Jain Sangh Tulsa OK 2004 05 Pratistha

SR No.: 528811
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Sangh Tulsa
Publisher: USA Jain Sangh Tulsa OK
Publication Year: 2004
Total Pages: 104
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Souvenir Jain Center OK Tulsa, & USA
File Size: 5 MB

Page 63

Tulsa Jain Sangh Pratishtha Mahotsav 2004
billion land based, 17 billion aquatic). In this way when man lives a life involving gross violence like these he becomes a terrible threat to himself and to the entire planet.
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The planet's entire petroleum reserves would be exhausted in 13 years if the whole world were to take on the technological methods used in the U.S. that produce the standard American meat-centered diet.
Trees are being cut down at an alarming rate all around the world for meat production. If people made radical change in their diet only in U.S. alone 200 million acres could be returned to the forest.
If one becomes a vegetarian he saves 2,400 animals in a lifetime thus becoming a blessing to oneself and a blessing to the Mother Earth.
Today we see many people around the world slowly becoming aware of the animal abuse and environmental pollution and are turning vegetarians. Though it may be for religious reasons, for ethical reason, for ecological reason or for health or environmental reason. Whatever the reason may be the awareness is gaining momentum day by day and people are questioning their beliefs and conditioning. If one can try this way of diet for few months from today one can find out for themselves the change in the state of mind and the body.
Let us see what vegetarianism means in today's world.
The term Vegetarian is derived from the Latin word vegetus meaning "whole, lively, sound, fresh." Thus a vegetarian is one who does not eat any meat, fish, fowl or eggs. There are those who consider themselves to be vegetarians even though they eat eggs. So the vegetarians are divided into three categories:
(1) Lacto-ovo-vegetarians: those that include milk, dairy products and eggs in their diets;
(2) Lacto-vegetarians: those that include milk, dairy products but no eggs in their diets;
(3) Vegans those that do not include any animal products like milk, cheese, curd (yogurt), butter or eggs in their diets (most even eschew honey).
A vegetarian thus can easily sustain on foods like grains, legumes, beans, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits that are good sources of protein, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
We just saw the ethical, ecological and the health point of view of vegetarianism.
Now let us address the philosophical aspect of the issue in brief.
Since time immemorial scriptural studies and researches have revealed one thing that is common to all living beings and that is the desire to live and to be happy and not to die and be unhappy. But man in his pursuit of pleasure and happiness forgets this and goes to the extent of exploiting everything and