Medieval Jainism

SR No.: 006727
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: P S Jain, R M Lodha
Publisher: Ashish Publishing House
Publication Year: 1990
Total Pages: 198
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 8 MB

Page 133

Economic
VEGETARIANISM-A WAY OF LIFE
Spirituality
A strictly vegetarian mode of living has been the basis of spiritual evolution and abstinence from fleshy foods is undoubtedly a great aid to the evolution of the spirit, but it is by no means an end in itself. If this is properly understood it will clear much misunderstanding because people expect a vegetarian to be of a high moral standard and spiritually inclined with humanitarian tendency, compassion and reverence for life.
Spirituality is a quality of the consciousness. It is sympathy or empathy combined which established the link of sensitivity as well as of identity to a certain extent. Persons born in families with meat-eating traditions sometimes which awaken their sensitivity to and sympathy for living creatures.
Religion
Religion has always played a pre-eminent role in moulding man's character, behaviour and morals throughout history. We must admit that no major religion has made vegetarianism from dietetic point of view a cardinal principle for its followers, though one can see some threads of uniform thinking in some of their teachings, with compassion as its base. Thus it is the core of a philosophy or religion which is of value, not the embellishment.
115
Would not the world become infested with animals if one did not eat them? One must realize that man breeds his 'meat animals' much in excess for business and selfish motives and brings on the earth far more