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152
JAIN JOURNAL
In the vile-green glow, the flesh-eater hears his own echo: 'What's a man to eat, without meat ? Let eunuch and beggar the flaccid rice eat, sons and gold are my flesh-eating testament. Onward ! to my gut's enjoyment' !"
On the command, a jolly demon hacks the flesh-eater's flesh to crimson. Then, in bond to his imbecile boast, his very own flesh, the demons roast ! ... Slowly all 7 hells begin to gloat... His very own flesh is forced down his throat !
His eye weeps blood, for now he knows a man reaps what he sows... 'Tis retribution : till he learns his lesson well, of his own flesh, the flesh-eater eats in hell.”
Camel (hushed): "O gratitude, that this animal body eats non-animal food."
Lord : "Rightly ye shelter in the temple of a vegetarian body."
Camel : "Man, the spiritually insane! Better in a lowborn body I remain.
Lord : “Whatever state of existence be your renewal, infernal, sub-human, human or celestial, remember, all may strive equally on the Sinas' footpath to Deity.
But, of that path hewn from living rock, ye have heard many times, for all lessons interlock. To disband now, would ye care ? and with your kin, your pilgrimage to share ?”
(Sky grows amber in the west, a night bird calls from the forest, still the food-animals linger at the lotus feet of their Jaina Teacher.)
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