They Too Want to Live - From Animal Suffering to Animal Liberation

Shrii Sarkar tells us that “Ahiḿsá means not inflicting pain or hurt on anybody by thought, word or action.” The definition includes all creatures, not only human beings. There was a time in history when himsa meant to cause pain to human beings, but the slaughter of animals for food was not included. It is a very wrong idea, even today. If causing pain to other creatures is himsa, then the slaughter of animals is also himsa, because, as Shrii Sarkar says, “the animals do not offer their heads willingly at the altar of death for this cause.” In the sphere of meditation (sadhana), the word ahimsa means that we are to guide our conduct very carefully so as to make sure that our thoughts and actions do not cause pain to any entity.