Catavino is Back in Spain: The Customs, Culture and Cuisine of India(5)
**Before our trip to India, I had heard about the belief of respecting and saving animals, but I had no idea what it meant, or how it was played out.Despite the various contradictions that infuse the differing branches Hinduisim, all branches emphasize the need for a moral and ethical life. Hinduism abides by the values and ideals of Satya (Truth), Dayã (Compassion), Ahinsã (Non-violence), and Brahmachãrya (Celibacy). And within Ahinsã, this belief structure tries to reduce harm to all living creatures by remaining conscious of:
*thought - not having thoughts of ill-will towards others
*word - not using speech to slander or malign others
*deed - not performing violent physical actions
Therefore, walking down the streets of Delhi, you will come various animals, both large and small, roaming the streets of Delhi without a home. What makes this story so heart wrenching is that these animals are abandoned, unfed and uncared for. However, because they are abiding by the Hindu ideals of non-violence, somehow the notion of caring for these animals has been missed in its communication. My question being: with so many people starving in India, is it right to let animals live despite their suffering?
