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The Humanism of Haribhadra
239
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When a person causes harm (to someone) with the intention of causing damage to his body, he says, due to his wretchedness : "I am going to kill !". Such violence has a cause ! When, due to causal necessity, there is a maturation of the karma [accumulated from killing the victim that had] to be killed, then the killer will be responsible for his deed. It [namely violence] will be evil, for it is the result of an evil [intention on his part). So, by abstention from what, according to the good teaching, is impure karma, one can, alas, stop such [violence] simply by always having good intentions ! Such non-violence is considered fundamental for producing heaven and freedom. In order to take good care of this (namely non-violence], it is reasonable that one protects truth, etc. So the [soul) is proved to be permanent amd (impermanent], etc., because it can remember, recognize, and because it can touch and feel the body. It is also considered to be permanent and impermanent, etc.] because it is established to be so by cornmon opinion. Assuming the (soul] has the size of the body, and that it has attributes such as contraction, etc., then, due to good karma, it can go upwards [to good rebirth), etc. So everything is exactly as it should be !
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8. With a good mind this should be considered by a man whose soul is
impartial. It simply must be understood. For good men there is no other valid interpretation (of the soul] !
XVII. Eight Verses Reprehending the Enjoyment of Meat
[An opponent), too much of a disputant, says that a good man is allowed to enjoy meat, as he may [enjoy] rice, etc., for meat is only a small part of a living being.
Reply : Since the decision about what one may and may not eat actually entirely depends on the scriptures and on (what) mankind in general accepts, therefore this (opinion] is improper.
3.
According to these (sources] one may consume one part of a living being, but not certain other parts. From this point of view it is all right [to consume] e.g. the good milk [but not the] blood of a cow etc.
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