Jain Society Lansing MI 2000 05 Pratistha

SR No.: 528511
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Center Lansing MI
Publisher: USA Jain Center Lansing MI
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 108
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Souvenir Jain Center MI Lansing, & USA
File Size: 4 MB

Page 44

Food and Himsa – A Jain Perspective
Gada Family
Most of us learnt out food habits from what we saw in our homes as we grew up, or from what our relatives and friends were doing. This may have been enough for some of us, but for others it has created more confusion, causing many discussions about what Jains should or should not eat. Therefore, it is very important to learn what Jainism teaches us so we can make informed decisions. I will make a humble attempt to throw some light on this issue.
Most of the time we are just concerned with what we see in front of our eyes when we order food or when it is served to us and we get satisfied right there. But as Jains we should be concerned about the himsa (violence) involved in the whole process of preparing the food as well as its after-effects. To most of us "eating food" is the beginning point of the process but it is not - it is actually the end point. We must realize that there are various actions and repercussions involved before, during and after the food is made. Therefore, as Jains we should be very critical about this whole process. Only then can we get the complete picture, which will help us make an informed decision about what to order, what to eat and what to decline.
In short, we should know what and how much "himsa" was involved in the overall process of preparing any food before we take it, as well as, whether our action would have any other direct or indirect effect in promoting himsa.
Before we look into any particular type of food items, let us understand what himsa means, how it is carried out, and to whom it is being done. Only after learning all of this will we realize that although eating food might look innocent, there is more to it than just chewing.
Himsa: Himsa means violence.
When we order or buy any food, we are mainly concerned with whether it is from an animal source or not. This is good, but have we ever thought further to see why we are avoiding animal sources or why our diet is vegetarian? To understand this, we have to learn about bio-physiological differences between different animals and vegetables. Jina, the omniscient, has taught us that all living beings have different numbers of vital forces in them. There are up to ten different vital forces and they are:
1. Touch (Sparsh-Indriya): the ability to feel the sensation of touch 2. Body (Kaya-bal): the ability to form the body 3. Respiration (Shwasochchhwas): the ability to inhale and exhale 4. Longevity (Ayushya - Life span): the ability to live for a given amount of time 5. Taste (Ras-Indriya): the ability to taste 6. Speech (Vachan-bal): the ability to speak 7. Smell (Ghran-Indriya): the ability to smell
38