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 our own benefit and benefit for the whole world.

Generally people say what’s wrong with eating meat?

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.  Krishna says that every living creature is Son of God (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 in 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.

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.

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) 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 meat.”
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”

Table displays Features of different entities’ diets:

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 murdered 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. A cow or a horse would be cut into pieces and placed in the fire. Afterwards the rishis would utter mantras and the same animal 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.

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?”

Conclusion

We actually do not need to eat meat, there are so many disadvantages.  Generally nobody can just eat raw 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.  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 truly have guts and 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 weather 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’

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).

Return to Top

Previous

Hare Krishna.