Letter

Slaughtering of cattle

The slaughtering of cattle is considered more harmful for several reasons. For Hindus the bull is the vehicle of lord Shiva and therefore it is considered sacrilegious to kill and consume the same. The Buddhists hardly ate beef prior to the arrival of the Portuguese.

In times of the Sinhalese kings those found consuming beef were made outcasts and banished from society. If one considers the Brahmana Dhammika sutta in the sutta nipata, the following stanzas appear therein (translation of Ven. Hammallawa Sadhatissa) "The cow by means of which medicinal drugs are produced are our great friends, take our mother, father, brother and other relations" (296) "They give food, strength, beauty, health- knowing these benefits, they did not kill cattle" (297)

Then after the Brahmins lost their virtue due to over covetousness and persuaded the king to sacrifice cattle, disease sprang up to ninety-eight which were only three (desire, hunger and decay) at that time. Therefore there is good reason for the Buddhists too, to refrain from eating beef, since there is an abundance of other food in the thrice blessed country.

Now there is also evidence that consumption of beef could lead to illness such as cancer and heart trouble. And viewing from the Ayurvedic angle it is virtually taboo. In these circumstances it is advisable for spiritually inclined and the health conscious to avoid eating beef and thus this in turn would reduce the demand for the stuff which would in turn result in the reduction of the slaughter of cattle for the local markets. Furthermore, there is such an abundance of grain, vegetables, fruits and nuts, in the country, that there is no necessity to slaughter these animals to nourish our bodies which sooner or later turn to dust.

J.C Boange

Rajagiriya