Idea of Ahimsa and Asceticism in Ancient Indian Tradition

Author(s): Bansidhar Bhatt
Publisher: B J Institute

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THE IDEA OF AHIMSA ...
above 4.g). They do not bathe themselves with water, but it is allowed only in exceptional cases like illness, etc., since taking a bath in water, as in the case of drinking fresh water, causes injury to innumerable water-souls. But they can drink only the boiled waters. They do not kindle or extinguish the fire, or a burning torch (Dasa-S. 8.8). Some Sthana ka-vasi Jaina monks and nuns keep their mouth covered with a piece of cloth, so that the extra air coming out of the mouth at the time of uttering something, may not hurt the air-souls. (c) Buddhism : According to the earliest Buddhism, plants and seeds, earth and water, are all sentient. The plants 'possess one-sensefaculty (Schmithausen-1. p.4). They are included in the "stationary animate beings" (thavaras: Schmithausen-1. p.66). Sometimes it is believed that plants and trees are inhabited by divinities or spirits who protect the plants and the this belief is not strong in Buddhism (Schmithausen-1. p.8). Again, some Buddhists believed that plants possess BuddhaNature, and are, therefore, sentient (Schmithausen-2. pp.2223). According to Tarkajva la (a Buddhist work in Chinese), plants are not sentient, as such, eating cereals, fruits or vegetables would not cause himsa. In the case of vegetable food, complete abstention from killing is not possible, unless one is prepared to starve (cf. Schmithausen-1. pp.102, 105-106). It is practicable to believe earth, plants, etc. as non-sentient in nature.
Buddhist monks and nuns are not particular also about their food whether it is cooked for them or not (ddissa-kata). Here, the only exception is meat and fish. Buddhist monks and nuns accept also invitation from lay persons for their meals (Schmitha usen-1. pp.70-71). Moreover, cooking vegetables, i.e. "killing" the plants, etc., for monks or nuns is not restricted. They are not particular in drinking water whether it is boiled or not. They drink normally the fresh water unlike the Jaina monks and nuns (Schmithausen-1. pp.72, 103).
Smithausen has critically analysed in detail almost all available sources in the Buddhism and observed that the animistic belief for the earth in Buddhism might be either adopted from other people, or " had at least not yet been abandoned by the Buddhist
5. See above: 4h, 7b; cf. also Dasa.S. 8.6-8, p.167 and Schmithausen-1.
pp.53-54 and fn.313).