Producing food was considered a sin, but not buying and selling it. But by shirking action in this way, we can do no good to ourselves. If one goes on contracting one 's actions in this way, one will end by destroying oneself. As man thinks of ways of freeing himself from action, action multiplies itself. In order that you may trade in grain, has not someone else to grow the grain?

Then, are you too not responsible for the violence involved in growing it? If it is a sin to grow cotton, it is equally a sin to sell it. There may be something wrong in growing cotton, but it is wrong to think of giving it up on that account. To push away all actions, saying that neither this, nor that, and indeed nothing, should be done - in this attitude there is no true compassion. On the other hand, this is the end of compassion. When the leaves are plucked, the tree does not die; on the contrary, it puts forth fresh leaves. In narrowing one's action, one narrows one's soul.

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