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CONSCIOUS CONSUMER
6.1 Conscious Consumer
where these things come from. When someone gives us something to do we not ask, “What is it?" If someone asks us to eat something, do we not ask, “What is it?" In the same way, if we are asked to use a product, should we not ask, “Where does it come from?”
The three fundamental principles of Jainism are Ahimsä (non-violence), Anekäntaväda (multiplicity of view-points) and Aparigraha (non-attachment/non-possessiveness). If in a 3-legged stool one leg is broken the stool will fall. The leg we will pay the most attention to and try to fix is the broken one. Ahimsä is one of the main tenants of Jainism and the one that affects all forms of life: those that can speak for themselves - human beings, and those that cannot - like animals and plants. Followers of Ahimsä make sure that they do not hurt animals or are not involved in the killing of animals for any reason. We also do not use any byproducts because that encourages the killing of animals.
As Jains, we should make a conscious effort to avoid all forms of animal exploitation, harm, and cruelty. This may include avoidance of all animal-based food products including, but not limited to animal and fish flesh, all dairy products, gelatin, and many other foods. This also includes not wearing clothes containing animal-derived ingredients like leather, silk, and fur and avoids usage of any household products that have been tested on animals like many soaps, shampoos, cosmetics, etc. We Jains are a people of conviction, grounded in spiritual values, who strive to align our actions with our beliefs. The natural extension of our strong belief in Ahimsä should be taken beyond just foods and make compassionate living an integral part of our life-style.
If one asks a little child, "Where does meat come from, the answer is very often the supermarket. It is easy to explain that meat, fish, lobsters, etc. come directly from killing living beings. When it comes to figuring out the not so obvious things, it gets more difficult. It is often difficult to find out where all the ingredients of a product came from or how the product was tested. For example, shampoos advertised do not specify where all the ingredients come from (animal byproducts or not). Neither do they specify that the shampoo is tested millions of times on rabbits - that are tied so they cannot move. These shampoo drops are put in their eyes to see if they tear! Would we use a shampoo like that? Probably not! As educated consumers, we try to understand
THE FIRST STEP OF JAINISM
115 winter
