Non-Violence
13
The Entity that Endorses is at Fault
Questioner: During the rainy season when there is an
abundance of mosquitoes and flies, the municipal authorities tell
us to spray our houses with insecticide. Is that a sin? But if we do
not use the insecticides, there will be an outbreak of disease.
Dadashri: How is this different from what Hitler did with
his bombs? This is ‘Hitler’ on a very small scale.
Questioner: But we are talking about the whole town
here!! It is filthy in the rainy season and there are flies and swarms
of mosquitoes everywhere. The local authorities are forced to use
insecticides.
Dadashri: What difference does it make to you what the
municipal authorities do? You should simply have the intent not to
kill. Your only intent should be: “It would be better if things were
not so.”
Questioner: So are those who carry out the work for the
municipal authorities responsible?
Dadashri: No. It does not concern them.
Questioner: Then who is responsible?
Dadashri: The workers just carry out their orders, but it is
the head officers, the ones who give the orders who are liable.
Questioner: But for whose benefit do the officers give the
orders?
Dadashri: They are simply doing their duty. It is not for
us.
Questioner: But we are the ones who complain that the
mosquitoes are a nuisance.
Dadashri: Those who do not wish to hurt do not file the