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the cold water. Seeing this all the youts did the same and no
one complained. o Here is another real story to illustrate this point. Recently
one High School teacher from Fort Worth, Texas who had attended the Teachers for Ahimsa Program in 2013 in India (already mentioned in an earlier chapter) called and told me that one day while teaching the 4th grade class, one cockroach came in the classroom. Instead of killing the helpless creature, she picked up the poor fellow in a glass jar and very gently discharged him outside in the bushes. Seeing this, the students asked why did she (the teacher) not kill the cockroach as this is what they all normally do in their homes. Now the teacher started a long discussion on ahimsa, compassion and respect for all lives. The kids were so impressed that next day some of them decided not to eat meat any more. Wow, what a great example of Practice before preaching!
THE NEED FOR APPLIED JAINISM AND JEEVAN VIGYAAN (THE ART & SCIENCE OF LIVING) Our education must also concern itself with Jeevan Vigyaan (the art and science of living). Beyond philosophy, understanding pooja, worship, and rituals, we must also teach and learn how to practice the teachings, doctrines, and Jain way of life in our daily, active life such as in business and professions. This is Applied Jainism. This is walking the talk. This is what Gandhi-ji (by his own practice and example) showed and offered to the world. Today, the areas and developments in law, business, medicine, organ transplant, cloning, environment, ecology, DNA, stem cell, and genome research, issues of bioethics and abortion, the spread of new diseases, food production, transportation, space initiatives, and local and global conflicts have created new environments and needs and Jainism must research, debate, and seek to offer new, practical, and timely solutions to these urgent and vexing challenges. 304
An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide
