Vegetarianism - XII

Anjali: Plants also have life..Swamiji: But animal life is more evolved, so spare them..Anjali: But plants have feelings too. They show reactions when you experiment on them..Swamiji: Yes. But they are as if in a chloroform condition just as when you operate on a human being he feels the pain without anesthesia, but under anesthesia or chloroform he does not feel the pain, though he has life. So we take for our food from the plant kingdom giving minimum sorrow to life all around. Even that is a harm. But what to do? There is no other option; stones you can't eat, dead bodies you can't, then only plants are there. So then we generally pray before eating food, ‘O Lord. I am becoming indebted again to these in front of me. They have sacrificed so that my life may be protected and may their sacrifice be rewarding.’ Just as in the army so many people die for the country so that others may live in improved conditions later. This becomes the government's responsibility. Similarly, it is our responsibility that the food that has been destroyed for our growth may be justified when we progress to become noble human beings. Just as, if after the war, conditions are worse, then it is a great loss. That is the idea.