One readily expresses sympathy with others when they are in pain. Such identification is possible as most of us are also wallowing in pain. Man cannot experience the happiness of others as long as he does not have it within him. One needs to think in this regard.
For someone as ignorant as Duryodhana, Krishna’s flute is always inaudible. His empty pride and anger kept him away from such a divine experience. Neither could he enjoy the happiness effusing from the flute nor could he respond to the notes of the flute. People who grudge others’ happiness can never be happy themselves. Man can participate in the happiness of others only if he has a broad mentality. This can be achieved only if man expends his mind on thoughts. This is divinity. It is not difficult to spread unhappiness. Such a quality may look as a distinction but it is an illusion. It is a divine quality to spread happiness. Since most people are caught in unhappiness and have nothing more than sorrow to offer, they go around spreading grief and misery.
It is very easy to be good but difficult to be great. Krishna was working melodious tunes with his flute even as the war was on but ignorant people never heard the notes coming from his flute. Hence, they never realised the wisdom of truth. By indulging in self-enquiry, man quickly realises that he is his own making and soon transcends emotions and achieves happiness. He goes away from happiness as well as sadness gradually and realises god.
Spirituality and vegetarianism: The world is a colossal place to live in. Having created such a massive world, god is relentlessly creating living beings in it and sustaining them, which is a testimony to his kindness and compassion. In god’s world, each creation has something unique about it. Since man is bestowed with thinking capabilities, it is reckoned that he is the best of god’s creations. Whoever uses thinking for the right means becomes the best among men. But what is good thinking and what is bad thinking is the question which often surfaces. This question should be answered by seeking refuge in knowledge. Most animals thrive on non-vegetarian food. It is against the laws of nature to violate this rule. But since man is endowed with the power to think, he can consciously cut down on meat-eating. He can exclude meat from his diet and eat only vegetarian food. But to give up non-vegetarian food, man must first deeply contemplate on it. That is when he rises above Tamas and Rajas and elevates himself to Satva.
This change can be brought about in phases and by engaging oneself in pious deeds. Practice is also indispensable. By giving up meat-eating and by consciously accepting vegetarianism, man starts treading the path of Ahimsa.
Slowly, it becomes a part of one’s personality. Eating meat is akin to violence. But through ahmisa, one can always adhere to the path of righteousness, and spread the values of compassion, love, and kindness in the world. This is also a form of spiritual consolidation. When love and non-violence meets, one should understand that god is at work. It is not enough to make vegetarianism a personal habit. It should spread among different people living in different continents, which ensures that positive powers reign supreme. Most prophets have accomplished this task. It is not advisable to kill any animal. Even Patanjali has said this. Mahaveera, Gautama Buddha, Adi Shankaracharya, Mahatma Gandhi, among others, have extolled the virtues of non-violence. Even the sage Manu and other ancient seers have lived by vegetarianism. In India, vegetarianism is a way of live, and people continue to practice it.
This article has been taken from the book Touch Stone by Gurumatha Amma