Jainism in a Global Perspective - Collection of Jain papers of 1993 Parliament of World Religions, Chicago

SR No.: 014010
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain, Shreeprakash Pandey
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 402
Language: English
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 23 MB

Page 340

Can Jainism Survive in the 21st Century
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In short, to talk too much or listen to a radio all day would be breaking the vow of Brahmacarya. If this sacred docrine is not followed, man abdicates hisown freedom and becomes a slave to the ever changing environment and circumstances.
Ahimsā (non-violence)
The second vow, prescribed for the mental level, is Ahimsā which means 'non-injury'. Ahiṁsā does not mean 'non-killing' or 'non-injury at the physical level'. Sometimes we may have to be cruel and injurious externally even though our heart behind our actions is full of love and kindness. It is, therefore, to be understood as a mental attitude to our relationship with others in life. For example, a surgeon may appear cruel and bloody while performing his operations, but his heart means well. Such actions, though physically hurting and causing pain, would fall under Ahimsă.
Compassion for even the smallest living being is the role of the Jaina hence most Jainas are vegetarians. It is important for us to remember the reason why we are vegetarian. Lord Mahavira said that all living beings desire life and not death. Therefore, no one has the right to take away life of any other being, especially when he has no power to take away Kfe of any other being, especially when he has no power to give life. Hence the killing of life is the greatest sin. I have met people who, although vegetarians, have cravings to eat meat, and vegetarian dishes made to look like meat in their diet.
I have also come across with the people who refuse to do Biology practicals which involve cutting open a fish and yet spend most of their time in idle gossip about others. On the other hand, there are people, who, because of duress of circumstances, having been brought up in a meateating community, are non-vegetarians, and yet one can detect immaculate ideas of non-violence in their thoughts and words. Often at school, college and university, circumstances may be such that we cannot maintain a strict vegetarian diet. Try to remain vegetarian as far as possible, but remain vegetarian with the right intentions i.e. with the intention of spreading the message of ahiṁsā, and not with the hypocrisy of showing off to the world that you are vegetarian. When practicing Ahimsā, it is the intentions behind
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