________________
AHIMSA
275
Råtrau bhunjânânim yasmâ daniviiritâ bhavati himså Himsa virathi stasmlît tyakatavyi Ráttribhuktirapi 129 Arkalokenavini bhunjânah pariharet katham himsâm, Api bodhitah pradipa bhojyajusâm suksma jantunâm 133
“Because there is unavoidable killing when eating at night, therefore they who avoid himsa should also give up eating at night. How can a partaker of food avoid injury to creatures in the absence of sunlight ; if lamp is lighted, many tiny creatures will fall in the eatables."
Note. From the statement of the Buddhist scriptures given in this Chapter it is evident that for the sake of following ahimsa one is required to protect both mobile and immobile creatures, to walk after seeing the ground, not to trample on grass, and not to eat at night. Similarly the Jain scriptures also declare.
If the Buddhists try to prevent the prevalence of flesh-eating, then Buddhism may really shine forth in its true nature; because the words of Lord Goutama which teach friendship towards all the creatures cannot prove that his preaching approved flesh-eating or that He himself would have taken flesh. The learned Buddhists should consider this point quite impartially.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
