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Shri Datta Swami

 10 Sep 2024

 

Does a person share the sin due to procurement of non-vegetarian food from the shop for the family members?

Shri Anil asked: If a person does not take non-vegetarian food due to the attained realization and still the rest [of] family members continue the non-vegetarian food, does the person share the sin due to procurement of non-vegetarian food from the shop for the family members?

Shri Swami replied: The person does not share the sin in such referred case. Even if the person refuses to bring the non-vegetarian food from outside for the family, the family members will get the non-vegetarian food through a servant. The servant does not share the sin because it is her/his duty to bring the ordered item by the family members from the butcher’s shop. She/he is not eating that and hence not encouraging the slaughter of birds and animals by the butcher. The servant will bring any item from outside-shops whether it is vegetarian food or non-vegetarian food or some other fancy item. The servant is not involved in the selection of the item that is to be bought and brought from the shop. The duty of the servant is merely getting any item from the shop desired by the family members. The person (perhaps the owner of the family) is equal to the servant to bring any item liked by the family. The servant is detached from the welfare of the family. But, the owner is a well-wisher of the family and should try to convince the family about the truth and merit of the concept. If the family is reluctant to such concept, the owner should keep silent for sometime following the ignorance of the family and should try for its welfare waiting for the proper time. Even God does the same since all the humanity, being His children, is His family only (Aham bijapradah— Gita). Shri Shirdi Sai Baba never ate non-vegetarian food but got non-vegetarian food prepared for the visiting non-vegetarian devotees and here Baba does not share the sin. In the same way, the owner does not share the sin.

 
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