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JAINISM AND VEGANISM: AHIMSA IN THE MODERN WORLD
Veganism is embraced by some, misunderstood by many, and resisted by others in the Jain community. And yet, the primary tenet of Jainism is ahimsa. Bhagwan Mahavir's message in the Acharanga Sutra is clear, "all breathing, existing, living, sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away."
The central philosophy of Jainism and veganism are not only similar, but also complimentary. In pursuit of an ahimsak life, Jains should respect and embrace veganism.
According to the Vegan Society of the UK, "a vegan is someone who tries to live without exploiting animals, for the benefit of animals, people and the planet. Vegans eat a plantbased diet, with nothing coming from animals—no meat, milk, eggs or honey, for example. A vegan lifestyle also avoids leather, wool, silk, pearl and other animal products."
Donald Watson, of the Vegan Society, was the first to combine the beginning and end of the word "vegetarian," symbolizing that veganism is the logical conclusion of the vegetarian journey to avoid animal suffering and death; he coined the word "vegan" in 1944.
Vegans recognize that as an ethical matter, milk, even "organic" or "humane" milk is inherently a product of violence. Some people believe that milk production in India is still humane but the truth is otherwise. If you are not sure about this, use the Internet to conduct independent research, visit a dairy farm, or read about it in Pravin K. Shah's My Visit to a Dairy Farm, which is archived in the Jain collection at Harvard University and can be found online at:
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/
ahimsa/dairy.htm
A few years ago, I along with quite a few Jains (from different parts of USA and Canada) visited a dairy farm in the State of
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An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide
