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Chapter 13 Jainism and Vegetarianism
(LATE) A.N. UPADHYE
Vegetarianism is understood with different significations in different contexts, but, viewed in the background of Jainism, it amounts to using a strictly vegetarian diet either in the procurement or in the constitution of which no harm or injury to apparently living beings is involved directly or indirectly. It is closely linked up with three fundamental principles of Jainism : Ahimsa or Non-injury, Samyama or Self-control and Tapas or Austerity.
Ahimsa is the basic principle on which the Jaina moral code is built. In simple words, “live and let live' is the creed of Jainism. As every one of us wants to live, enjoy pleasures and escape pain, so every other living being wants to live, enjoy comforts and avoid pain. If we want to exercise our right to live, we must concede the same right to others as well. It is a simple moral law of reciprocity. Naturally man has no right to slaughter animals for his food or for his pleasure. If he does so by his superiority in the cadre of biological evolution, his action is not justifiable in any way. And if he wants to lead a life of justice and equity in society, he must have the highest respect for the entire animal world, may the sanctity of life as such. This necessitates that he must take to a vegetarian diet.
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