Essence of Jainism Part 01

Author(s): Kushalchandravijay
Publisher: 108 jain Tirth Darshan Trust

Page 98

Vigais means that which deteriorates in quality or becomes harmful for us. Every vigai in it centains innumerable germs (of the same colour) possessing two senses. By taking vigai in diet, we become passionate and fall a prey to many a disease. This also upsets our mind. Every religion prohibits their uses as many living beings are killed. Intellect becomes corrupt. Beings polluted by vices, it degrades us.
(1) Honey : It is made from the sputum of bees, beetles and moths. People torture the bees to get honey, raise fire-smoke in order to extract honey from the beehives. As a result of this, many young bees not capable of flying, are suffocated to death. Besides, flying insects and many insects such as ants etc, in search of sweet honey, stick to it and die. The eggs of bees and the other dirty things secreted by them get mixed with honey. Hence, honey should not be used even as medicine as it is foul and dirty. We can safely replace it by sugar-syrup, Jam-syrup, ghee or sugar-candy.
(2) Liquor : It distorts our faculty of thinking. A drunkard misbehaves even with his mother, sister or daughter. He is found lying naked in streets or a market-place. He remains unconscious and sometimes gives out secrtets. He is devoid of discretion, self-control, wisdom, cleanliness, pity or forgiveness. There are different kinds fo beverages like wine, whisky, beer, brandy and drakshsava. All of them contain germs living and dead. When we drink these, we committ the sin of killing many a living beings. Our life is also ruined thereby.
(3) Meat : It is obtained by killing birds, animals and fish. Meat is produced by dirty things like semen, blood and exereta. Why sane person would, therefore, like to use it ? As we strive ourselves to be free from the cycle of births and deaths, we should not be instrumental to the destruction of lives of others. Meat is obtained by killing living beings. Therefore, meat-eating spoils our present as well as the future life to come. He, who is a non-vegetarian, will be, in next life, subject to the deprivation of what is dear to him. He will be unlucky and suffer from poverty, misery, pain and helplessness in his next birth. Hence, meat should not be eaten. We should not overlook the fact that a vegetarian diet contains more vitamins than a non-vegetarian diet. (see Appendix I & II).
Illustration of Emperor Akbar : It is said that Emperor Akbar was cruel and was very fond of meat. He used to exhibit very proudly the heads of deer, tiger,
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