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THE WAY OF LIFE the body becomes a bundle of diseases. You gather the merit called Shatavedaniya-karma by showing kindness to animals. When this Karma produces its effect, you will enjoy perfect health.
From the Audience : There are also medicines and tonics which are made by causing violence to animals. There are also things like cod-liver oil, pills etc.
Maharajashri : You should not take such medicines also. When you have to take some medicine or tonic, you must ask your doctor whether it contains any substances obtained from causing violence to animals. You can also get medicines, which do not contain substances obtained from causing violence to animals. Those who take medicines must be cautious. Many things are made out of the hides, bones and fats of animals. Some sweets also are made out of mutton-tallow. Those who buy sweets in the market must be cautious about this. Many articles of decoration are made out of the hides of animals. Animals are killed; their skin is peeled and out of that skin many articles are made.
LIVE AND LET LIVE
Those who use such articles of decoration indirectly encourage violence. They are forgetting the principle :— "Live and let live". They are following the principle; "Decorate yourself even by killing animals". Man is becoming cruel and callous. It must be remembered that if a man is cruel and callous towards other jivas, nature will be cruel and callous towards him. The time may come when millions of people will have to die of violence. This is also a law of nature. Therefore, you should never think of eating meat. You should never use articles of decoration made by killing other jivas. I am exhorting you to follow these principles so that you may be able to carry out your spiritual austerities with a peaceful mind. The evil of drinking makes man an animal. The fifth evil is drinking liquors. The man who drinks liquors cannot carry out the sublime endeavour to attain spiritual welfare. Liquor makes a man an animal. Is there any wicked action which a
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