Non Violence

Author(s): Dada Bhagwan
Publisher: Dada Bhagwan Foundation

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evolutionary process takes place in this manner. In providing benefits to humans, these life forms also reap benefits for themselves. But people do not understand this science.
Therefore you must not interfere with the violence in eating of single-sensory life forms. To do so is involves ego. The single-sensory life forms do not run away from you in fear, so you should not have any qualms about whether or not to eat them. This is the way of life. One cannot survive without eating and drinking.
The entire world is composed of life forms. Actually, the whole world is a collection of life forms. The basis of life is at least single-sensory. You cannot eat anything that does not contain life; moreover there is nothing in this world that is void of life. You can only eat food that contains life because that is the only way you can nourish and sustain your body. Everything we eat is at least one-sensory life form, if not more. The Lord does not forbid the consumption of single-sensory organisms because they do not contain blood, pus or meat. If you start worrying about the single-sensory life forms, there will be no end to it. In fact you are not to worry about them at all. People on the other hand have become overly concerned with things that have little significance and have altogether dismissed things of greater importance. You should not worry about the violence that occurs at the minuscule level.
Which Is The Best Food?
Questioner: Why are some foods forbidden in the kramik (traditional step by step path towards liberation) path?
Dadashri : There are different categories of food. The worst and the most deleterious is the human flesh. Next comes the meat of animals. In this category however, it is better to
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consume the flesh of the species whose population increases rapidly, such as chickens, fish or ducks, as opposed to eating the meat of cattle and such animals whose population does not increase rapidly. Eating eggs is better than eating meat. But those who want to further their spiritual progress should consume only edible roots e.g. carrots and potatoes. And those who want to progress even further, I say that they should avoid even these and consume only foods such as breads, whole-grain, sweetmeats and ghee. And spiritual progress beyond this would require avoidance of any foods containing unrefined sugar, ghee, butter, honey, yogurt and cream. In this case, people should eat only rice, lentils and vegetables, which is the ideal diet.
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Foods are categorized in this manner and anyone can choose the category of his preference. The descriptions of the different categories are given to enhance one's knowledge and not for the purpose of enforcement. The Lord had made these distinctions to break the veils of ignorance obscuring the Soul.
Evening Meal: Before Or After Sunset?
Questioner: In Jainism it is forbidden to eat after dark. Can you enlighten us further on this topic?
Dadashri As far as the timing of food intake is concerned, it is best not to eat after dark. This is the best approach but it has nothing to do with religion. It became incorporated into religion because one makes greater religious progress as one's body becomes healthier. As far as religion is concerned not eating after dark serves to cleanse the body but it is not mandatory.
Questioner: So is it for the health of the body or the sin involved, that the Vitrags advocated not eating after dark?