Limit of Ahimsa
Question
Respected Dhananjay,
Till a few days back there has been intermittent rains in my city causing lot of stagnant water accumulation in puddles, lower lying areas, buckets, containers kept outside etc. As per directive of the local health department we had to either dispose of the stagnant water or put kerosene on the stagnant water as measures to prevent outbreak of malaria/dengue
While doing so in one of the pockets of our house I saw several larvae and pupa of mosquito floating in the standing water and the initial reaction was to eradicate them which I did. I sprayed home insecticides and put kerosene and ensured not a single larvae/pupa remains alive.
1.Now doesn't this go against the principles of Ahimsa - to kill lives of several yet to born mosquitoes which otherwise could have caused a dengue/malaria epidemic, etc?
2.Similar is the case with pests like rodents. Is the act of elimination of these pests/insects also a sin?
3.Please note that the breeding of mosquitoes happens even in clean surroundings, all they need is stagnant fresh water. Yet the larvae/pupa represent life which we can never create. So is it justified to kill/eliminate potentially harmful insects.
Do clarify, though the questions might seem vague in the context of Brahmacharya.
Regards
Answer
The common man takes the step of annulling such pests through whatever means he deems fit. Even though the intention might have been out of self-preservation, there is always a resultant karma which the person has to repay as in the case of all actions.
In case of the beginner Yogi, the matter is a bit different. He is trying his very best to follow the path of harmlessness as regards all beings. Preventive measure does not amount to Himsa (violence). Such preventive action is still better than the actual act of killing. Karma accrued by such unintentional activity will then be much smaller (though it still exists and one has to repay). Using mosquito nets, meshes & trapping-releasing rodents elsewhere is also similar action.
A beginner Yogi tries his best not to interfere in the lives of other beings. Considerable abstinence from Himsa can be achieved this way. As long as one has this physical body, complete abstinence from harm may not be possible (from unknowingly done harm such as trodding on an ant). Such unintentional and incidental/unknowingly done harm however does not generate the feelings of malice, mercilessness or cruelity in the mind (while intentional harm eventually causes sadistic pleasure and such traits to blossom). Rather, the Yogi experiences remorse when he discovers it.
When such an attitude of love, friendliness and well wishing is built towards all creatures harmful or harmless for a few years (as the Atman within all those creatures is no different from ones own true self) with utmost care taken not to harm, a miraculous change slowly starts to occur in the immediate surroundings where the Yogi lives or moves. The power of his amicable and affable nature without wishing the least bad to any creature magically results in all creatures harmful or harmless to align themselves favorably with him to a large extent.
The following is an example from personal experience. A few years back, a colony of red wasps known for their extremely painful sting suddenly started building a nest right atop the front-main door of our residence. My son and wife were alarmed at the development and had half a mind to spray insecticide. Though they had not stung anyone, the sight of that many wasps hovering above the entrance was quite unnerving everytime they had to go out or come in. My wife, though a bit worried however kept quiet and surrendered to God & destiny, knowing the general rule in the house not to even kill a mosquito.
It must have been not that very easy for them, for whenever the topic of the wasps was raised, a smile and silence were my only reactions. Months passed and the hive became bigger with more wasps. Son and wife got used to the reality that these wasps had become permanent guests in our house (just as many other animals come to our home for food and water). Their sense of threat and fear gradually diminished and they did not give much attention to the new guests. We left the wasps to themselves and they left us to ourselves without any harm. The wasps were busy as ever, going in and out of their new residence as they pleased with their buzzing sounds happily!
After more than a year or so, one day, all the wasps suddenly disappeared and the hive got empty. As suddenly as they had arrived, they disappeared. Some karma was due from us to those Jiva-s. We had to repay it by giving them shelter for more than a year or so. As soon as the karma was settled, they left that very minute. Such are the ways of the Lord. Mysterious, strange and undiscernable is HIS Leela. Nothing happens without a reason. HE is managing everything. No creature harms another without a karmic reason. Hence one should not worry but surrender to HIM. Based on the intensity of devotion and surrender, life becomes that much free from worry & fear.
What is required is an earnest and sincere effort at Ahimsa towards all beings to the best extent. As one masters this attitude, knowing all beings as no different from oneself, the incidence of harm gradually negates itself and one feels fearless and confident with love, the same being reciprocated by the other creature.
In advanced Yogi-s who have mastered Ahimsa (non-violence), not a single creature harms or attacks (unless there is some such past karma due for him to suffer). The vibrations of love and harmlessness have been attained to such an extent that the Yogi inspires confidence and friendliness even amongst feared animals such as lions, tigers, serpents etc. in his vicinity. Such creatures do not feel the least threat in his presence and behave in a friendly and harmless manner when around him. They do not feel he is any different from themselves (and no animal fears itself), for he sees the one Atman in all beings.
ॐ तत् सत्
(That Supreme being is the absolute truth)