Is it considered sin of killing innocent beings like mosquitoes?

[Smt. Priyanka asked: Padanamaskaram Swami, Is it considered killing innocent beings when we use preventive measures to repel mosquitoes, ants, and other bugs to protect ourselves from being bitten or prevent the house from bugs infestation? Does this come under the category of having an intention to kill a living being, which is a sin?]

Swami replied:- It is always better to avoid killing any living being as far as possible. For the sake of self-protection and if there is no alternative way, killing a living being for the sake of self-protection is not a sin. Self also shall be protected because this human life is very rare and this human life alone can be used to do spiritual efforts in order to gain the grace of God. One day, disciples of Shri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa went to see Him. He was busy in killing blood bugs present on the cot. He told them “I sit on the cot and meditate upon God. These bloody blood bugs are disturbing Me. I will cut anything or anybody coming between Me and God.” He is in the highest Nivrutti level. But, we all are in Pravrutti level only. Hence, we shall avoid killing living beings as far as possible. Only in inevitable circumstances and finding no alternative way, we can kill such living beings that hinder our health, thereby spoiling our probable Nivrutti line.

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