Relative Karmic Debt
This is a follow up from a post where I discussed meat consumption and karmic debt.
Below you will find an analysis of the relative Karmic Debt that you might incur for eating various animals. The assumptions underlying this chart are that Animals experience pain and suffering. Some animals are more advanced and therefore more able to comprehend pain signals and suffering. Since not all animals experience pain in the same way, the relative Karmic Debts incurred by those who eat the animals vary from species to species.
I assembled and arranged this list based on the biology of animals, brain size, central nervous system, brain neurons, personality traits, intelligence and biological factors. It is merely posturing about the relative Karmic burden of eating various animals.
Primates
Karmic Debt:
HEINOUS
Pain: 1000
Humans, Baboons, Apes, Chimpanzees
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Cetaceans
Karmic Debt:
BRUTAL
Pain: 800
Dolphins, Whales
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Marsupials
Karmic Debt:
Grim
Pain: 750
Kangaroos, Kuala Bears
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Artiodactyla
Karmic Debt:
FIERCE
Pain: 700
Pigs, Lambs, Cows, Deer, Goat
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Carnivora
Karmic Debt:
GRUELING
Pain: 675
Cats, Dogs, Bears, Lions, Tigers
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Lagomorpha
Karmic Debt:
SEVERE
Pain: 500
Rabbits
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Rodentia
Karmic Debt:
HARSH
Pain: 425
Squirrels, Rats, Mice, Hampsters
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Birds
Karmic Debt:
Intense
Pain: 400
Turkeys, Chickens, Duck, Geese, Quail
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Reptiles
Karmic Debt:
Moderate
Pain: 300
Alligators, Snakes, Lizards, Turtles, Alligator
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Amphibians
Karmic Debt:
Mild
Pain: 200
Frogs, Salamanders
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The animals listed past this point operate more or less on instinct.
It is believed that their respective level of consciousness and pain awareness are so basic that one will incur no negative Karma by killing and eating them.
However, they do still experience pain and suffering at some level, so if you don’t want to take any chances, keep your diet relegated to the Plant Kingdom. Consequently, just because an animal is listed below does not necessarily indicate that it is a healthy thing to eat. Lobsters are the cockroaches of the sea, they are filthy, dirty animals and are one of the worst things you can eat.
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Fish
Karmic Debt:
Light
Pain: 50
Salmon, Trout, Sharks, Tuna
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Crustacean
Karmic Debt:
Soft
Pain: 40
Crabs, Lobsters, Shrimp
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Insects
Karmic Debt:
Incidental
Pain: 30
Spiders, Bees, Butterflies, Ants
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Mollusks
Karmic Debt:
MINOR
Pain: 20
Snails, Clams
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Porifera
Karmic Debt:
Negligible
Pain: 10
Sponge
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[...] For the good of all mankind who are still lured by the shredded flesh of dead animals, I have put together a diagram that compares the relative Karmic Debt of consuming animals. This is just my humble opinion. However, I have based it more or less on biology and the status or advancement bodily characteristics of each being such as: brain size, central nervous system, intelligence and general consciousness. You can find a full breakdown of my theory concerning relative Karmic Debt here [...]