________________
JANUARY, 1980
105
My purpose of writing this paper is, when there are so many life threatening hazards because of water contamination and scientists all over the world are worried, how to prevent these diseases; simple Jaina philosophy can solve it by asking people to drink boiled water. The problem which we are facing today was solved thousands of years ago by Jaina saints.
Now probably there is a querry in the minds of readers, when we boil water, probably we kill lives of many organisms already present in the water and hence it is against the principles of Jainism or “Ahimsa". I tell my friends that for about eight hours or so after boiling the water the organism do not grow in the boiled water, but in unboiled water, each organism multiply continuously, so we drink ten times more organism in unboiled water. Therefore, “Himsa” is more in taking unboiled water.
It is advised in Jaina religion that water which is boiled must be consumed within seven or eight hours and thereafter we must use freshly boiled water for another seven or eight hours.
In this way, for drinking purposes boiled water is advised on medical grounds. The thought which appears new today is as old as Jaina religion.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
