IS KILLING VEGETABLES WRONG?
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It is a common metaphysical question to ask, “If all living
\nentities are spiritually equal, then why is it acceptable to
\neat grains, vegetables, etc., and not meat? Aren’t
\nvegetarians guilty of killing vegetables?” In response, it
\nmay be pointed out that vegetarian foods such as fruits,
\nnuts, milk, and grains do not require any killing. But even
\nin those cases where a plant’s life is taken, the pain
\ninvolved is much less than when an animal is slaughtered,
\nbecause the plant’s nervious system is less developed.
\nClearly there is a vast difference between pulling a carrot
\nout of the ground and killing a lamb. But still, one must
\nundoubtedly suffer karmic reactions even for killing plants.<\/p>\n
For this reason, Lord Krishna explains in Bhagavad-gita that
\nnot only should man eat only vegetarian foods, but he should
\nalso offer these eatables to Him. If we follow this process
\nof sacrifice, of offering our foodstuffs to God, the Supreme
\nLord, Krishna, protects us from any karmic reactions
\nresulting from the killing of plants. Otherwise, according
\nto the law of karma, we are personally responsible. The Gita
\nstates, “The devotees of the Lord are released from all sins
\nbecause they eat food that is offered first for sacrifice.
\nOthers, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment,
\nverily eat only sin.”<\/p>\n
Srila Prabhupada, the guru and Founder-Acharya of the Hare
\nKrishna movement, elaborates on this principle of spiritual
\nvegetarianism. “Human beings are provided with food grains,
\nvegetables, fruits, and milk by the grace of the Lord, but
\nit is the duty of human beings to acknowledge the mercy of
\nthe Lord. As a matter of gratitude, they should feel obliged
\nto the Lord for their supply of foodstuff, and they must
\nfirst offer Him food in sacrifice and then partake of the
\nremnants.” By eating such sanctified food – prasadam – one
\nis protected from karmic reactions and advances spiritually.<\/p>\n
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