This is a real-life incident. [see below]$ It should not be read as carrying any political meaning. It simply describes a situation where I did not allow the ashram helper to kill a snake that entered the premises, while maintaining a different practical approach toward cockroaches and rats due to hygiene concerns.
A cockroach belongs in the place where it naturally belongs. It does not need an invitation to upgrade its residence or to audit your kitchen in the name of “cleaning standards.”
So if it tries to enter your kitchen saying, “Your kitchen is dirtier than my usual environment, so I have come to clean it,” the polite answer is still simple: no entry.
Because the moment you allow it inside for such noble-sounding reasons, the kitchen slowly stops being yours. What begins as a small act of misplaced generosity can quietly turn into a full takeover of the space it originally did not belong to. Soon you’ll find it filing a tenant complaint, then demanding rent control, and finally holding a press conference about “kitchen equity.”
At the same time, a snake entering the ashram is a different matter. It is respected as part of nature, and every effort is made to guide it back safely without harm. But respect does not mean allowing every creature to redefine boundaries that are essential for shared living. A snake gets a respectful escort out; a cockroach gets a boot.
So the principle remains very straightforward: prevention is better than cure. Boundaries are most important at the very first step, before confusion begins and before roles get reversed in the name of higher reasoning.
Don’t think that because the snake that was saved was very small, or the cockroach is a little and innocent creature, you should let your guard down. Even if one wants to keep them as pets, then they need to arrange some company for them. Otherwise, it will be considered cruelty.
Then see the result. They will soon multiply at such speed that you won’t have time to domesticate them all to remain only pets. It’s like allowing innocent and desperate immigrants from neighboring countries, who will soon expand rapidly, finally ending up rooting you out. It’s like allowing a camel to keep only its head inside your tent. By the time you realize your mistake, the entire beast is inside, your bedding is trampled, and you’re sitting in the corner asking, “How did this happen?”
Here is the common advice given: while fire, sickness, and enmity are at a very small level, better eradicate them. Once allowed to grow full-blown, you will end up paying a high price for that.
Do not let the cockroach negotiate. Do not let the camel in. Do not debate the snake—just escort it out with respect.
Ashram, June 7, 2026
$Cockroach vs. Snake
A small poisonous snake apparently received the wrong invitation and tried to enter the dining hall expecting dinner. After I politely informed it that this is a strictly vegetarian ashram and that snakes were not on the guest list, it seemed mildly disappointed. Finding no suitable menu options, it settled comfortably between the door frames, spent the night there, and quietly departed the next morning without causing any trouble to either party.
Meanwhile, I stationed myself beside the ashram helper to ensure that our unexpected visitor would not be harmed. As a rule, I do not allow anyone to kill reptiles, since they play an important role in maintaining ecological balance.
My compassion, however, has its limits. Rats and cockroaches remain exempt from this policy, as they are remarkably gifted at spreading disease and damaging both property and peace of mind.
In India, snakes have long been respected, venerated, and even worshipped in certain traditions. Cockroaches, on the other hand, have never managed to achieve comparable spiritual status.
So yes, mercy for snakes. Limited mercy for cockroaches and rats.
Please do not read any political message into this statement—though I suspect some readers may already be identifying a few human species that fit the description!
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