The growth of this difference is the growth of culture. Our country has conducted strenuous experiments in giving up meat-eating. Let us continue them. At any rate, let us maintain our present position and not go back.

I stress this because at present a great many people have begun to show a liking for meat. Today, the cultures of the East and of the West are influencing each other. I am confident that the ultimate outcome of this will be good. The impact of Western culture disturbs our insensible beliefs. When blind faith is shaken there is no harm in it. What is good will remain, and what is bad will be destroyed. But blind unbelief should not replace blind belief. It is not as if belief alone can be blind, that it has monopoly of blindness. Unbelief too can be blind. People have begun to think again about meat-eating.

The appearance of a new idea, whatever it may be, delights me. It shows signs of wakefulness. But if one wanders around rubbing one's eyes, not yet fully awake one may stumble and fall. Therefore, until one is fully awake and can see steadily, it is good that one keeps in check one's hands and feet. Consider well, look carefully up and down, from right and left, inside and out, and all round. Use the scissors of the mind on dharma. The dharma that can be cut up by thought is worthless; let it go. That which your scissors cannot cut, but which, on the contrary, shatters your scissors, that is true dharma. Dharma is not afraid of thought. Therefore think; but do not rush into action. If you do something while only half awake, you will fall down. However powerful the thought, forbear from action for a while. Exercise discipline. Do not throw away the virtue stored up for you.

[ Back ] [ Vinoba Bhave ] [ Up ] [ Next ]