Jain Study Center NC Raleigh 1999 08 Twenty Years

SR No.: 528542
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Study Center NC Raleigh
Publisher: USA Jain Study Center NC Raleigh
Publication Year: 1999
Total Pages: 122
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Souvenir Jain Center NC Raleigh, & USA
File Size: 15 MB

Page 95

Hence the vegetarians should get B-12 from other than animal products, such as fortified cereal, and other fortified products such as multiple vitamins, one a day, and other products from health stores which contain B-12, but not from dairy or meat products.
Organic Milk
The Organic farm is generally smaller than the huge factory-style farm. The Organic milk is produced without using antibiotics, pesticides, and hormones. There are no milk additives added into the milk. However there are no legal regulations that prevent farmers from engaging in similar abuses such as keeping the cows in tie stalls, using electric milking equipment, etc. Only few organic farms treat cows properly during her milk producing life.
Also to ensure steady milk production the cows of organic farms are also kept pregnant all the time through artificial insemination or other means. The baby calves (average four to five babies per cow during her life) are sold to veal industry, where they are slaughtered in six months. Also when the milk production yield drops, the cows are sold to slaughterhouse. Hence the Organic milk is not cruelty free milk.
Religious view
Nonviolence is the highest principle of Jain religion. However for our survival the religion permits certain violence by the lay people. Our scriptures clearly indicate that:
For our survival, the survival of our ascetics, and the survival of our scriptures, temples, libraries, and upasrayas; limited violence to one sensed (Ekendriya) souls such as vegetables, water, fire, earth, and air are allowed only by the Jain lay people (sravaks and sravikas).
Under no circumstances violence to two to five sensed (Tras) living beings such as animals, birds, and humans are allowed even by the lay people.
Ascetics should be totally nonviolent to all souls including to the souls of vegetables, water, fire, air, and earth.
A cow is a five-sensed (Panchendriya) animal that also possesses mind. The cruelty to the five-sensed animal is considered the highest sin in Jain scriptures.
In today's high tech environment, there is no difference in cruelty between meat and milk production. In the production of meat, cows are killed instantly. However, during milk production the cows are not killed instantly but they are tortured badly during their prime life, their babies (all but one female baby) are slaughtered in six months and ultimately they are slaughtered within 7 years well before the end of their natural life of 15 years. The dairy cows have no chance to escape from this cruelty and death. In conclusion the cruelty in the milk production is worst than the meat production. By consuming dairy products we are promoting such cruelty.
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