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everyone becomes a Jain but that universal values of nonviolence in thought, word and deed become practiced in everyday life. The book ends with passionate advocacy and empirical demonstration of the human and environmental benefits of a vegan diet as the mark of a “truly nonviolent person." He humbly admits the difficulty of achieving this even among Jains for whom vegetarianism is a defining expected practice. As a scholar still on a continuing journey from soldier, to academic political scientist, to awakening to nonviolence, and on to exploration of spiritual, scientific, and practical human capabilities to end killing of humans, I am greatly indebted to Jain teaching and encouragement. Also to demonstrations of historical and contemporary non-killing individual and social capabilities among Buddhists, Christians, Gandhians, Hindus, Kingians, Muslims, and secular humanists. Among Jains, teachers have been Acharya Tulsi and the Anuvrat Movement, Yuvacharya Mahapragya who surprised and shocked me on first meeting by saying "We'll never get to nonviolence by religion alone”and stressed understanding of bioneurological factors. Swami Dharmananda taught me Preksha Meditation. Dr. S. L. Gandhi first introduced me to Jainism through the Anuvrat Global Organization. From first meeting in Honolulu Dr. Sulekh Jain has been an inspiring example of Jain leadership. Thus my gratitude and enthusiasm for this book's educational and challenging introduction to Jain thought, problems of practice, and relevance for achieving global conditions of nonkilling Ahimsa. For from birth to natural death no human purpose can be pursued if one is killed.
Glenn D. Paige, Ph.D Professor Emeritus, University of Hawaii, Honolulu Center for Global Nonkilling http://www.nonkilling.org 3653 Tantalus Drive Honolulu, H196822-5033USA cgnv@hawaii.rr.com Tel. (+1) 808-536-7442 “Everyone can be A Center for Global Nonkilling” “No More Killing!”
An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide
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