Ahimsa Crisis You Decide

Author(s): Sulekh C Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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The Jain scriptures/texts provide a very comprehensive, thorough and in-depth analysis of various dimensions of Ahimsa and even the most-minute details of do's and don'ts in this respect are worked out with a care and precision which is scarcely found anywhere else. Ahimsa, according to Jain religious texts, is not limited to merely not taking life or killing a life form. It is extended to the level where even thinking and speaking of taking life, permitting or encouraging others to take life are considered as violation of the vow of Ahimsa. Moreover, merely abstaining from the killing of a living being is not enough for a Jain practitioner of Ahimsa. Along with this, he is expected to engage in activities which help in saving and improving the quality of life of every creature in the universe. The four kinds of dana - Ahar Dana, Aushadh Dana, Gyan Dana and Abhay Dana (providing food / nutrition, medicine and health services, education and knowledge and freedom from fear) are considered to be the basic duties of every Jain. The philosophical foundation of this concept of Dana lies in the positive aspect of Ahimsa. The strong emphasis on “Jiva Daya” in Jain scriptures reflects how compassion for every living being is central to Jainism and its principle of Ahimsa. The present book by Sulekh C. Jain highlights these aspects of Jain religion and provides an extensive analysis of the practical issues involved in making Ahimsa a "way of life”. After giving a brief historical and theoretical exposition of the notion of Ahimsa, the author primarily focuses on the critical examination of various day to day practices of Jains, which are inconsistent with or are violative of the principle of the non-violence. The issues such as, what kind of food true vegetarian may eat, why all Jains must be vegan, what animal-based products in clothing, cosmetics, medicine etc must be avoided, what are the basic principles of business and professional ethics a Jain must necessarily observe, how some of the social customs and practices of Jain community (such as Gender bias against female child, dowry system, use of money acquired through
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An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide