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life (say an animal) than to destroy a very large number of lower lives is refuted by the explanation that the carcass will inevitably be full of minute organism called 'nigoda' (micro-organisms like bacteria). Killing for any reason has been considered bad.
Jains believe in the existence of the soul not only in insects, animals and men (who have two, three, four and five sense organs, as the case may be) but also in earth (earth body), water (water body), fire (fire body) and wind (wind body) and plants (vegetable body) which have only one sense organ of touch. All the five have been regarded as abode of the lives. All these bodies are well connected and any disturbance to one affects others. We are all dependent on both living and non-living for the survival of life, and use of plants and other one sensed beings is inevitable for the layman but it is suggested to him that he should with his own will-power keep on restraining the use, say restricting the consumption of number of the plant species and parts thereof which are used. Similarly restraining the use of water, earth, fire and other articles has been suggested. And this spirit has to be maintained throughout life. It is suggested that even an act of touching these bodies causes pain to them hence has to be avoided. In addition, Jain Ācāryas mentioned that different kinds of other living beings also live in these bodies (water, earth and wind) and any interference with the host body also causes hurt to the organisms which live in it.
Thus, the Jains have equal respect for the lives of all beings irrespective of their sizes and categories.
In depth thought was given to every walk of life where violence to the living being may be caused. For instance, they said that in the process of building a house one destroys earth-bodies and many other living beings.
It was also explained that one should not kindle fire, as it may destroy earth-beings, water-beings and wind-beings besides grass, leaves, wood, forests and insects. It will not be out of place to mention that ecologically fire in nature is not a completely artificial factor created by man, nor is it always detrimental to man's interests. There are many natural communities which are classified as “fire types”in that their prosperity or very survival depends on fire. Plants weak in competition are able to comeout only when others dominating an area
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| SR No. | 524605 |
| Book Title | Tulsi Prajna 2000 10 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Shanta Jain, Jagatram Bhattacharya |
| Publisher | Jain Vishva Bharati |
| Publication Year | 2000 |
| Total Pages | 128 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Classification | Magazine, India_Tulsi Prajna, & India |
| File Size | 6 MB |