People's actions are a direct result of the environment in which they are brought up, reflecting the values instilled within them. Thus, if from birth one has grown up in a family that consumed meat without questioning their actions, the child will follow suit, unaware of any alternative. There is no question of guilt, as they are unaware of the consequences of eating meat. It is not until the child grows up and discovers that vegetarianism is possible, and understands the ability to distinguish between what is beneficial and what is not, that they may adopt a different principle than what their parents instilled.
The Role of Karmic Deeds
Essentially, whether you are a vegetarian or not depends greatly upon your karmic deeds from previous lives. If you had an intention in your previous life not to eat meat, then no matter what happens, you will refrain from consuming it. Even if circumstances lead you to eat meat, you will continuously maintain an inner conviction that this is wrong. Conversely, if one has instilled the seeds of wanting to eat meat in their previous life, then in this life, no matter what occurs, they will eventually end up doing so. Thus, whether you are a vegetarian or a meat eater, no one is actually at fault, as this is dependent upon previous karmic accounts and external circumstances.
Awareness of Consequences
However, it is important for those who consume meat to be made aware of the consequences of their actions and deeds. When animals are slaughtered, there is fear in their eyes and their screams are heart-wrenching. Most people, however, never see this but consume meat that has been killed and prepared by someone else. If a person continues to eat meat despite the dire consequences, they will most certainly incur a liability for hurting another living being.
Ultimately, our intent should be not to hurt any other living being by thought, deed, or speech. As human beings, we have no right to inflict pain onto any other living being. Every living being has a soul within them. By killing and eating that animal, we hurt that soul within them, which is the same as hurting our own soul. Every time we inflict pain, we should ask for forgiveness.
Health and Vegetarianism
Many consume meat for the purpose of their health. They believe that nutrients derived from meat cannot be obtained from vegetables and such. This is a delusion, as there are many healthy individuals in the world who are vegetarian. For all vegetarians, it is important not to judge non-vegetarians. By doing so, one incurs a greater liability than the non-vegetarian through our egoism of 'look at me, I am a vegetarian, I have never killed or harmed anyone.' Through our hatred and opinions for them, we bind greater accountability. It is better to pray internally that they may attain the right understanding and thus the strength to cease consuming meat.
By eating meat, one's internal awareness is diminished, and it compromises their 'grasping power,' which in turn becomes an obstruction to their ability to comprehend their true Self.
Authored by: Dada Bhagwan
