Letter # 5: "Food"

The verse 'Dravya-yajnair yaksyamana ..." of the Srimad Bhagavatum [C7, Ch15, Text 11] means: 'Upon seeing the person engaged in performing the sacrifice, animals meant to be sacrifice are extremely afraid, thinking, "This merciless performer of sacrifices, being ignorant of the purpose of sacrifice and being most satisfied by killing others, will surely kill us"' [Translation by Srila Prabhupada] C7;15:829
I kept goats and sheep as a hobby about 6 years ago. It was for fun. But I knew nothing about animal husbandry. I had a Muslim friend who helped me look after the animals. It started with two she-goats. The animals flourished and we brought in a billy goat from a local farm. The herd multiplied. From time to time, my friend would sell and animal or two. His customers would ask him to prepare the meat. My experience of butchery was weak and my curiosity strong. So I watched him once. First he prayed. Then he killed the creature swiftly: skinned, gutted and quartered it without one drop of blood falling to the ground. You see, he was an expert butcher, having been trained at it from the age of six by his grandfather. I remember the animal that was being butchered. I was looking into its eyes as the deed was being done. There was fear and a pleading in that goat's eyes.
Meat eating is common and increasing. Huge volumes of meat are supplied by numerous slaughterhouses. Most of us just see the meat at the end stage of sale - packaged, displayed neatly and decorated with sprigs of parsley on cool, bright shelves in the supermarkets. Yes, the meat eating habit is strong and continues even tough we know from scientific research that it is the vegetariian diet that is healthy.
Buddha was shocked to see the ritual sacrifice of animals in his day. About 500 years later, when Jesus was 12 years old, he was also shocked to see the ritual sacrifice of birds and animals in the synagogues. Perhaps the commandment of the Old Testament "Thou Shalt Not Kill" has wider applications than what we commonly suppose.
Srila Prabupadha writes: "Unless one is merciless, one cannot sacrifice animals, in the name of religion or food". C7;15:829
Lord Krishna says: "Dyu sattva bala arogya..." which means: "Foods dear to those in the modes of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one's existence and give strength, health, happiness and saitisfaction. Such foods are juicy, faty, wholesome and pleasing to the heart." Bhag. Gita 17:8


God Bless; Allah Hu Akbar; May The Forces Of The Universe Bring You Harmony; Hare Krishna; Radha-Swami; and Nanak Naam Chardi Kala Tere Bhane Sarbat Dha Bhalla.

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Jas Bhopal
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References: "The Holy Bible" Online version; "The Koran" as translated by SV Mir Ahmed Ali 2005 ISBN 0-9761870-0-0); "The Bhagavad Gita As it Is" as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN 0-89213-268-X; The Srimad Bhagavatum as translated by Srila Prabhupada ISBN0-89213-259-0; "I Am That. Talks With Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj” ISBN 0-89386-022-0; The Dhammapada ISBN-10:1-84483-344-5; The Sacred Sukhmani ISBN 81-7205-098-4; Wikipedia.