SHLOK 11,12

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SHLOK 11,12 13

• These Shloks build
• on the idea of
• Ahinsa (non-violence)

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SHLOK 11

• My devotees shall never kill or harm any
  creatures whatsoever nor shall they intentionally
  kill or harm even small insects such as lice,
  bugs etc

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What does this shlok say?

• Not to kill any living creatures
• All life forms have equal values, i.e. soul
• Cleanliness and Godliness
• Accidentally
• Unintentionally

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SHLOK 12

• No creatures such as goats and cows shall be
  killed even for offering as a sacrifice to
  deities or ancestors, because non-violence is the
  highest of all Dharma, as stated in the Shastras
  

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What the Shikshapatri says about non-violence

• Ahinsa Yagnas Lord Swaminarayan
• performed these Himself in many places
• Killing of internal enemies
• Greatest ethical code of all religions
• Misinterpretation of concepts in other religions
• Vishnuyaag in Jetalpur

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SHLOK 13

• Use of violence or killing should never be
  committed even for the achievement of women,
  wealth or kingdom.

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What does this shlok indicate?

• Fulfillment of personal desires
• Temporary happiness

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Types of Violence

• Shatanand Muni suggests that we should not
  physically, verbally or mentally kill another
  creature (of God).  Such is the great Dharma of
  Ahinsa.
• Mental Violence this is passive,
• Eg. your thoughts
• Verbal Violence speech
• Physical Violence using force

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Mental Violence

• This is a form of passive violence small things
  we do that we do not notice
• Thinking ill of others
• Planning an evil act against someone
• Hatred and discrimination
• Selfishness

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Mental Violence - Anger

• Anger is the main form of mental violence
• Mental violence leads to
• verbal or physical violence
• destroys relationships
• does not solve problems, but creates more
• Anger is like an intoxicant
• It reduces man and degrades him to the level of
  an animal.

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Physical Violence

• Most common form of violence
• Includes bullying, fighting, killing,
• murder, etc

Killing small insects like mosquitoes is
physical form of violence which we tend to
overlook.
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• Narad similarly says, Partaking of vegetarian
  foods will attain salvation (Moksha). 
• Mundak Upanishad narrates a story where a king
  who performs Hinsa Yagnas is visited by Narad
  Muni and is put into Samadhi (deep trance) where
  he visits Narak (hell). 
• The shocked King, reawakening from Samadhi is
  then told by Narad that the consequence of Hinsa
  is an eternity in that same hell.
• Thus the adharma of Hinsa is
• strictly prohibited in all ranks of
• true Hinduism.    

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Summary on forms of Violence

• According to shastras there are 3 types of
  killings and all carry
• the same punishment wishing to kill (Mental),
  threatening to kill
• (Verbal), practical killing (Physical).

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• Narad Pancharatra adds, The Shruti (revealed
  scriptures) are considered as the Mother of the
  Earth. 
• They preach only compassion towards all and
  strive for betterment for all.
• This is indeed the message of God,
• which does not even utter a single word of
• violence towards others.

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Avoiding Violence?

• Non violence is a profound philosophy and not a
  strategy
• We all have equal rights to live. We havent
  created creatures, so who gives us the right and
  who are we to kill them. If we cant give life to
  something then why should we destroy it?
• No one is independent - we are all interdependent
  and interrelated with each other
• Trusteeship being trustees of our talent, we
  should use it for the benefit of others
• We should act out of compassion and not pity
• Be aware that anger doesnt solve anything
• Control your actions, thoughts and speech

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THOUGHTS, QUESTIONS ANSWERS

• Do not destroy anything that you cannot rectify
• Question
• Is eating plants an act of violence?
• Is eating eggs not hatched for harvesting
• an act of violence?
• Is euthanasia allowed?

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Discussion

• Is there a difference between those who eat meat,
  those who slaughter animals for others (farms),
  those who sell it (superstores, the cashiers)?
• Ultimately your answer should be no, everyone
  receives equal punishment from the people who
  slaughter to those who sell and
• eat the meat.