________________
wealth earned through himsatmak means. I suppose the way we talk and walk are now two entirely different things.
I have heard, but don't have a proof, that even outside India, a few of the major donations for the building of expensive Jain temples are not free from such dubious money either.
I wonder when the Jain community will start reflecting on the source and refusing such donations (in any shape or form, may it even be in the disguise of ghee bolis) for Jain causes such as for temples, jiv Daya, Panch-kalyanaks, teertha yatras, seminars, or conventions. If we do not refuse, and if we do not care about the means by which the money has been earned, then we Jain sanghs are not only condoning such acts and behavior, but are also losing any influence we might exercise as a community on the behavior of such donors.
Mahatma Gandhi always reminded us that means and ends of actions should be in harmony and ends should never justify any means. He said, "If we want to cross the ocean, we cannot do so by a bullock cart. We must use a boat or a ship."
There is no such thing as, "All is fair and acceptable when it comes to accepting donations."
Now you decide: is this behavior consistent with ahimsa?
UNKOWINGLY BECOMING NON-VEGETARIAN WHEN GOING OUT TO EAT
In life, many of us have occasions and chances to eat outside the home in both veg. and non-veg restaurants. Let me share here a few of my own experiences about being careful about what to eat.
In North America, Europe, and I am told even in India, many Indian restaurants are notorious for not telling customers about the animal-based ingredients in their food preparations, which they call and serve as "vegetarian" foods. Examples include Naans, Roomali Roti, and also some sweets. Most of us think that these are vegetarian items but the fact is that
An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide
205
