16
Non-Violence
Questioner: Does vyavasthit not control everything? These
people are merely the instruments (nimit), so why do they end up
binding demerit karma?
It’s really the instructors that give such assignments, so
should they not be held liable for the sin?
Dadashri: Such violence should not occur in your life, but
it still does. This is the result of past karmas of demerit. If in your
profession you had to slaughter goats, would it make you happy?
Questioner: I would not like that. But Dada, what if you
absolutely had no choice?
Dadashri: If you have no choice, then you should carry
out the deed with absolute repentance. You should repent
everyday for one hour. Can you or any scientist for that matter
create even one butterfly?
Questioner: No, it is not possible Dada.
Dadashri: Then how can you destroy what you cannot
create?
All these people should pray to the Lord and repent. They
should ask why they have to undertake such tasks. A farmer should
ask why he became a farmer. There is a lot of violence in farming,
but it is not as great as that of killing butterflies. Killing butterflies
is outright violence.
Questioner: Not only do they kill the butterflies, but if
they catch a good specimen, they also take pride in getting a better
grade!
Dadashri: Whatever degree of pleasure they experience,
they will have to experience the same degree of sorrow from the
karma that will present as a result. They will have to suffer just as
much misery and bitterness as the pride and happiness they derived
from it.