Gandhi And Jainism

Author(s): Shugan C Jain
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 83

The above discussions of Ahimsa are in line with definition of Ahimsa by Mahavira, the current ruling deity of Jains some 2500 years ago:
....none of the living beings ought to be killed or deprived of life, ought to be ordered or ruled, ought to be enslaved or possessed, ought to be distressed or afflicted and ought to be put to unrest or disquiet. He then conclusively pronounces that after understanding the importance of kindness to beings, the enlightened person should preach, disseminate and applaud it at all places in EastWest and North-South directions.
Mahavira designated social Ahimsa by sixty synonyms" like tolerance, forgiveness, love, service, liberation, equanimity etc. He further said, 'It is love that sustains the earth. Life without love is death. Ahimsa is nothing but universal love or absence of attachment to someone. Ahimsa teaches that we have to behave with others as we would like to be treated by others. This is the essence of Mahavira's teachings.940
So Gandhi started applying Ahimsa in both professional i.e. legal practices for livelihood as well as to offer social service at no cost simultaneously.
Food habits: He followed strict vegetarian diet that gradually excluded even cow's milk and spicy or stimulating food etc as well. He started eating less (skip breakfast). He even stopped using salt, taking tea, and ate before sunset." He even bailed out a failing vegetarian restaurant by giving money kept in his trust by an Indian indentured labour (Badri) who took active part in Satyagraha movement. He later published a book on vegetarianism (Gujarati articles in Indian opinion and published in a book Guide to Health later). An example on his dietary reforms, 'His wife became seriously ill and the doctor strongly
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