I came upon the following in a book I’m reading. It is my own opinion that the Five Precepts should never be broken but here’s an interesting retort to the idea of a mercy Killing by the great Tibetan yogini Machig Labdron:
A student of hers came upon a dying horse suffering terribly on the side of a road. The animal couldn’t right himself, and crows were picking out his eyes. The student ran to Machig Labdron and asked, “Wouldn’t it be better to kill him and end his suffering?”
She answered, “Kill only when you can see a being’s karma and can be certain that you are bringing his suffering to an end. This horse is on his way to the hell realms. These few moments of pain are purifying karma that would otherwise lead to far greater misery.”
Before you take the life of any being, you’d better be sure that where he is going is better than where he is.
Excerpt From: “Change of Heart: The Bodhisattva Peace Training of Chagdud Tulku” by Lama Shenpen Drolma.
Cattāri Brahmavihārā 
The excerpts you have shared here from that book really make me want to read it. Very interesting, thanks for sharing!
By: Niki on 12/18/2018
at 11:35 am
I’m glad you’ve found it helpful. Every good blessing to you!
By: Upāsaka on 12/18/2018
at 5:53 pm