Abstinence from Flesh
Thinarporuttaal Kollaadhu Ulakenin Yaarum / Vilaipporuttaal Oondraruvaa Ril
Classical English couplet — “'We eat the slain,' you say, by us no living creatures die;Who'd kill and sell, I pray, if none came there the flesh to buy”
What it says in plain words
“If nobody wanted meat to eat, nobody would kill animals to sell it. What people buy helps keep this trade going.”
The classical Tamil reading
புலால் தின்னும் பொருட்டு உலகத்தார் உயிர்களைக் கொல்லா திருப்பாரானால், விலையின் பொருட்டு ஊன் விற்பவர் இல்லாமல் போவார்.
An expanded Tamil interpretation
புலால் உண்பதற்காக உலகினர் உயிர்களைக் கொல்லாதிருப்பின், புலால் விற்பனை செய்யும் தொழிலை எவரும் மேற்கொள்ள மாட்டார்
The ethical and philosophical heart
Buying meat connects the eater to the killing of animals. The person eating may not do the killing themselves. Still, what we buy shapes what others sell. This couplet asks us to notice that link when choosing food.
In personal life, work and society
- Personal
- You choose beans instead of meat to avoid supporting animal killing.
- Workplace
- You request a meal without meat when ordering lunch for a meeting.
- Family
- Your family cooks a vegetable dinner instead of buying meat.
- Society
- When fewer people buy meat, sellers have less reason to supply it.
How to apply this today
- Decision-making
- Think about whether your food purchase supports the killing of animals.
- Integrity
- If you want to avoid animal killing, let your food choices reflect that.
- Communication
- Explain the link between buying meat and killing animals without blaming others.
- Leadership
- Offer meals without meat when arranging food for your group.
- Governance
- Consider how buying meat for public meals supports the trade in killed animals.
For leaders and teams
Remember that your purchases guide what others provide. Choosing meals without meat can put care for animals into practice.
Something to sit with
“How might the link between buying meat and killing animals shape your food choices today?”