$JES 401 Jain Philosophy and Practice 2 Level 4 Book

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 50

He, who abstains from hurting or harming any Jiva or a living being - either intentionally, or through others, or by consenting to other to do so, observes the vow of Ahimsa. The lack of attachment and passion in any action or activity of body, mind, and speech is Ahimsa. When a person is overcome by passions, he causes Himsä or injury to his own self, though there may or may not be injury to any living being. Everything depends upon the state of mind, and intention to abstain from or commit Himsä, even where it does not cause actual hurt or injury. The injuries caused by severance of any of the vitalities to a mobile or immobile being cause pain, suffering, or even loss of life. As far as possible, one should save the developed living beings (that is, those on the higher scale of evolution and hence those having more sense organs (Pränas). Again, one should live in such a manner that even the killing of the undeveloped living beings is minimized. This is the teaching promulgated by the saints. It is from this point of view meat eating, hunting, massacre, and killing is forbidden. But we cannot do harm and violence to living beings for the sustenance of our body. We cannot live without killing living beings. Even our breathing involves violence. However, we should do only as much harm or violence as is absolutely necessary for the sustenance of our body. We should make sincere effort to find out how we can live with minimum violence. Abstaining from intentionally injuring mobile living beings through mind, words, or body, in any one of two ways - directly or through somebody is called Sthul Pränätipät Viraman-vrata or Ahimsa Anu-vrata. Householders cannot eliminate Himsä of immobile living beings such as water, earth, air, fire, and vegetables but they can surely minimize it.
Life Dependency on Plants: Life cannot exist without food. One should choose food in a manner that involves the minimum form of Himsä (violence). Using only plants and vegetables for our food involves minimum form of Himsä and hence one should follow strict a vegetarian diet. One should develop a feeling of compassion for all living beings after knowing what Jiva is. One should abandon eating dairy products, fish, meat and eggs. One should also exercise restraint by avoiding use of unnecessary water, earth, fire and air. Jain scriptures have prescribed five rules of restraint for being firm in the observance of the vow of noninjury.
Control of speech Control of thought
Regulation of movement • Care in lifting and placing things or objects
• An examination of food and drink before consuming Self-control is of vital importance. Since the vow of Ahimsa requires one to refrain from hurting the feelings of others, control of speech and thought are quite essential. Everyone ought to be careful in their movement for fear of causing harm to a living being through carelessness. Similarly, one ought to be careful while putting down objects; one should not hurt any tiny beings. Such precaution ought to be taken even while lifting up any object. Similarly, it is necessary to examine minutely one's own food or drink before consuming it. Jainism makes a distinction between Bhäva-Himsä (intention to hurt) and Dravya-Himsä (actual act of hurting). Therefore, above-mentioned restrains are helpful to avoid both Bhäva and Dravya-Himsä. Similarly, a distinction is made between Sukshma Himsä and Sthul Himsä. The former requires abstinence from causing hurt to life in any form, while the latter requires abstinence from hurting life possessing two or more senses.
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JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE - 2