6 Nov 2007 —
Question
Q17: Dangerous insects?
Question 17:
“How do you usually deal with dangerous (or bothering) insects? Is it Ok to kill them?”
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Question 17:
“How do you usually deal with dangerous (or bothering) insects? Is it Ok to kill them?”
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Mosquitos are always fair game – IMHO – whether they are attacking or not. But I always say ‘Siva Siva Siva’ so that they may have a higher birth. Otherwise, unless dangerous insects are directly attacking, I just leave them alone. 10 years back, while hiking up Arunachala, our guide, he spotted a very colorful large centipede on the trail. He went to take a rock to kill it saying it was poisonous, but I objected since it wasn’t attacking us, and we continued on. Looking back, I wonder if it was the right thing. Perhaps it was a higher being waiting to be released from its last birth…
Good question. I always feel guilty when I am forced to sweep away the ants from floor or wash them down the sink or when I had to swat mosquitoes. I think it is better to avoid the killing as much as possible, maybe by throwing the insects out without harming them or by waving away the mosquitoes. Someone had once asked Amma whether it is fine to kill the mice they trap. Amma said no. She asked him to release them somewhere at a distance. I remember reading Ramana Maharshi too admonishing a kid who was playfully injuring a poisonous beetle or something.
I swat the mosquitoes unless they’re biting me. Then they fall under the catagory of “attacking”, so I squash them. After I do that I immidiatly ask for forgiveness for killing something. Any thing else I just ignore unless it’s attacking me.
I do not kill them unnecessarily, but sometimes it is necessary. If I am in an area where mosquitoes spread disease, I will kill them and pray for them. Otherwise I try to let them be.
If insects are posing a threat, it may be best to kill them humanely rather than endanger the people and other animals nearby.
I remember reading about a devotee of Amma being very sad that a brahmachari was spraying pesticide on a rosebush. Amma pointed out that there is a responsibility to protect the roses, even if it meant harming some insects.
I think we still need to be mindful to commit as little harm as possible.
Depends where I spot the insect – If I find it in the midst of a living area when there is no opportunity to set it free at a distance considering it might harm others in the locality, I would kill it… I make sure to give it a peaceful death and not let it suffer in pain… I do feel sad and guilty when I do this though 🙁
But whenever there is a choice of setting it free at a far away place, I always choose to carrying it to a farther place and setting it free where it could not harm anyone…
I feel we dont have the rights to kill the insect… but if there is no other choice and thats what needs to be done to protect a larger community, I think it is ok to kill it…
I do not know? My heart says no, the mind says its relative to the larger context and the greater good. But i think and feel that the insect would say, NO. Maybe it is best to become more obnoxious to them than they are to us, buy placing a shield.
You know… this is a very good question. I am very freaked out when it comes to insects. Especially spiders! I think I just need to work out seeing beyond the physical features and look deep inside.
One day one of the desciple of Sri Ramakrishna approached him with this same doubt. At that moment Sri Ramakrishna was killing the bed worms from his bed and was telling that it was disturbing him when he was doing the dhyana….
Every insect has a very short span of life and it has every right to live it fully and hence I don’t like to kill any insect . I even repend today for killing a small snake in my childhood days!
” Ahimsa Paramo Dharma ”
I know this.. but i kill Insects…
The most common insect that bothers me is Mosquito. My spontaneous reaction when a mosquito bites me is to slap and kill him / her without feeling any guilt. I dont know the answer for the second part of the question “whether its is okay to kill them”…
I remember, from the childhood I used to hate flies [Eecha] and I kill them when they are around me. Few years back, in 1999, I had a beautiful darshan in dream whereby Amma was kissing me on my cheeks, forehead, eyes and hugging me tightly. The very next day early morning when I was meditating a fly came into my room [I never saw flies in my room before] and started sitting/kissing on my cheeks, forehead, eyes; I could feel Amma’s presence at that time. I could only cry and sat unmoving for long time allowing the fly to continue the play. When I reach my office one fly came and sat on my computer, then to the same positions … the play continued. I could only cry cry cry cry…..
No it is not okay. Leave them in their own way. None of them are our enemies in most cases. We are respossible for their breeding and growth by not disposing waste materials in proper place or in the proper way as far as mosquitos concerned. In a clean atmosphere there will have no or less dangerous insects.
An interesting video…
Though it’s not dharmic to kill any form of God’s creation, there are exceptions again according to Dharma.
One must not act without Love and all actions must be prompted by Love including the killing of the wrong-doers, may be small or big…
I have not been confronted with dangerous insects. But I used to visualise that I will chant Amma’s mantra if such a situation happens and I used to feel confident that Amma will protect me.
I have killed spiders, mosquitoes and ants although tried my best to drive them away. It leaves me with a feeling of guilt. I feel they are part of God’s creation and should have natural life span. I do try my best to avoid and minimize it if possible.
I have aversions to cockroaches. They are the only ones I want to instantly kill without any provocation. I have been trying to avoid this in the last few years. Just like another posting above, I have read Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s advice that it is better to kill the bothering insect when the mind is bothered too much rather than dwelling on it. Maybe that will take away the aversion and one can learn to get over it. Every insect is part of nature’s balance and they each serve their purpose. I guess we will need to have a good balance between treating them as pests and as needed by nature.
I just slap them and say, “Back to the One!”
I do kill flies, mosquitoes, spiders and cockroaches if they venture into my home. I usually say ‘ishwararapanamastu’ (offered to God) and leave it in God’s hands. 🙂
Last year was my first time at Amritapuri and on the first day there I was cleaning the kitchen counter in my shared flat. I saw all these tiny ants and brushed them away, most likely sending some on to another lifetime. That night some of those tiny little brothers and sisters found their way into my bed and bit me relentlessly. It happened one more day and night and then I suddenly realized the connection. I never killed another one of them and never got bitten again either. It was a profound lesson for me to respect all of the life around me. I do everything I can not to injure a living insect unless it is dangerous. Fortunately I don’t encounter many of them. Om Namah Shivaya
This is a tough one as the closer one moves to the “truth” less and less of this world, like ‘bugs’ affect one. However, at times one must either move away or end the torment effectively, while the ‘ego’ is strong.
What if a mosquito is biting you while you are meditating? Discreetion should be used. Trees are cut to sustain human life. Dangerous insects can be killed if they are a potential threat. You dont need to go all out and finish the species.
I am afraid of dangerous insects so sometimes forced to kill them ….spiders, mosquitoes and sometimes ants…ants are not dangerous but when I find them in food , have no other way…….later would feel guilty and imagine getting a birth like that…sometimes do chant mantra ….but whenever I do that I can hear the inner voice “NO!”….may AMMA forgive me for doing that.
Its up to you. the aim is to save yourself from dangerous insects bite
how u save yourself depends on what you think of yourself
for example, if you think you are a sadhu you don’t kill, you use nets or repellants
If you think you are a community doctor you kill and recieve a payment!
If you think it is dangerous to your body, to your life, you kill them.
if it is for your food, its ok to kill them. (only life can sustain life)
but if you think every thing is ‘atma’ you accept them as they are.
i am also atma. when i know that, Love will start flowing …
basically its depends on you – what you think of yourself.
most of the time i kill them and give instant moksha so that they can take another body..i should curtail this bad habit of mine 🙁
Always i asked the same question to me..always feel guilty..i used to kill mosquito and cockroches…saying ‘krishna’..i think it is wrong to kill them bcoz the earth is not created for man only….
I also know that “Ahimsa paramo dharma” (Supreme duty not to harm others – non-violence). But sometimes when i can’t tolerate i kill Mosquitoes. What to do? Some animals too are the prey of others, and plant and vegetables are food for human beings. But the creator created this world like that only. So i think nothing wrong in this.
i dont like hurting or killing insects generally i would try my best not to kill them even while walking but cockroaches and mosquitos i am merciless with. i just kill them like an executionist praying intensely that they get a better birth than this wretched one and ask God to please not bring these creatures before my eyes and forgive me for hating them so much.. somewhere inside i also pray that im not born a cockroach next birth. i truly hope God forgives me.
It has been a very tough decision for me. When you have to live with cockraches and mosquitoes there comes a point where you have to eliminate them for your survival (health etc.). Recently, I killed several japanese beetles using trap to save a rose plant. But, the rose plant did not survive. Next season, I prayed instead of killing them and somehow they just disappeared after a few days. Don’t know whether this will work always 🙁
Then again until you have the Power to alter insects, you eliminate them for your survival (Krishna philosophy)
i avoid killing insects even if dangereous
Thanks to Aumsree Very good video, true when i sit for mediation same thing happens i could not able to concentrate :-(.I would try my best not to kill them but i do kill them some time and give instant moksha.Sorry AMMA .Om namah shivaya