Awkward Medicines and Health Issues

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Kolkata—Worldwide, 20 September 2020, part 7

Question: If a doctor has prescribed a medicine that contains gelatine and there is no substitute, what should I do?

If the doctor has prescribed that medicine for your disease, then you should take it because it is necessary for your health. What is health for? Your health is for the service of your Guru, Vaishnavs, and the Lord. You must take care of your health. What do you take care of your health for? What is this body or health for? What is its purpose? This body is used for the service of the Lord, so you must maintain this body, you must keep this body well. That is why, you must take the medicine that the doctor prescribes.

You cannot tell what medicine is made from—whether it comes from some fish, meat, or anything else. You cannot see that. It can even be made from a pig's body or a snake's body. So many medicines come from animals, trees, and many other things. We do not want to see that. There are so many medicines in the market, and so many kinds of medicine are made from all kinds of trees, beasts, birds, pigs, even snakes. You know, there is a kind of snake poison a drop of which costs millions and billions of dollars!

When it comes to medicine, you should take it, it is not a problem. Gurudev also always said that even on ekadasi day you must take medicine. If you do not keep your health well, how you will serve then?

Question: If somebody is seriously sick and the doctor recommends taking meat and some medicine containing animal slaughter by-products, what should I do?

You must take the medicine, but if the doctor prescribes eating meat, etc., you should not take it. I sometimes see that in India too—sometimes, somebody is weak, and the doctor says, "You must take chicken, you are weak." We should not follow that. You have many other things in the world besides chicken, meat, fish, etc.—there are so many other things rich in protein. So, if the doctor says you must take meat and not follow your Vaishnavism, then it is wrong, we should not follow it. As for medicine, if you have to take it for your health, then you can take it.

Question: If for health reasons I cannot take some preparation when they give prasadam, is it an offence if I do not honour all prasad?

No, it is not, but if Gurudev gives you something, you should take it without any second thoughts. If Gurudev gives you something, you can take it, it is not a problem. For example, if you have diabetes and Gurudev gives you a rasagulla (a sweet), you can take it.

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