Have Mercy on the Animals
Several weeks ago I noticed a man at a check out line in a grocery store holding a meat package in his hand waiting for his turn with the cashier. It was heartbreaking to see that blood was dripping out from the package making a small puddle on the floor. This was the blood of a living, breathing cow who a short while ago was experiencing feelings and emotions just like we do. The poor creature had been shipped off by her cruel master to be butchered and now her blood was making a mess on the floor. What was even more disconcerting was that nobody was disturbed by this ghastly scene. Everybody was desensitized. Nobody cared. It was considered normal, par for the course.
In such a society where cruelty to living creatures is considered routine, acceptable, normal behavior what can we expect? Murder, war, and terrorism become normal everyday threads of the social fabric. When we become this cruel to animals and we are so callous that we feel no guilt or shame for such horrendous crimes against them what is the next step? I have seen photographs of a man in Japan cooking a human baby and then eating it with great delight just as one would eat a leg of chicken. Such things are already happening and considered stylish in certain circles.
It's time that we as a human society reassess our values before we become even more degraded. We need to value and respect the lives of other living creatures and learn how to have mercy on the animals. It is not possible to develop the saintly qualities necessary for entering the kingdom of God as long as we inflict such unnecessary cruelty on our four-legged, winged, and finned little brothers and sisters. Therefore in the Krishna consciousness movement we strictly avoiding eating meat. Have mercy on the animals and convince everybody else to do the same.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
My question is: How can I live my spiritual life among of a non-devotee family?
Salvador
1. No illicit sex (sex other than for procreation).
2. No meat eating (including fish and eggs). You should eat only vegetarian foods which have first been offered to Lord Sri Krishna with love and devotion.
3. No intoxication (including coffee, tea, and cigarettes).
4. No gambling.
5. Chant at least 16 rounds of Hare Krishna mantra every day on chanting beads.
Even though it is not always easy to practice Krishna consciousness in the association of non-devotees, we encourage to remain in your family life for their benefit. If you are strong in your principles and at the same time are tolerant and patient with them, eventually they will also become attracted to Krishna and will want to become devotees too.
May Lord Krishna bless you in your attempt to be solidly fixed in Krishna consciousness and at the same time make your family Krishna conscious.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
In such a society where cruelty to living creatures is considered routine, acceptable, normal behavior what can we expect? Murder, war, and terrorism become normal everyday threads of the social fabric. When we become this cruel to animals and we are so callous that we feel no guilt or shame for such horrendous crimes against them what is the next step? I have seen photographs of a man in Japan cooking a human baby and then eating it with great delight just as one would eat a leg of chicken. Such things are already happening and considered stylish in certain circles.
It's time that we as a human society reassess our values before we become even more degraded. We need to value and respect the lives of other living creatures and learn how to have mercy on the animals. It is not possible to develop the saintly qualities necessary for entering the kingdom of God as long as we inflict such unnecessary cruelty on our four-legged, winged, and finned little brothers and sisters. Therefore in the Krishna consciousness movement we strictly avoiding eating meat. Have mercy on the animals and convince everybody else to do the same.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
Gita, the Magnificent Bull
Answers According to the Vedic Version:
Question: Krishna Consciousness with Non-Devotee Family
I am a 44 years old family man; I have a wife and three teenager kids. I'm trying to live my life according to the principle of the Krishna Consciousness movement, but my wife and kids don't want to know anything about this path.My question is: How can I live my spiritual life among of a non-devotee family?
Salvador
Answer: Be Strong, Patient, and Tolerant
Our best is advice is that you should be very tolerant of your non-devotee family members and at the same time very strict with yourself to undeviatingly follow the regulated principles of freedom as listed here:1. No illicit sex (sex other than for procreation).
2. No meat eating (including fish and eggs). You should eat only vegetarian foods which have first been offered to Lord Sri Krishna with love and devotion.
3. No intoxication (including coffee, tea, and cigarettes).
4. No gambling.
5. Chant at least 16 rounds of Hare Krishna mantra every day on chanting beads.
Even though it is not always easy to practice Krishna consciousness in the association of non-devotees, we encourage to remain in your family life for their benefit. If you are strong in your principles and at the same time are tolerant and patient with them, eventually they will also become attracted to Krishna and will want to become devotees too.
May Lord Krishna bless you in your attempt to be solidly fixed in Krishna consciousness and at the same time make your family Krishna conscious.
Sankarshan Das Adhikari
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