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BASICS OF JAINISM
Four sensed beings have the senses of touch, taste, smell and sight. Examples are scorpions, crickets, spiders, silk worms, beetles, locusts, flies, etc. Five sensed beings (Panchendriya Jiva):
the degree of 'Himsä' is dependent on the development of the senses of the soul that is killed. Thus, killing one soul having more senses is more violent and harmful than killing many souls with one sense and hence lower consciousness. Based on this belief, eating many vegetables is a less violent act than killing one animal for food. All foods, except vegetables, fruits and grains, are obtained by killing or harming a living being with two or more senses. Therefore, Jainism promotes consumption of only vegetarian foods (non-animal products).
9 Glossary
Five sensed beings have all the five senses of touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing. Examples are human beings, heavenly beings, hellish beings, animals, fish, birds, etc. Five-sensed beings also possess a mind.
Apkäya Beindriya Chaurindriya Ekendriya
Himsä
Indriya Panchendriya Prithvikäya
Sthävar Teukäya
Why is this knowledge important?
Trasa
Life cannot exist without food to eat and we cannot have food without some sort of violence. However, as Jains, we believe in minimizing violence. It is more harmful if we kill a life of a higher consciousness (more than one sense). According to Jainism,
Treindriya Vanaspatikäya
Väyukäya
42
THE FIRST STEP OF JAINISM
mensation
