However, if you’ve been eating chickens and at the same time; you’ve been thinking that you have no responsibility for the fact that they’re killed for meat; you’re a hypocrite. It means that though deep down you know that you’re responsible for getting them killed; you are refusing to accept this fact on conscious level. Hence this makes you a hypocrite and it forms subconscious guilt.
It is interesting to note that the people who accept this fact consciously that a number of chickens are killed for them; are in better positions since they’re honest. The moment they realize that killing chickens for meat is bad; they’ll get out of this habit because of the conscious awareness of the fact that they’re partly responsible for such killings. Once again, I’m not trying to convey that killing animals for meat is bad; and our objective is different. There’s a subtle difference between the mindset of these two types of people and our objective is to deal with those mindsets and not to deal with killing or not killing animals.
For instance, if a person of the first type believes that killing animals for meat is bad; he may still keep eating chickens. This is because though he’s consciously aware that it is bad to kill animals for meat; he’s consciously not aware of this fact that a number of animals are being killed for him also; which means he’s responsible for getting them killed. Since this information is being dealt with by his subconscious mind as already explained; he is of the conscious opinion that killing animals is bad; but he’s not killing any of them, which means he’s not getting any of them killed.
As a result; he’ll never be able to get out of this habit of eating meat, which in reality means that he’ll never get out of this habit of getting the animals killed since he’s consciously not aware of this habit. This difference is subtle and it should be understood well. The problem with this person is not that he’s eating meat which means some animals are being killed for him; and the problem is related to the disturbance of harmony between his conscious and subconscious mind; on account of this issue. Since there is no problem bigger than disharmony within you when it comes to spiritual growth; this person is going to suffer from guilt.
Let me refresh you that when it comes to change a negative habit; there are four steps. You first become consciously aware that this habit is bad, you then become consciously aware that you also have this habit; you then engage in effort to get rid of it and you finally get rid of it. This person is stuck at the second step as he is consciously aware that killing animals for meat is bad.
However, he’s not able to be consciously aware of the fact that he’s also responsible for getting a number of animals killed. It means that though this habit is bad, he doesn’t have it. Hence there’re no chances he’ll get rid of it until he becomes aware that he has it. This habit will keep being effective just like the watch which keeps being there without working as the battery has run out; until you become aware of this issue and fix it.
Once again, it’s not about the fact that killing animals is bad or not. It is that though killing animals for meat may or may not be bad; this person is consciously convinced that it is bad; and this is where the problem is. It means though the problem may not be there in reality, if killing animals for meat is not bad; he’s created this problem for himself. Since he’s going to live with his mind only; the creation of this problem in his mind is certainly going to trouble him.
There are two important facts which create this problem inside him and let’s look at them, in order to understand it properly. The first fact says that killing animals for meat is bad. Since both his conscious and subconscious mind agree to this fact; there is harmony on this issue and hence there is no problem related to this fact, in anyone of these minds. When it comes to the fact that he’s not getting any animals killed for meat; the situation is different.
His conscious mind is not duly aware of this fact and hence it is free of guilt. However, his subconscious mind knows that in the deepest sense; a number of animals are in fact being killed for him; which means he’s responsible for getting them killed. This is where the problem lies. His subconscious mind has two pieces of information. The first piece says that killing animals is bad and the second piece says that he’s also getting them killed.
As you know, the subconscious mind forwards all such issues to the conscious mind, which need attention. Hence this issue is also forwarded to the conscious mind. When these two pieces of information are sent to the conscious mind, it agrees to the first piece and it rejects the second piece of information. It means the conscious mind accepts that killing animals for meat is bad; but it opposes this fact that he’s responsible for getting a number of animals killed, and it does so under the influence of his ego.
Hence his conscious mind gets out of this issue since it doesn’t find a problem at all, though there is a problem in reality. It should be noted that as long as you don’t consciously deal with an issue; it’s not likely to be resolved properly, in most cases.
Suppose you’re driving a car and another person is sitting in the car. He speaks fluent French as it is his mother language whereas you understand only a little of it. Suppose the bridge about 2 km from your present location has recently fallen down; he knows it and hence he tells you to take a diversion since the bridge is broken and there’s no way you can get through it. However, you don’t know this fact and you also don’t understand what he’s telling you, though he may keep doing so.
Hence you keep driving and the moment you reach this bridge; you become aware of this problem. You look at his face and body language; and you now understand that this is what he was saying. He was trying to help you with the fact that the bridge is broken and you should not drive in this direction. Though this person knew in advance and he kept telling you; you couldn’t understand him and hence the problem persisted until you consciously faced it; which means until you actually reached this bridge. It should be noted that your problem actually started when you ignored the last road diversion which could lead you away from this road and only the conscious awareness of this problem comes to you when you reach this bridge.
Going back to the example of getting animals killed for meat; when his subconscious mind tells his conscious mind that he’s also responsible for getting a number of animals killed for meat; as it knows this fact for sure; his conscious mind rejects this information.
His subconscious mind may try to convince his conscious mind again but it may fail again. This is what the real issue is because he’s having a problem, he doesn’t know anything about it and that is why this problem is gaining strength. It means though he could have dealt with this problem when it was very weak in strength; he may have to face it when it is significantly strong. His subconscious mind will keep feeling disturbed until this problem is faced consciously.
Let’s now look into the mindset of the second type of person and let’s see what is happening there. He already knows consciously that a number of animals are being killed for him. Hence his conscious and subconscious mind agree on this point and there is no confusion; which means the harmony is not disturbed on this issue. It means that this person has completed the second step before the first step; which means he knows he has a particular habit; before he comes to know whether or not this habit is bad. The first type of person on the contrary; has completed the first step and he’s stuck on the second step. It means he’s sure that killing animals is bad but he thinks he’s not responsible for getting any animals killed.
Hence in case of the second type of person; the problem may appear; related to the second fact or so to say, the first fact in reality. The problem of this type of person may be difficult to rectify, if there is a problem to start with. It means if his conscious and subconscious mind are in harmony that killing animals for meat is not bad; he doesn’t have any problems at all; and he’s blessed. This is because his conscious and subconscious mind agree on both the facts related to this issue and hence there’s no disturbance. He’s aware that a number of animals are being killed for him and he’s also aware that this is not a bad thing. Hence there are no issues related to the peace of mind in this case.
However, if his conscious and subconscious mind have different opinions related to the second fact; problem rises in this case also. It means if deep down he feels that killing animals for meat is bad; but he keeps rejecting this fact on conscious level, he’s in trouble. In fact, most people belonging to the second type fall into this category, instead of falling into the first category. It means most people subconsciously believe that killing animals for meat is bad; though they don’t feel so consciously. This is primarily because of the reason that so much information has been spread about this fact that killing animals for meat is bad.
Since most people come across this information from time to time; it gets stored on their subconscious minds and hence deep down; they may start believing that killing animals for meat is bad; because their subconscious minds keep telling them this; based on the information they have. If that is the case; the problem with this type of people may take even more time to be rectified since they’re stuck on the first step compared to the first type of people; who’re stuck on the second step. It should be noted that the awareness about whether or not a particular act or habit is bad; is more important than the awareness about whether or not you have such habit or you’re committing such act.
This is because it’s your conscious awareness about the bad nature of a habit or act that helps you move away or stay away from such act or habit; and it is not the awareness about whether or not you’re doing so or you have this habit; which helps you move away from it. Kindly understand that having a habit or engaging in an act is a neutral piece of information and this information is not sufficient on its own to lead you to any decision related to this act. However, as soon as the information related to the advantages or disadvantages related to this habit or act comes to your knowledge; this is when things may change.
Suppose you run 5 km twice every week as a part of your exercise routine. If someone simply tells you that you run 5 km twice a week, it doesn’t mean anything since you already know it. Suppose another piece of information is attached to this fact and this piece of information says that this is why you’re suffering from pain around your knees. Let’s say this person tells you that since you run on hard ground instead of running on soft ground; your knees receive more shocks when your feet hit the ground and that is why they get hurt.