Religion and Philosophy of the Jainas

SR No.: 001190
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Jain International Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1993
Total Pages: 266
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Philosophy, Ethics, & Principle
File Size: 13 MB

Page 223

190 RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY OF THE JAINAS sense beings with mind are men, animals, birds, fish; of course, these are only illustrations, not exhaustive lists.
So, when we are in any state in which we do not use care and caution and in that state'we tear asunder any of these prānas, then it is killing. The Sanskrit word for killing thus defined is ‘hiṁsā'. Hiṁsā can be done in the nāraka (hell) state; but after the separation the prānas come together again; however, the pain of dread, anxiety etc., is felt. In the nāraka state there is pain all the time, and it may last 10 years or a million years or a billion years. Still it comes to an end. There is also hiṁsā in the deva state. In the deva state there is more pleasure than pain. How much killing a layman can avoid
Now with regard to what extent this first vow causes us to refrain from killing, or how much and what kinds of killing the layman may take a vow to refrain from.
In order to steer clear of killing it is well to know the various ways in which killing is done; this can be learned by observation of the conduct of the people, but a few of the ways may here be mentioned.
1. Hunting, fishing etc. 2. Vivisection. 3. The taking of feathers, skins, etc. for dress. 4. Killing for food, meat, game, fish etc. 5. In war. 6. For private revenge. 7. For religious purposes (so-called), as in sacrifices.
8. Killing insects such as flies, gnats, etc. because you think they trouble you.
9. Capital punishment, etc.
For the sake of illustration the following analysis is made of the state of mind of a person who is hunting for sport. There are three factors, [a] in this state of mind there is no thought about the pain and harn the person hunting is inflicting on the innocent creature hunted, (b) the person is entirely taken up with his own pleasure, (c) he has no feeling for the pain and suffering of the animal. So we have three factors, namely, thoughtlessness