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INTRODUCTION
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of reality and in whom indulgence in sense objects and passions (kashaya) predominate, result (in a rebirth) among low level of gods (devas) or men" (PS 257).
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In his work, Purusharthasiddhyupaya, Amrtachandra has pointed to a number of instances in which the thought of kindness may quite tempting but could indeed be deluding and counterproductive since it may really be misplaced and lead to the perpetration of violence or killing which is not justified and can in fact be avoided.
For instance, one can argue that killing of one (say tiger, lion, etc.), who kills a number of animals, is justified since it would lead to the protection of many others (PSU 83), that it would be an act of mercy or kindness towards other animals (Amrtachandra, a great votary of non-violence, does not favour that killing). This plausible argument is often raised by sportsmen. They defend hunting on the ground that by doing so they protect humanity from the ravages of ferocious animals. But in reality, apart from the excitement of s sport, the feelings that actuate them in killing a lion may be the expectation of reward. praise or being called bold men.
Again, Amrtachandra states: "These kill many lives, and accumulate grave sin." On this basis, it is sometimes said that killing such beings would be an act of mercy towards them. This kind of argument is also misleading. Even those who injure others should not be killed for that reason (PSU 84), since it is also a fallacious argument.
Then again, "Those in great suffering will on being killed soon obtain relief from their agony". (PSU 85) This is called mercy-killing (not only of animals, dog, horse, etc. but also human beings) or euthanasia or doctor-assisted death (in which life support is withdrawn from the patient permanently disabled or suffering from incurable disease). This is legalized in one of the states (Ohio) of USA and one of the countries (Netherlands) in the world. In Egypt, some people considered it a pious religious duty to stab their old parents to death, in the belief that by doing so, they relieved them of miseries and infirmities of old age. It is a misconception and indeed a delusion to call such practices an act of mercy.
In a number of cases of such mercy-killing of the distressed one, which Amrtachandra does not approve (PSU 85), people, including relatives, may be guided more by ulterior motives of saving money for their own use rather than spending it in the hospitalization and
