essence of the food that a man takes. Tamasic food results in a Tamasic mind. Meat is Tamasic
and hence should be avoided.
When an animal is killed or butchered, a contraction of its nervous system takes place on
account of fear. (And you might have felt certain disturbances in your own stomach when you
have experienced fear.) This leads to the secretion of certain poisons in the liver, etc., of the
animal. These poisons are cumulative in their nature and are never removed or lost during the
process of boiling or cooking meat. Hence, meat-eating is poisonous and dangerous in the long
run.
There is no difference between you and an animal when both are considered as souls
inhabiting the bodies. From whichever source you derive the right to live and enjoy in this
material body, from that very same source, the souls of these animals have derived equal rights to
live and enjoy in their material bodies. Hence, you do not possess the moral right to kill a single
living being, however small it may be.
Last. but not the least, there is One Consciousness which has expressed itself in the form
of the various beings, animate and inanimate. And this makes you one with all beings. When
you have known this, will you consciously hurt any being? Can you willingly and joyously cut
your own fingers and cook them and eat them? Knowing this oneness alone is the purpose of
your coming again and again into the mundane plane. You can know, feel and experience this
oneness only when you stop injuring and hurting others and begin to love all as your own Self.
Verily, the animals are thy own Self. Thou alone art residing in these animals as the individual
souls and thou alone art manifest in the form of the material bodies in which these souls reside.
Hence, wake up; stop meat-eating and butchering the animals. Develop love for them and
promote oneness.
From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda
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