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in the same way as fuel for fire. We must take our food if we want to live, and we know it full well that, the destruction of animals is inevitable in getting our food-stuff, whatever it may be. Not only this; we know that, during every moment of our existence, we kill either consciously or unconsciously hundreds of lives inspite of our utmost care to prevent it. A superior being lives upon inferior beings. The Law of nature requires it and the survival of the fittest is the natural sequence. Not only that; in tilling the ground for growing vegetables and in other agricultural processes, we cause the destruction of innumerable Jivas. We hold that the very elements are tanmaya' of Jivas. that is they themselves are Jivas and full of Jivas. You know the Jain Sadhus and Shravakas do not drink water which has not been boiled properly. Once when it is boiled, bubbles must come thrice out of it, and it must be reboiled every three praharas in Varsa or rainy season, every 4 praharas in Sita or winter season, and every five praharas in Grishma or summer or hot season. Now the object of doing this is to minimise the destructive business, since the individual living beings viz. microbes multiply constantly with enormous rapidity in cold water, which is freed from the germs, by being boiled as described above. We hold that, germs
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