Disciple: Master! Should capital punishment be abandoned?
Guru: Yes! Certainly!
Disciple: What is the rationale?
Guru: Firstly; in principle; our punishments should be born out of the vision of global benevolence and not vindictive impulses. Vindictive impulses and urge of vengeance; appear justifiable; but this is only because they gratify our basal nature.
Secondly; the laws should be such; that they help us to blossom; and NOT throttle our freedom, harass us and in fact promote all varieties of crimes ranging from relatively innocuous mistakes and misdeeds; to murders and rapes. Further; the laws should be should be understood by people; and ideally so simple; that compliance would be much easier “law breaking” would become rarer. Even the need of lawyers would be reduced.
Thirdly; we can curb the criminal tendencies; right from the beginning (when they are not as ghastly as they latter become); and prevent crimes to a large extent
Fourthly; the nature of punishments; in general should be emphatically corrective and reformative to such an extent; that ‘deterrence’ would ensue through correction and reformation.
Fifthly; the capital punishment usually leaves no chance for an individual; for compensation and/or chastisement; for a particular crime.
Sixthly; capital punishment (and in general; the idea of deterrence as such in punishments) seems to further; the chain reaction of crimes; and multiply the evil; and not eliminate it!
Seventhly; this does not mean that the punishment should be mild. What it means is; it should be appropriate; to both; chastise and compensate (to at least some extent)! For example; a person, who throws litter on road; should be made to clean it free of cost for a week or two.
Eighthly; we ourselves (the makers of law and those who implement it) have to rise above our own criminal tendencies; and also the craving of vengeance. For this; we have to undertake some activity that can sublimate our “rage about crimes and injustice”; into “honest concern” for universal welfare!
Such activity; useful; irrespective of race, region, nationality, occupation, religion and ideology; is NAMASMARAN (JAP, JAAP, JIKRA, SUMIRAN, SIMARAN i.e. remembering God’s name or true self). If we have this pill to cure and prevent a disease (crimes); then why should we use radical surgery; such as amputation (capital punishment)?
Disciple: But would a society in rage; accept such punishments for heinous crimes?
Guru: Till we grow beyond our subjectivity, prejudices and notice the nascent criminal tendencies within us; we may not appreciate the value of all the foregone discussion. But as we get more and more civilized, through the practice of NAMASMARAN; even more creative and constructive suggestions would emerge!
DR SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR