________________
268
JAINISM AND BUDDHISM
and Japan and that all the Buddhist monasteries never use any flesh there. The laymen of those countries also believe it to be rejectable, although some eat it while others do not eat it. The followers of Tioist do, as a rule, not eat any flesh. They are pure vegetarians. It appears to me that Ceylon being an island where people generally use fish, the Pali Scriptures when compiled, have prescribed a way for the monks to accept it in alms, if it was given. At the very time this Lankâvatâra Sutra appears to have been written, which prohibits every follower of Buddhism from eating flesh or fish of any kind. The Buddhists in general should pay regard to this sutra and should try to check the prevalence of fish or flesh eating. The monks as a rule should not accept it and then they should preach to laymen to give up flesh-eating. Flesh-eating, no doubt, is a cause for the killing of dumb creatures."
Some description of AHIMSA in JAIN SCRIP TURES:
(1) Samayasâra says:
अज्झवसिदेण बंधो सत्तेमारेहि माव मारेहिं ।
एसो बंधसमासो जीवाणं णिच्छय णयस्स ॥ २७४ ॥ Ajjhava sideņa Bandho satte mârehi mâva mârehim Eso bandha samaso Jivâṇam nichchhaya nayassa
274
Bondage (of karmas) will be caused by the inten-. tion (of injury), whether the creatures may be killed or not. This is the brief of bondage for the souls from the correct stand-point."
66
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
