Thank you for your questions.

Q1. Law of Karma

This is the infallible law of justice created and administered by God Himself to
ensure perfect judgement and fair rewards/punishment. This law applies only to
the human beings and not the animals. The animals can kill and eat other animals,
there is no punishment for them. But if a human being hurts or kills others
(humans or animals or plants) they will be fairly punished. An eye for an eye, this
is the fairness of the law. In the eyes of God all living beings are equal, and thus
anyone everyone is held responsible for their actions. Just like in a family, if one
child misbehaves, he is punished by the father. In a similar way, Lord Krishna is
the father of all living beings and if one living being (human) hurts or kills
another one of his brother/sister, he/she will be punished exactly according to the
crime. The animal/plant bodies are in gross ignorance and they are on a fixed
transmigration from one body to another through the 8 million species in the plant
and animal kingdoms. The human species which number 400,000 are not on a
fixed cycle, the souls in human bodies have free will, they can choose to stay
human or go down to the plant and animal kingdoms, depending on their
behavior. The souls in plant and animal bodies are basically ex-humans who hurt
and killed plants and animals and they are now undergoing punishment for their
crimes. If one is not vegetarian, he is responsible for murder and he too will be
murdered by others. This is fair justice for all living beings.

“Life is an intelligent design, nothing happens randomly” (Steve Jobs, founder of

Apple)

Lord Krishna is present everywhere and thus He is the perfect witness to

everything we do. Nobody can get away with any wrong doing.

Q2. Why waste milk, oil and other things on offering to God?
We give gifts on birthdays, wedding, anniversaries and other events. Why? The
persons getting the gifts are not beggars, they have the money to get the same
items or they might already have them. So why do we give gifts? By giving gifts
to others is how we show our appreciation and love for others, and not that they
need them.

On mother’s day, the children will give flowers to the mother using the mother’s
money. Why? She could buy the flowers herself. The giving of flowers, gives the
children a way to show their appreciation and love for their mother. In a similar
way, we offer milk, oil, flowers, fruits and other items to Lord Krishna to show
our appreciation and love for Him. He has everything and He is the source of
everything, He does not need anything. By offering His things to Him, this is how
we can show our appreciation and love for Him. So we are wasting milk, oil and
other things what are offered to God. We are unappreciative, ungrateful, and
thieves, if we don’t offer them to God.

Q3 Why do we first offer to God then eat ourselves?

Just like a son will give something to the father and the father will say ‘thank
you’. The father does not need anything from the son, because he has everything
and he provides the son with everything. But the son will give to the father to
show his appreciation and love for his father. In a similar way, everything belongs
to Lord Krishna (God), and we first offer food to Him before we eat to show our
appreciation and thank Him for giving everything to us. Not that He is hungry or a
beggar. Lord Krishna is so merciful that when we offer Him food, He eats it
completely but the food still remains on the plate in complete for us to enjoy. This
is how great and merciful Lord Krishna (God) is. Food that is offered to Lord
Krishna is called parsad. We should only eat parsad, thus showing our
appreciation and gratefulness.

Q4 Living to meet God?

Lord Krishna (God) is the father of all living beings and just like any child is
eager to see the father. We are also eager to see our supreme father, Lord Krishna.
This is natural for all sober people.

Q5 Why God created us?

We are not slaves of God, because we have free will. All living beings are eternal
souls covered in a material body, based on the desires and deserves of the souls.
We all originate from the spiritual manifestation, where there was no old age, no
disease, no death, no misery of any kind. Due to free will, we came to this
material manifestation where everyone is subjected to old age, disease, misery,
death, and repeated birth in the 8.4 million species of living beings. Lord Krishna
wants all His children (all souls) back in the spiritual manifestation, asap. This
can be achieved by performing devotional unto Him.
 Hare Krishna
Kamlesh
ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

66. Kishore says:

January 27, 2016 at 8:02 pm

Why animal sacrifices like ashvemedha yajna are performed, when killing is forbidden?
Does god become happy if we kill an animal?

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

February 4, 2016 at 3:08 pm

Hare Krishna,

Thank you for your question.

The animal sacrifice in previous Yuga’s is nothing like the slaughter of animals in
this age. You are thinking in terms of what is happening to animals in this age of
Kali Yuga. Ashvemedha Yagna were very powerful and the Rishi’s uttered such
powerful mantras that would bring back new life to the old animals which were
sacrificed. They weren’t killing them for food or just for the sake of it. By the
mantras chanted by Brahmanas they would give new life to the animal. No
slaughter house can do this so they should not be killing animals.

Anyhow, all sorts of animal sacrifice is forbidden in this age of Kali Yuga as there
are no qualified Rishi’s to do this.

God is certainly not happy with this slaughter of animals in this age. No killing is
allowed.

Ashvemedha Yagna’s was done under proper guidance by Guru’s and Shastra’s,
its not possible to do this in this age.

In this age, now it is only one Yagna recommended which is Harinam Sankirtana,
the chanting of God’s names especially the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. This will
itself purify ones heart and develop pure love for Krishna (God).
 Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

67. Mallika says:

February 26, 2016 at 9:18 am

Hare Krishna!!

Thank you for the wonderful article; I concur with all your points.

I have a question regarding fermented food – can we offer fermented food like kimchi
and jams, as well as food containing soy sauce to Lord Krishna?Please enlighten me on
this. Thank you!

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

April 7, 2016 at 8:25 am

Hare Krishna,

The best we can do is offer our pure veg food to Lord Krishna. So, yes these food
is Ok to offer.

For Soy Sauce just check if suitable for Vegetarians.

Pure Veg food should be fine, we just avoid onion/garlic and mushrooms.

Some tin food may say spices so you can call the company up and just check.

You see at temples they may not offer fermented food as they prefer to make
everything fresh for the deities. But at home we can use, offer then eat.

The main thing is that we offer everything to Lord Krishna before eating.

Glad you liked the article.

 Try to visit any local ISKCON Temple and you can have a chat with the cook and
pujaris they can also let you know further about food.

Hare Krishna
ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

68. Mehak says:

May 30, 2016 at 8:43 pm

Thanks for the article it’s very beautiful. I used to love eating meat earlier but now I have
left the habit as logically I have no rights to kill a living being but however I’m not
convinced with the onion and garlic thing… like the nector possesses such a strong power
and is a godly pure holy thing like the ganga river whose purity can never be taken
away…. and whoever who drinks the nector is believed to achieve immortality… if the
nector is so strong then how can something demonish can affect it and cause it to turn
into demonic things like onion and garlic? The reasons stated above about why not to
consume onion and garlic is based on stories and not on logic, Therefore not at all
appealing & convincing.

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

June 1, 2016 at 2:37 pm

Hare Krishna Dear Mehak.

Thank you for reading the meat eating article and it is nice that you have given up
eating meat, you surely have made the right decision.

Regarding onion and garlic, you see there are different kinds of people, some
understand from a logic point of view, some people with stories and some people
by experimenting. If the story does not appeal to you then you can try to put it to
practise yourself and see the difference it makes to your consciousness. When
scriptures states something it is absolute and true, we may not be able to
comprehend straight away but if followed properly then we will gain higher
realisation and start to increase faith in the words of the scriptures. The main
reason for not eating onions and garlic is that they agitate the mind and increase
anger in us. Also it can increase lust & ignorance. Garlic agitates the senses and
can invoke sexual desires. Those on a serious path to spirituality and yoga and
meditation avoid foods which are in the mode of passion and ignorance which
 helps them raise their consciousness level to the mode of goodness, from here one
can come to the transcendental mode. Coming back to the story, yes Ganga is
pure and no one can take its purity, but in this instance the demon came in contact
with it and made that portion contaminated which then onion and garlic came
about. It’s not that the purity of Ganga is lost, but the emphasis is on the
contamination from the demons blood. In Krishna consciousness thousands of
people have given up onions and garlic and they have noticed a huge difference in
their mind and consciousness, they feel more pure. So no one will be able to make
it appealing and convincing except ourselves when we put it to practise and see
the results. Anyway chanting Hare Krishna mantra gives us the strength to
naturally give up food which are in the mode of passion and ignorance and help
us to gain higher awareness of the self.

Hare Krishna

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

69. Dr E Kiran Kumar says:

July 26, 2016 at 3:29 pm

Very excellent and worth knowing information. Very fortunate to go through the detailed
articles and information. Fully convinced that meat eating, eating of onion and garlic are
definitely not good for a true spiritualist and specially for one who wants to progress in
krishna consciousness and vaishnavism and wants to get the mercy of krishna or vishnu.
Even i found the devotees of ramanuja sampradaya are very strict in diet and avoid all
food stuffs which increase the modes of passion and ignorance. Hare Krishna prabhuji.
Thanks a ton.

Reply

70. Rafay says:

September 12, 2016 at 5:49 pm

My question is what makes sure that animals have soul? If moving, eating, breathing
means being living thing, then nothing on earth is non living. You hit a table, and it cries
that you can hear. You drip water on it and it absorbs it. It even emits invisible energy
that influences your mind and it makes you want to move its position. You leave it in an
isolated room for a long time and it dies or falls ill… gets deformed. Plants are much
more alive than these so called non living things. How do you now justify your point?
Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

September 22, 2016 at 3:05 pm

Hare Krishna

Science defines a living being as that having cells with particular biological
structure and components. The stones and other non-living beings do not have
these cells.

All living beings including the plants and animals have a soul. When the soul
leaves the body, this is called death. It’s the soul that illuminates the whole body
with consciousness, without the soul the cells in the body of a living being die and
the biological structure breaks down.

“O son of Bharata, as the sun alone illuminates all this universe, so does the living
entity, one within the body, illuminate the entire body by consciousness.” (Lord
Krishna, Bhagavad-Gita 13.34)

Consciousness is a symptom of the presence of the soul in a body. When a person

dies, we say he has passed away. The body is present before us but we say he has
passed away. It’s the soul that has passed on. Where to? To another body.

Every second souls are transmigrating from one body to another, from one species
to another, exactly based on the desires and deserves of the soul.
God is very efficient, we (the soul) never die. Death is for the body and not the
soul. The soul is eternal. Every soul is eternal, full of bliss, and full of knowledge.
Every soul is equal.

The Science of the Soul

The soul is eternal

The soul cannot be destroyed
The soul is neither black nor white
The soul is not Indian, nor American, nor African
The soul is not Hindu, nor Christian, nor Muslim
The soul is neither diseased nor healthy
One soul is neither richer nor poorer than another
The soul is neither old nor young
One soul is neither inferior nor superior to another
The soul has no weight and cannot be seen with the naked eye
The soul is situated in the heart of all living beings
The size of the soul is 1/10,000th of the tip of the hair
The below is a translation in English from the Vedic scripture called The
Bhagavad-Gita (BG), which was written more than 5000 years ago. This is yet
another of the millions of proofs that Lord Krishna is the Supreme person (God)
and the Vedic knowledge comes from Him. The scientists still do not know the
science of the soul.

This information is unique to the Vedic scriptures, because the Vedic was given
by the origin of everything, Lord Krishna (God). The speaker of the Bhagavad-
Gita and compiler of all the Vedic knowledge.

Bg. 2.10 – O descendant of Bharata, at that time Krsna, smiling, in the midst of
both the armies, spoke the following words to the grief-stricken Arjuna.
Bg. 2.11 – The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: While speaking learned
words, you are mourning for what is not worthy of grief. Those who are wise
lament neither for the living nor for the dead.
Bg. 2.12 – Never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor all these
kings; nor in the future shall any of us cease to be.
Bg. 2.13 – As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood
to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober
person is not bewildered by such a change.
Bg. 2.14 – O son of Kunte, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and
distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and
disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception,
O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.
Bg. 2.15 – O best among men [Arjuna], the person who is not disturbed by
happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation.
Bg. 2.16 – Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent
[the material body] there is no endurance and of the eternal [the soul] there is no
change. This they have concluded by studying the nature of both.
Bg. 2.17 – That which pervades the entire body you should know to be
indestructible. No one is able to destroy that imperishable soul.
Bg. 2.20 – For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not
come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is
unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.
Bg. 2.21 – O Pärtha, how can a person who knows that the soul is indestructible,
eternal, unborn and immutable kill anyone or cause anyone to kill?
Bg. 2.22 – As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul
similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones.
Bg. 2.23 – The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire,
nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind.
Bg. 2.24 – This individual soul is unbreakable and insoluble, and can be neither
burned nor dried. He is everlasting, present everywhere, unchangeable,
immovable and eternally the same.
Bg. 2.25 – It is said that the soul is invisible, inconceivable and immutable.
Knowing this, you should not grieve for the body.
Bg. 2.26 – If, however, you think that the soul [or the symptoms of life] is always
 born and dies forever, you still have no reason to lament, O mighty-armed.
Bg. 2.27 – One who has taken his birth is sure to die, and after death one is sure to
take birth again. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should
not lament.
Bg. 2.28 – All created beings are unmanifest in their beginning, manifest in their
interim state, and unmanifest again when annihilated. So what need is there for
lamentation?
Bg. 2.29 – Some look on the soul as amazing, some describe him as amazing, and
some hear of him as amazing, while others, even after hearing about him, cannot
understand him at all.
Bg. 2.30 – O descendant of Bharata, he who dwells in the body can never be slain.
Therefore you need not grieve for any living being.

Regards
Kamlesh

Reply

71. bashir says:

September 13, 2016 at 1:16 pm

Hello brother,
My name is Bashir I’m a Christian boy, being a kashmiri Christian we have kept Muslim
name for safty reason.
few days back I read this on one of the Muslim blog not aware whose blog that belonged
to.
This Muslim man had answered to a Hindu fellow which is mentioned below

ACCORDING TO THE VEDAS

“Indra says theat, because, Indra was in desperate condition, therefore he cooked
intestines of a dog.
[Rig Vda book 4: hymn 18 mantra or verse 13]

“Agni is a Vedic God and is described as fed on Ox and Cow”

[Rig Vda book 10: hymn 16 mantra or verse 7]

“A ritual enveloping dead body with Cow’s flesh before putting it on fire”.
[Rig Vda book 10: hymn 16 mantra or verse 7-10]

“Indra eats bulls”

[Rig Vda book 10: hymn 85 mantra or verse 13]
“Indra says, “They have cooked for me fifteen bulls and twenty cows, so that I may eat
the fats as well. Both sides of my belly are full.”
[Rig Vda book 10: hymn 86 mantra or verse 7]

ACCORDING TO THE UPANISHAD

“He who wishes, “May as son born to me, who will e a reputed scholar, attend
assemblies, speak words that one likes to hear, be versed in all the Vedas and attain full
longevity” Should have rice cooked with beef that of a young mature bull and with his
wife eat it mixed with ghee. Then they will be able to produce such a son.
[Brahadaranyaka Upanishad Ch 6 Sec 4 Mantar 18]

ACCORDING TO THE MANUSMRITI:

“”The eater who eats the flesh of those to be eaten does nothing bad, even if he does it
day after day, for God himself created some to be eaten and some to be eater.”
[Manu Smruti, the law book of Hindus, in chapter 5 verse 30]

“Eating meat is right for the sacrifice; this is traditionally known as a rule of the gods.”
[Manu Smruti, the law book of Hindus, in chapter 5 verse 31]

“God himself created sacrificial animals for sacrifice… therefore killing in a sacrifice is
not killing.”
[Manu Smruti, the law book of Hindus, in chapter 5 verse 39-40]

ACCORDING TO THE MAHABHARATA

Yudhishthira and Pitamah Bhishma about what food one should offer to Pitris (ancestors)
during the Shraddha (ceremony of dead) to keep them satisfied. Paragraph reads as
follows:
“Yudhishthira said, “O thou of great puissance, tell me what that object is which, if
dedicated to the Pitiris (dead ancestors), become inexhaustible! What Havi, again, (if
offered) lasts for all time? What, indeed, is that which (if presented) becomes eternal?”
“Bhishma said, “Listen to me, O Yudhishthira, what those Havis are which persons
conversant with the rituals of the Shraddha (the ceremony of dead) regard as suitable in
view of Shraddha and what the fruits are that attach to each. With sesame seeds and rice
and barely and Masha and water and roots and fruits, if given at Shraddhas, the pitris, O
king, remain gratified for the period of a month. With fishes offered at Shraddhas, the
pitris remain gratified for a period of two months. With the mutton they remain gratified
for three months and with the hare for four months, with the flesh of the goat for five
months, with the bacon (meat of pig) for six months, and with the flesh of birds for seven.
With venison obtained from those deer that are called Prishata, they remaingratified for
eight months, and with that obtained from the Ruru for nine months, and with the meat of
Gavaya for ten months, With the meat of the bufffalo their gratification lasts for eleven
months. With beef presented at the Shraddha, their gratification, it is said , lasts for a full
year. Payasa mixed with ghee is as much acceptable to the pitris as beef. With the meat of
Vadhrinasa (a large bull) the gratification of pitris lasts for twelve years. The flesh of
rhinoceros, offered to the pitris on anniversaries of the lunar days on which they died,
becomes inexhaustible. The potherb called Kalaska, the petals of kanchana flower, and
meat of (red) goat also, thus offered, prove inexhaustible. So but natural if you want to
keep your ancestors satisfied forever, you should serve them the meat of red goat.
[Mahabharata Anushashan Parva chapter 88]

I would like to request you to please explain why even some Hindu scolars say it is
permitted and trying to kill those poor who are into selling business

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

September 22, 2016 at 3:06 pm

Hare Krishna

Non-violence is one of the fundamental teachings of Sanatan-Dharma

(Hinduism). The Law of Karma is a fundamental basis of Sanatan-Dharma. It is
also very clearly stated that there 8.4 million species of living beings or bodies,
and the souls transmigrate from one body to another, from one form to another,
exactly based on the desires and deserves of the soul. Thus if one kills and eats
others, he/she will also be killed and eaten. For every action, there will be an
equal reaction.

The Manu-Smriti has contradictory teachings on purpose. This is because God

knows that humans have a variety of mentalities and thus it not possible for all
humans to follow everything to the same degree/level. Just like not everyone can
become a doctor. The variety of teachings are there to slowly elevate one to the
only proven and seen God, Lord Krishna. Just like the children in a family will go
to different Universities/Colleges to study different subjects, because not
everyone has the same ability/capacity.

Human have different levels of mentalities and intelligence, and thus the Manu-
Smriti states to eat meat in one place and not to eat meat in another place. The
contradictory teachings are there so the person reading will eventually realize the
verses where it states not to eat meat. The first step is to get humans to follow
some laws or scriptures and as they read, they will slowly become elevated. A
person who reads and follows the Bhagavad-Gita has achieved the highest level of
human consciousness. A Bhagavad-Gita follower would NEVER eat meat. A
person with a higher consciousness will realize that one animal is food for another
animal. We are humans and not animals.

In the below verse it states not to eat meat. There are also other similar verses in
the Manu-Sriti.
 5.33. A twice-born man who knows the law, must not eat meat except in
conformity with the law; for if he has
eaten it unlawfully, he will, unable to save himself, be eaten after death by his
(victims).

For the verses from the Vedas, there are many incorrect and deceptive translations
made by non-Vedic followers. Only accept translations from authorized Vedic
followers.

Regards
Kamlesh

Reply

72. mufaddal says:

September 16, 2016 at 5:49 am

Interesting article. I was fighting from inside whether killing for living is a right path or
not. Internally i felt hurted when an animal is killed. Just wondering why God created
such earth where to live u have to kill.. even when we take breath we intake mico
organisms.. Carnivores animal only live on another animal. Why animal who get up with
front leg are always found vegetarian and animal getting up from back legs r mostly non
vegetarian. fishes having scale r mostly found vegetarian. I am not 100% satisfied with
Your answer. But yes killing animal hurts me. I am still in search of right path and in
search of why we came into existence. Also just wondering on ecological balance.
Consider me as a human being believing in no religion and does not believe in myth. But
believes in God existence

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

September 22, 2016 at 3:09 pm

Hare Krishna

The below answers all the questions.

http://eternalreligion.org/purpose-of-creating-living-beings/

http://eternalreligion.org/differing-human-mentalities/

http://eternalreligion.org/why-do-animals-exist/
 Regards
Kamlesh

Reply

73. AP says:

October 11, 2016 at 5:01 pm

Hare Krishna,

It was a very informative article. My parents are ISKCON devotees in India. I always
wondered the reasons behind non even eating onions and garlic, I understand the
reasoning now. I am not a ISKCON devotee though I have my own ways of worshipping
god and have deep faith. I personally don’t eat non veg as parents don’t like and when at
home not onion garlic as well as they are not cooked at home. However post marriage
have started to encounter a unique problem relating to food conflict at our home as my
wife is a non vegetarian but cooking non vegetarian food even for herself alone is not
allowed at home. I understand both sides of the coin and respect both viewpoints
however fail to come to a solution acceptable to my devotee parents and my wife with
respect to food. Appreciate this forum is not really a family consultation, however
thought as it relates to veg/non veg subject and involves people who are following
ISKCON / and not, it might be worth sharing it here and seeking advice from ISKCON
itself.

Hare Krishna.

Reply

o ISKCON Birmingham says:

October 12, 2016 at 10:45 am

Hare Krishna

Thank you for your email. You seem like a very good person.

In regards to your email, there are some differences between the couple in every
marriage. There are no 2 people on the planet who will agree with everything. The
best thing is for the vegetarian person to set good examples for all to follow with
good behaviour in all situations. Purity is the force, a pure person can change
others.
 Accept the differences and don’t let them spoil your marriage. Take good care of
her and slowly teach her why killing animals is wrong and she will become a
vegetarian. Stay together, don’t let this or other differences break your marriage.
Everyone is in a certain situation mentally due to past life. Know that ALL
devotees were engaged in some sinful activities in previous lives and that’s why
we are here now. The demons of today will become devotees in the future in this
life or the next by the grace of other devotees.

Regards
Kamlesh

ISKCON Birmingham

Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment

Name *

Email *

Website

Time limit is exhausted. Please reload CAPTCHA. nine − = seven

 Recent Comments
o ISKCON Birmingham on What’s wrong with eating meat
o AP on What’s wrong with eating meat
o ISKCON Birmingham on What’s wrong with eating meat
 o ISKCON Birmingham on What’s wrong with eating meat
o ISKCON Birmingham on What’s wrong with eating meat
 Link
o Follow us on Twitter – @ISKCONBhamUK
o Iskcon Desire Tree
o Iskcon UK
o Krishna.com
o Like us on Facebook
o Like Us: Birmingham 24 Hour Kirtan
o Like Us: Birmingham Pandavasena
o Mayapur tv
 Donate

If donating for Temple Extension please state Reference as: (TempExt-“Name Surname“)
Thank you.

 Admin
o Log in
o Entries RSS
o Comments RSS
o WordPress.org

Proudly powered by ISKCON.

IntroductionGuruparamparaPhilosophyActivitiesEventsPublications

Philosophy

NewsShangar DarshanCalendarSitesDownloadsContacts
 Inspirator: His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree Purushottampriyadasji
Maharaj
Search

Home >> Philosophy

Vegetarianism

Philosophy Onions & Garlic

Vishishtadvait
Dharma In the Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Granth, Jeevanpran Swamibapa narrates an
Muktas episode in the jeevan leela of the supreme Lord Swaminarayan, which directs us to
Satsang Mahasabha the answer the question about vegetarianism.
Karan Satsang
Vartman During Lord Swaminarayan's forest expedition, He arrived at Jagnathpuri. Here,
Shree Swaminarayan Gadi there lived a large community of demons disguised as sages. One day, one of these
Pooja sages said to the Lord, "Pick this green plant." The Lord refused to do this saying
Tilak-Chandlo and Kanthi that the plant was a living entity and by plucking the plant, it would cause it pain.
Vegetarianism The sage was angered by the Lord's refusal, and this sparked off a huge battle
where thousands of these demons were slain. The point that the Lord demonstrated
was that it was not necessary to pluck the plant. Unnecessary killing of plants is a
sin, just as is the killing of animals.

The Lord has made 4 types of creatures.

1. Jaraayooj (born of a womb, mammals)

2. Andaj (born out of an egg)
3. Oodbhij (vegetation)
4. Svedaj (bacteria, organisms etc.)

Each of these requires sustenance to survive and this can only be met from the
other types of creature. A lion requires flesh to survive. God has built the lion with
claws and teeth appropriate for this purpose. Therefore, it is not a sin for a lion to
kill another creature and eat its meat. But, a lion will only kill enough for it to eat.
It will not kill unnecessarily. Our forefathers may have eaten meat. But they
realised that man can survive on vegetation alone, and between meat and plant
matter, the latter was less sinful. The ancient rushi munis thus weighed up the
options and decided that man should eat plant matter.

Cutting nails or hair is different from cutting off a finger or another limb. They are
all parts of our body, but there is a distinction. In the same way, there remains a
distinction between killing an animal and a plant for food, even though they both
have life. Having said this, needless killing of plant matter is just as much a sin as
killing an animal.

Thus, the eating of plants by humans is allowed, because it is necessary for its
survival. And, if you then use the energy derived from that plant in the worship of
God, then in fact you are giving salvation to those plants, because the plant has
been of use in worshipping God. However, if you do not use the energy derived
from the plants in worshipping God, then indeed you are committing a sin by the
killing and eating of the vegetation.

The Lord has commanded that water should be filtered before drinking. This is to
remove any organisms or bacteria so that we may not consume these, and thus
cause their unnecessary killing. God had further commanded that if a pot of water
has been left for over 24 hours, it must be re-filtered before use. This is to remove
any organisms that may have grown over that period. Again, Lord Swaminarayan
has given further credence to the ideology that unnecessary killing should be
avoided.

The health experts today advise us that a vegetarian diet is generally a healthier
diet. Our forefathers were correct in their advice.

As a final point, humans are indeed the biggest sinners in the universe. It is a fact
that every soul leaves each life with more sins than when it entered that body. But
as it says in the Bhagawat Gita,

Sarvadharmaan parityajya maamekam sharanam vraj

Aham tvaam sarvapaapebhyo mokshyeeshyaamee maa soochaha (18/66)

Dismiss any of your own thoughts of what is dharma and obey only my commands.
Do not fear, by the obeying of my wishes, I will relieve you of all your sins.

The true and unadulterated commands of Lord Swaminarayan (dharma) are

eternally alive at Shree Swaminarayan Gadi. By obeying the wishes and
commands of His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree, through whom Lord
SwaminarayanBapa Swamibapa gives darshan today, we will become relinquished
of all our mortal sins and attain the supreme bliss of the Lord's murti.
© Shree Swaminarayan Gadi
Sansthan Contact Us | Guestbook | FAQ's | Glossary | Sitemap | Help