Good Karma vs BaD KarmA - Practice of AHIMSA, Principle of Least Harm

[@MagikForTheMAsses]

I have spent a relatively small amount of time with your teachings. And yet, the weight of the impact that you have made in my consciousness is vast. I recite little phrases from your videos daily. I realize I wont be able to make you supreme ruler of the world ( clearly that has a potential for harm haha) but I vow here and now to spread the truths you have shared with me whenever it will help this world. Thank you so much for dedicating your time to helping people.

[@fireatwill8143]

This is the best teaching I've found on Ahimsa. Thank you 🙏

[@maryfloyd7791]

My mom used to tell me this about vegetables, because i would say we are causing harm to plants. She would say this: when you eat a plant such as a carrot, apple or strawberry you are actually eating something that has already died, why? Because it has matured to its fullest and can live no more because leaving it in the ground, on the tree or on the vine it will begin to decompose just like a dead body. So, technically you have rid the tree or vine of something that was going to fall or rot because it was already dead or dying. This only applies to plants. This does not apply to animals because animals are more like us humans she used to tell me.

[@jason6360]

That's a perfect explanation. As a vegetarian that will be very useful, thank you.

[@anuradhanath6319]

I’m veg gang

[@akhilbettadapura4750]

Ok

[@Hugatree1]

Mary Floyd thank you and your mom for that beautiful explanation. As a ten year vegan I am still sometimes faced with that moral quandary. I have never been a ‘plant person’, someone who has a green thumb or is able to commune with plant life, but I do have the greatest respect and love for the plant kingdom and know they are living and even conscious beings. Your mom sounds like a lovely caring person and so happy to know there are beautiful thoughtful people like her in this world

[@Baptized_in_Fire.]

Too bad she was wrong. When plants are harvested, they scream. It's higher than we can hear, but it happens. Plants an acre away can "hear" it and respond by producing chemicals to protect themselves or try to.

[@angelarapuano1315]

Grazie, ha risposto meravigliosamente a molti mie dubbi🙏🏻🕉️🌹

[@pattyayers]

I appreciate this teaching very much and thank Swami T for it. My comment is that I have to respectfully disagree with one statement. I consider forcing a woman to bear a child when she feels she cannot is causing a very clear and great harm to her, and possibly to the child, and maybe others. There are many relevant situations other than rape or incest, such as the woman’s health, and poverty. And she is the only one who can make that decision - certainly not any government. I respect all those who feel strongly opposed to the harm of abortion, and they should definitely not have one and be supported in their decision. Peace 🙏🏻

[@natmirmira8329]

As usual with Swamiji's talks and videos, this is no exception. It answers the question directly and exemplifies the difficulties with simplistic prescriptions. Eating fruits, especially those with pits, are to be encouraged as the fruit is a bribe offered by the tree to propagate its seeds far and wide.

[@shilas6670]

🙏🏻🙏🏻💕Swami Tadatmananda; you are great! I enjoy all your videos. Thank you so much for your peaceful wisdom! 💕🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@surrao2732]

Love his clarity. A perfect teacher. Not an extra word. Just right. Thanks!

[@bhavanasharma2125]

Thank you, for the clear explanation of my ‘Cockroach’ question!

[@Karticks7]

It is always a great learning listening to Swamiji. This aspect of Karma under Ahimsa answers many of the questions I had.

[@myonghunt8076]

Thank you so much for this video. As a gardener, I often need to kill garden pests, especially cucumber beetles and squash beetles, to prevent them from spreading to other areas. I dont feel good about killing them, but If I let them spread, I won't have much food for me, my family and my friends. Thank you! ❤

[@shanthakadabam]

Swaiji lucid explanations are sooo meaningful. Your contribution is immense .

[@loach711]

You are a gift to us all.

[@prakashvakil3322]

AUM. Aatmiya DIVINITY HARE KRSNA. Clarity, Specificity, Distinctively explaining Nature of KARMA. Enhancing values of Happiness living.. Very respectfully Loving ❤️ ING You One and All DIVINE ❤️❤️🙏💗💗 NOW and HERE in this Light and Moment Experiencing HAPPINESS and Freedom from pain, fear, anger keeping 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

[@bharatsindhusthan]

So relieved 😌, wonderful 👍 explanation ❤

[@billiesimon88]

Thanks a lot, Swami 🐴🕉️

[@redcenterau]

Some very progressive views on women's issues. Those rishis sure were righteous as well as flexible. 👍

[@damarubhatta]

परोपकाराय पुण्याय पापाय परपिडनम् (Benevolence or altruism is a good work whereas violence is a bad one)-- This is the message of the 18 Puranas (scriptures). This is the one main directing principle of Hindu dharma (righteousness).

[@teehee4096]

I love this video Swami. On the topic of abortion, my view is that the harm of restricting which situations a person can have an abortion will generally cause more harm than the abortion itself. I agree that the act of abortion is not without bad karma in that it causes harm and death to a living being. However it is additionally true that the brain structures required for conscious perception to occur are not formed and active until the late second trimester at the earliest. Thus, the harm of aborting a fetus cannot be compared to the killing of a human being or animal that has a stream of sentience and can currently (or both has been able to and will be able to do so, in cases of unconsciousness such as deep sleep and coma) think, autobiographicize, and relate to others. As Swami says, it's all a spectrum of hiņsa (harm), and the possible hiņsas of an act have to be weighed against the possible hiņsas of another act in a given context and set of limitations, and make a course of action from there.

[@jberghuijs4364]

Thank you for all the wise lessons you teach soo clearly swamiji 🙏🏻💫

[@meenakshisrivathsan7387]

My sincere pranams for a beautiful and clear yet simple explanation guruji

[@sunderasanelumalai1687]

killing one cockroach at the early stage is better than having to kill one thousand cockroaches at a later point

[@AllOrNothing35427]

Fantastic explanation, thank you!

[@guidaribeiromap]

Excellent as always. Thank you much!

[@gridcoregilry666]

Thank you for your guidance, you provide immeasurable value in my life and I am grateful for that

[@hiteshk8758]

Video Playlist Request: Namaste Swami Tadatmanandji. Would you kindly post the remaining Vedantic teachings of the Mahabharata to your channels playlist. The two you've posted already were very much appreciated.

[@vermaraj73]

Great explanation very clear. Thank you swami Ji

[@SageAwakens]

This video changed my life, I now have a clearer picture as to what and how to prioritise. Dear Swamiji, will you be able to make a video about Karma Yoga principles like Ahimsa you just mentioned here? Thank you so much for this 🙏🏽

[@musicwithnina]

Perhaps the monks should investigate what is sustaining the yaks. If not suitable also for their palette perhaps their greatest act of seva would be to migrate to an area that is more suitable. I do not understand nor accept in these times why man feels it is his right to dominate and oppress others. It has become clearly evident we must release old ideologies and evolve our consciousness to live in line with our innate kindness and empathy. Our natural reaction is to wince at the pain of others. Our brains are wired for this yet we deaden sensitivities with mental programming which is outdated. The golden rule is the absolute truth yet must be applied to all earthlings. The brothers and sisters we share this planet with are crying out for our mercy. The karma we create through their enslavement and torture is cycled back on us 10 fold. The Earth our mother lashes out at us in her fury. It truly is time to let go of old excuses and step up to these times. I appreciate your intention sir.

[@jadenoasis2618]

Yes, this is so true. We cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the suffering of innocent animals. Mindfulness and compassion require that we adopt a plant-based diet. The time for cognitive dissonance and excuses are over.

[@savitanalawade]

Perfect explaination... Thank you.

[@MsGreenlauren]

Thank you for the wonderful videos! I tried to submit a question to you, but my email keeps coming back returned. I am not sure why or what to try next.

[@laika5757]

A true Prophet of our times. 👍

[@prakashlb2984]

Swamiji you should visit india and conduct satsang .Your explanation is very accurate

[@jadenoasis2618]

Thank Swami you for the excellent video. You mentioned that a vegetarian is causing harm to plants, while someone who eats meat is causing harm to animals. However, where is that animal getting its food from? From plants (grains, grass, etc). A person on a plant-based diet is harming far fewer plants than someone who eats meat, because of loss of energy involved from getting food from an animal that has to eat plants. You said that someone who eats fruit is killing the seed. That is not necessarily the case. One can easily save the seed of the fruit, sprout them to grow additional fruit trees. Many people live without killing either plants nor animals by eating fruit. Also one can take lettuce leaves from the bottom of a plant with very little harm to the plant. You said that Buddhist monks living high up in the Himalayas have to kill yaks to survive because one cannot grow enough food at those elevations. That is not necessarily the case. They could move to lower elevations and survive. In addition, it's possible to build greenhouses and grow food even in poor climates. It seems selfish to me to live in a place where animals have to be killed, when they could move somewhere else and thrive on a plant based diet. Causing least harm is essential to Buddhism, which often means adapting and moving as necessary to reduce harm.

[@grafinvonhohenembs]

Exactly this! The best way to practice ahimsa in this modern world is to go vegan.

[@waldwassermann]

The origin of all karma is self not wanting to be by itself.

[@Mohanadeva]

Namaskar Beautifully and well explained Thank you

[@laxmangc9710]

Om

[@vsp237]

Thanks for sharing your wisdom 🕉

[@rickoh7578]

This is completely off subject but from your previous videos that I've watched, which were enlightening, I wondered, what happens to the person who was born, the personality, the I that I recognize when I look in a mirror. This sense of who I am right now, from what I understand so far, the person who I recognize as me will die when my body dies. when I'm born into a new person, the life story begins all over again with no knowledge of or sense of who I was before. If my understanding is accurate, than each person who is born and develops a sense of self die when their body dies. This is sad that each of us after our relatively short life disappears after we die. If my interpretation is wrong please correct me.

[@esneliamunoz4475]

🕉🕉🕉🙏

[@misterdave2108]

Thank you Swami T.

[@akhilbettadapura4750]

No problem

[@memesmojo5622]

But what doesn't make sense to me is that its pretty much impossible to figure out what will cause least harm For example, because the a monk saved the rich man from a thieve, the rich man might later use the money to cause harm to someone, and if it was stolen by a thieve, he couldn't do that. Or maybe if the thieve had stolen the money, he ,might have did something good with it. This is not the best example, but the point i am making is to figure out what will truly cauae the least harm in both short and the long run, you need to be able to see thousands years into the future, because what you think might cause least harm now or in the near future, might end up causing much more harm later, without you even knowing.

[@Baptized_in_Fire.]

Ahimsa is like what the Bible says about meekness. That's not the word used in the original. The connotation of the original is to have a sword, know how to use it, but choose to keep it sheathed. That's a type of strength. True power. True power isn't a bomb going off, it's a bomb sitting quietly on a shelf, as the bomb going off is the release or impotency of energy.

[@Johnnyredtail]

When ignorance is not ignore-ance and therefore not worthy of damnation. It's hard to imagine any of us are anything else? Reminds me of a story I heard from a Mennonite about one of his ancestors pointing a shotgun at a German soldier of the SS about to search his house for Jews, who would have been surely killed if they had been found. At which point the man says to the soldier, "If you don't mind... I was just about to shoot in that very same direction and if you don't move you will be shot."

[@ustinovvadim2114]

807. All that one gives to others, one is giving only to oneself. If this truth is known, who will refrain from giving to others? 808. Since everyone is one’s own Self, whoever does whatever [good or bad] to whomever, is only doing it to himself. [Therefore, one should only do good to others.] (Guru Vachaka Kovai - Garland of oral instructions of Sri Ramana Maharshi) ॐ OM TAT SAT

[@zegalaciptazegalacipta9407]

Thanks From bali.

[@TheNuclearHawk]

you can put the cockroach in a cup and put it outside, granted it may take a bit more time but in my eyes it is the best solution.

[@cathyhhhgfluffybissessur5780]

Thznk you so so much.

[@DHARMYOGCOM]

Killing cockroach a wrong. She could have caught them and set them free. That is true ahinsa.

[@vik24oct1991]

they just come back, there is no point in catching them if your suffering doesn't end with that, in a way you are torturing yourself to sustain the cockroach, so killing them is right thing to do, so that you can lead a more peaceful life, you should not devalue your own life our others, your life in my opinion is the most important then comes the world, ahimsa comes from position of privilege, it is meant to be done by being which are more powerful to ones which are not so much, so if humans kill animals and plants when there was no need for that, then ahimsa is violated otherwise if the animals are causing you suffering and there is no other viable alternative then ending their life without torturing them isn't against ahimsa. For example where ahimsa is violated is usage of leather for fancy boots which serve no purpose but showing off, but using it to create a weapon(like in the past) which is used to protect yourself is not against ahimsa. Hence in the past you would see monks wearing wooden sandals in india because they didn't approve of leather sandals but there were also sanyasi which used to eat meat or hunt animals for their skins to use as their clothing in harsh climate, that case ahimsa is not violated because that would cause them suffering otherwise.

[@akhilbettadapura4750]

Y’all gotta pass the ball around now

[@marcosssocram]

What is evil ultimate goal?

[@rodrigocorrea4388]

So nice. Thaks a lot Swamiji. Regards from Brazil :) _/\_

[@insanestuff9470]

Even in case of mosquitos?! How should we think??

[@memesmojo5622]

just brush them off if you kill them, new ones will just keep coming

[@bhuvaneswarinatarajan2583]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@nayanashwetha7109]

🙏🙏🙏🌺🌺🌺

[@DHARMYOGCOM]

I noticed lot of your answers always go back to the bible. Do you practice both religions?

[@krishtheindian]

Any act of you that will hurt others physically or mentally - better to avoid.

[@vik24oct1991]

its depends on the others as well, if others violate this rule then you cannot follow it, hence things like world wars , or mahabharata exist because others violated this principle and hence no other choice was left.

[@lotustv6271]

Where do you live. Where is your Asram.

[@Krishnanand_67]

,🙏🙏🙏🇮🇳🙏🕉️

[@kerrief3414]

Thou shalt not lie is not one of the biblical commandments by the way. It's thou shalt not bear false witness against your neighbor. That is you shall not speak falsely about people, their character or what they've done.

[@vik24oct1991]

the point is that is still a commandment, commandments make them absolute but situations in life are not absolute, hence the pro-life and pro-choice issues, in hinduism there would be no such issue, because there are no commandments about such matters, you can use your sense of judgement in each case individually and make a call whether abortion will cause least suffering or not.

[@grafinvonhohenembs]

A modern-day word for ahimsa: Veganism.

[@hernanmercado141]

shivara is a perfect being he doesnt feel pain and he doesnt have any weakness like human is a insult talk about a god

[@tzadik36]

Pronaams!🙏

[@hernanmercado141]

shivara dont feel any pain why human suffering terriefied thing shivara doesnt exist ,the mother universe is eternal dont need a divine motor