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CONDUCT
C07- Jain Ethics and the Environment
06 Summary and Recommendations The Jain Way of Life is very ethical and respects and honors the Earth and the environment. Our scriptures indicate that we need to practice our religion based on time, place, and the environment that we live in. In other words, we should practice our religion by using our wisdom in a way that we do not kill or exploit animals for our survival. A cow is tortured (kept pregnant, fed or injected with hormones and antibiotics) during their milk production cycle and almost all dairy cows are slaughtered after five or six years of their life even though their life expectancy is 15 to 20 years. It seems that the cruelty that exist in milk production is as bad as meat production. From the point of view of environmental degradation, all animal-based products (milk, leather, silk, and wool) cause significant harm to the environment relative to plant-based products. Both Shvetämbar and Digambar sects use milk and milk products in temple rituals. This is an ancient tradition. We should reevaluate the usage of dairy products (ghee for ärati, milk and sweets for puja, etc.) in temple. Our scriptures indicate that no tradition is to be followed blindly. The highest Jain principle of non-violence (hurting or killing of five sensed animals) should not be compromised under any circumstances. Milk and other products represent certain religious symbols in Jain rituals. However, the product we use in the rituals must be of a non-violent source. The intention of our rituals is to inspire us to grow spiritually. The net outcome of the rituals should result in the reduction of our ego, greed, anger, lust, and attachments. Milk and other dairy products, which involve such violence, cannot help us grow spiritually. In our rituals, we should substitute regular milk with simple water, soya bean milk, or almond milk. Vegetable oil should be substituted for ghee which is used in Deevo, and dry nuts can replace various types of sweets. We should serve only vegan (strict vegetarian) meals during any religious function. Please remember that if we consume dairy products for our personal use, we are responsible individually for our actions and the resulting karma or sins. However, if we use dairy products in temples and religious functions, it is as if the entire community commits the sin. For this reason, we do not use root vegetables in religious programs even though more than 95% of Jains of North America consume root vegetables at home. Almost all Jain youth (YJA and YJP youth) of North America accept the fact that extreme cruelty to cows exist in the dairy industry and that the usage of dairy products in religious functions grossly violates our basic principles of Ahimsa. About 15% of Jain youth are vegan. The New York Times reports that, mostly for ethical reasons, more than six million Americans are vegan. 07 Jain Conduct and its Relevance to Modern Times The principles of Jainism, if properly understood in their right perspective and faithfully adhered to have great relevance for modern times. They also advocate a path of minimum violence, minimum accumulation of possessions and nonattachment, and the practice of self-restraint. These principles can bring contentment, inner happiness, and joy in the present life through spiritual development based on freedom from passions and kindness towards all beings. Non-violence (Ahimsa) which strengthens the autonomy of life everywhere, non-absolutism (Anekäntaväda) which strengthens autonomy of thoughts and speech, and non-possessiveness (Aparigraha) which strengthens autonomy of interdependence, are the three realistic principles which strengthen our belief that every living being has a right to existence. These principles translate into three practices: • One should not kill • One should not trample others' thoughts
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Compendium of Jainism - 2015
