33.1 Avoidance of Killing

 33.1 Avoidance of Killing

Question:

Is killing inconsistent with virtue?

Answer:

Sharing your food with other living creatures and protecting them

is the best of all precepts in all the books of the world.         (couplet – 322)

 

Non-killing is the highest virtue; whereas the killing of life

will bring in its wake all evil.                                                         (couplet – 321)

 

பகுத்துண்டு பல்லுயிர் ஓம்புதல் நூலோர்

தொகுத்தவற்றுள் எல்லாந் தலை.                       (குறள் – 322)

 

அறவினை யாதெனின் கொல்லாமை கோறல்

பிறவினை எல்லாந் தரும்.                              (குறள் – 321)

 

Explanation:

           Almost all religions and ethical codes consider that sharing one’s food with other living beings is a compassionate act and recommend it. However, they differ in their position on non-killing. For example, the commandment, “Thou shalt not kill” in the Ten Commandments is generally interpreted as one should not kill another human being. Killing an animal for the purpose of eating their meat or hunting as a sport is not condemned in most religions. Only Jainism insists on the non-killing of any living being as its cardinal principle. The Vedic religion, the forerunner of modern-day Hinduism did not prohibit animal sacrifices. Even now, animal sacrifices are routinely carried out by the devotees of some Hindu Gods. Valluvar condemns the killing of any living creature for any reason. He says that killing is inconsistent with virtue and it is evil.