Well I’ve decided to take up smoking; I think I can justify my actions simply on the fact that it cuts down the appetite and as I’m putting on a bit more weight than I would like I’m sure it would help.

Ok so my reasoning is floored there are some quite notable side effects and a very simple regalitive principle that will be broken. But although I could try to use some research from the tobacco industry and other interested parties to justify my actions I could even suggest that as one of the things we are meant to do is look after our health a I could even say it’s to control my weight which is a good thing.

I am simply however cheating myself, I not only break one of the four regulative principles but also will more than likely suffer the effects of smoke inhalation; a short term gain out weighs the long term effects.

It however highlight’s that we can make excuses or justify our actions no matter how preposterous they may seem whilst being able to quoting one individual or another one scripture or another one source or another; but why should we be concerned?

Well as I was at one of my client’s home they were watching one of their favourite quiz shows, there is the usual banter between the contestants and quiz host. One of the contestants being quizzed about his job lead to the questions on the conditions he kept the animals in based around his own living conditions; what’s your home like, how much room do you have? How much room do your chickens have? Do they see any sunlight? Do you have sunlight? Highlighting the conditions that these chickens have to endure compared to his own living conditions.

The thing that struck me most about this conversation was that he wanted not to be a chicken farmer but a church pastor when quizzed more on the subject of the way the chickens were kept and the compassion he should have for the animals he quoted a simple biblical verse: “Man is given dominium to rule over all the animals”

The host was not impressed but rather than get into a religious argument left and moved on with the quiz.

With greater understanding we can see the problems associated with such a quote especially from a Vedic viewpoint and if we are a true ruler we would concern ourselves with the care and protect all his subjects and that includes the animals, also the karmic reaction from meat eating should not be overlooked.

But by this simple quote he felt justified by his actions I am correct and justified in my thinking, more so is this that it was easy to find a quote that agreed with appoint of view, as I say smoking to decrees my need to eat, the contestants need to kill in order to satisfy his and others desire to eat flesh.

The university I attended prided itself on research and most of the courses have a research component, we had to critique several articles some of which were written by the tutors themselves, one thing that it taught me was to analyze statements, look at it from all angles and even be prepared to change my view point when faced with fact.

It reminded me of one devotee who had started to take alternative medicine for a complaint he had, I was curious as to what ingredients it contained and asked “I don’t care and it’s no concern of yours” came the reply along with several quotes from Srila Prabhupada highlighting the need to care for health.

I checked any way and found the product he was taking contained several animal products, but more surprisingly was the over the counter medicine and several herbal products he could have been taken were animal free. When I highlighted this I was again told “I don’t care I’m taking care of my health it’s of no concern of yours” which is in many ways true.

A fortnight later he was initiated knowing he was actually taking meat products, even the temple president was aware of this but due to over whelming service done this was considered a minor aversion, after all health is a priority again quoting Srila Prabhupada. If they had both checked with his initiating spiritual master they would have understood that he would advise against the medicine containing meat especially as their was many alternatives, and that if we know there is alternatives to a product containing meat and we chose to continue to take this product we knowingly breaking the regulative principles. Yes health is important and when only a medicine that  contains meat is available then may be we can take, but it is always a personal choice taking into account our own understanding and desire to follow the principle’s that are their for our benefit.

It highlights for me however the complexities of quoting, the need to be sure that before I quote that I try to fully understand what is being read or listened too and also to be prepared to be corrected or given another point of view.

But I have to be humble enough to accept this and at times change my stance.