Epitome of Jainism

SR No.: 006737
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: K B Jindal
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi
Publication Year: 1988
Total Pages: 248
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 13 MB

Page 89

Purushartha Siddhyupaya.
77 established at London at Ahimsa House, 137 Elgin Crescent. Their motto is "Kill not for food, ornament or sport.” The founders expect from a reformed diet the growth of a hurnane and glorious civilization where they shall not hurt nor destroy...... for the earth shall be full of knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."** The President says that “never can man progress spiritually until he is willing to abandon cruelty. We cannot connect ihe word righteousness with the murder of the weak, and helpless. For lack of teaching of 'Not-Hurting', the Christian religion has been and is sadly impoverished. There is reason to think that Christ hiraself expressly insisted on abstinence from fiesh. Those whc accept the idea of re-incarnation would not find it difficult to believe that existence did not begin with the first birth in human form, but that life throughout all kingdoms was for ever one and divine in essence. A later generation would look back with horror and disgust at a practice which was now so general as hardly io excite comment or question. The benevolent intentions of many societies, seeking to relieve suffering of all kinds, were sadly hampered by the prevailing hardness of heart towards animals which hardened us even to our fellow men. It is no doubt an incredibly hard task to place hefore an indifferent and pre-occupied world the message that all life is one, human, sub-human, and super-humar, one in essence and destiny, inoving slowly but steadily, however unconsciously, towards a glorious destiny. There is cne great ladder for all living beings, whether they walk the earth on two legs or on four, whether they thread the waters with fins or stretch their wings to the air. The world is not deliberately cruel. It is but custom and thoughtlessness that support a cruel practice."
While the principle of Ahimsa is gaining ground in the West and vegetarianism is flourishing, we find that the evil habit of taking animal food is on the increase, spreading far and fast in India. There is at present a craze for moving in high society, and eating and drinking form the chief attractions of the upper social circles. The days of Epicurus seem to have returned. It looks as if we live to eat, and not that we eat to live. Wherever one meets a friend, some dish or drink is as a rule offered, insisted upon, and a refusal is considered rude. And further the eatables must be of a non-vegetarian character, for fashion so dictates. No body ever thinks, reasons out, considers, or decides, what he should eat or 'drink, how many times, and at what hours in the day or at night. Precious hours of life are frittered away in eating, drinking, smoking, talking and thus keeping the mouth ever enga trade of the butcher, the confectioner, the keeper of hotels, restaurants, cafés and refreshment-rocms is flourishing. Millions of living beings are daily killed to provide food and pleasure for the upper classes. The consequence is distress, discontent, disease, death. It is idle to argue that meat diet is necessary for human strength. Medical opinion is clearly and definitely
• Isaiah xi-9.
Revd. E. F. Udny, in the Ahimsa Journal.