Anuvrat Movements Theory and Practical

Author(s): Shivani Bothra
Publisher: USA Florida International University

Page 87

It was interesting to note that many lay Jains in the United States disagreed. For
example, a secondary school teacher conveyed a forceful message in favor of
vegetarianism: “People used to eat meat for survival in war situations or uncivilized
areas. In the present time there can be no excuse for eating meat."123 I then asked her if
she thought there should be a criterion for Anuvrati to be vegetarian. She said:
“Definitely; if you do something then do it completely. Anuvrat Movement should not
compromise on its core Jain principles in order to spread across the Indian boundaries."l24
The conservative view of some of the Jain diasporic members is in contrast with the
liberal strategy that the movement adopts.
Environmentalism
In a recent article in Economic Times, one of India's leading business newspaper,
the author poses a significant question: "How on earth will we live together sustainably
and in harmony?":125 The same article suggests adopting ways that is moral and visionary,
practical and scientific. Anuvratis see Tulsi's seventh vow of setting limits to acquisition
as one practical solution to the above question and the eleventh vow as dealing with
issues related to the environment. The Jain scholar, Professor Christopher Chapple
commented: “The ecological movement and the Anuvrat Movement are parallel; both are
more about raising conscience than delivering specific results.”126 In a view expressed by
one respondent in Miami, "There should be broader guidelines of the vows like not
123 Mrinal Kedia, interview by Shivani Bothra, September 8, 2012.
124 Ibid.
125 “Globalisation Takes A Dive,” Economic Times, July 9, 2012, Jaipur edition. 126 Christopher Key Chapple, interview by Shivani Bothra, September 23, 2012.