01-12-2006, 12:00 AM
Here is my opinion on this:
1. First stem cell research.
Stems cells are acquired from aborted fetuses.
According to Manusmrti abortion is a great pApam equal to go-hatyA (cow killing) or brahma-hatyA (killing a brAhmana). Further the mother, father and the doctor who does the abortion will sink into naraka loka after death.
Now a certain percentage of births get aborted naturally. In these cases scientists can collect the stem cells and do research on it.
But killing any fetus is a crime and should be banned.
2. Bio-engineering
The case where animal genes are infused into plants to create new genetically engineered plants is not against Dharma at all.
No animal is actually being killed here.
The Hindu classification of food is not vegetarian/non-veg. It is 3 fold, namely SAtvika, rAjasika and tAmasika.
So Yogis should do research on what effect these new foods have on the mind and classify them accordingly.
Onions and garlic are tAmasika, whereas chicken meat is rAjasika. So chicken is ranked higher than onions or garlic.
1. First stem cell research.
Stems cells are acquired from aborted fetuses.
According to Manusmrti abortion is a great pApam equal to go-hatyA (cow killing) or brahma-hatyA (killing a brAhmana). Further the mother, father and the doctor who does the abortion will sink into naraka loka after death.
Now a certain percentage of births get aborted naturally. In these cases scientists can collect the stem cells and do research on it.
But killing any fetus is a crime and should be banned.
2. Bio-engineering
The case where animal genes are infused into plants to create new genetically engineered plants is not against Dharma at all.
No animal is actually being killed here.
The Hindu classification of food is not vegetarian/non-veg. It is 3 fold, namely SAtvika, rAjasika and tAmasika.
So Yogis should do research on what effect these new foods have on the mind and classify them accordingly.
Onions and garlic are tAmasika, whereas chicken meat is rAjasika. So chicken is ranked higher than onions or garlic.