Way of Life Part 2

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 50

THE WAY OF LIFE
"My grand-father was carrying on this occupation, and my father was carrying on this occupation. Were they fools? If they were carrying on this occupation they were doing so because it was right”. There is no need to think so. Even your grand-father and father could make mistakes. If they were tortured by the desire for money, they could carry on an ignoble trade or occupation. If they did not possess the right knowledge, they too would carry on even a censurable occupation. If you realize that a certain occupation is ignoble, you must give it up. There is no rule that grand-fathers and fathers would have carried on only a noble occupation. SULAS AND ABHAY KUMAR
This is an incident that took place in the time of Bhagwan Mahavir Swami. There was a butcher by name Kalasaukarik. Every day, he used to slaughter 500 oxen. He was a butcher; you know. His occupation was to sell meat. His son was a friend of Mahamantri Abhayakumar. His name was Sulas. His father, Kalasaukarik passed away. Sulas continued to carry on the business of selling meat, since that was the traditional occupation of the family. One day, Abhay Kumar said to Sulas : "Sulas ! this occupation of slaughtering animals is an ignoble one. You will be bound by terrible sinful Karmas. It is a very serious sin to slaughter hundreds of animals every day”.
Sulas replied, "Abhay Kumar, this is the traditional occupation of our family. We have been earning our livelihood only by this profession. I am not committing this sin for my own sake. I am doing this for my mother, wife, son and for all the others in the family. If the slaughter of animals brings any sin, it will be divided among all the members of my family. Will the entire sin bind me only ?”
Abhay Kumar said, "My dear friend, you are slaughtering animals. So, the sin binds you only. With the money earned from this business, all the members of your family are enjoying happiness but they have no share in your sins and they are not connected with your sins. Sorrows result from sin, and you yourself have to experience them alone. You cannot share your sorrows with others”.