Jain Digest 1993 01 Vol 20 No 01

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 20

Jain Digest
Conduct of Sadhus
Dear Editor:
respect, one lapse will lead to another and turn into a roller coaster with ultimate collapse of the institution of Jain monkhood. This will do irreparable harm to the cause of Jainism.
I therefore suggest that JAINA should come out with a Code of Conduct for Jain monks and nuns in North America in the coming convention.
Pravinchandra Kundlieria,
Jain Center of West Texas
It is very sad to say that many of the sadhus who are coming to America are collecting money in the name of religious activities. When they are here, in several instances, they have insisted that when invited to a host's house, money should be donated to their cause. They are invited here to preach Jainism. I do not see any of the discipline involved with being a sadhu carried out when they come here. We cannot give this type of an example to our future generation. Therefore, I request very strongly that JAINA should reconsider inviting any sadhu of this nature.
Pradhuman S. Zaveri
Dallas, Texas
Swiss cheese uses no animal derivatives Editor's Note: This leiler is a reply 10 Mr. C. Mehta's, of Parsippany. New Jersey, request about animal derivatives in Kraft Swiss cheese.
fused to dissect animals; this has caused laws to be passed in some states mandating that students not be penalized for not wanting to be a part of this killing. So it is to my horror to learn that some Jain children actually participate in this abomination, proven to be unneces sary.
I know how seductive the allure is of doing what others are doing, but again, America gains its strength from learning from others. We need you to be the examples for the rest of us if we have a chance for alleviating the institutionalized suffering of animals in this country.
The cultural heritage, however, that I wish Jains were not so stringent about is the refusal to give up dairy products.
I understand that dairy is part of the diet in India, but to continue to support America's insidious veal in dustry (by buying the milk meant for these calves), with the justification that dairy products in India are not cruel lacks the intellectual contemplation that I see my Jain friends persisting in, in so many other facets. Dairy cows also lead ghastly existences here, and often end up as the "downed cows" that every once in a while are shown, in our media, being tortured.
The defense of this in a local stockyard when a cruelty case went to trial? That this is standard treatment for these animals, therefore acceptable.
But acceptable to whom?
Jainism is defined, In Webster's, as a 6th century religion where "the respect for the lives of animals is carried to great lengths." I am envious of this beautiful heritage. Many of us look to you as our mentors. We look to you to set examples, whether it be to refuse to wear products that caused animal suffering, or not eating something that tastes good that caused animal pain.
We hope you won't let us, or the animal, down.
Jayn Meinhardt Cincinnati, Ohio
Money and power lead to corruption Dear Editor:
Stories are afloat that some Jain monks and nuns here on a visit to North America are soliciting funds for the trusts under their direct or indirect control by exerting undue pressure. This goes against the conduct prescribed for monks and nuns by Jainism.
Some will naively argue that what is wrong if they are doing social activities? One should realize that money and power lead to corruption. Jainism has therefore prescribed that if one wants to be a monk or nun, he or she should renounce personal ties with worldly affairs and take five major vows. If one wants to be a social cum religious worker, he or she should discard the dress of a Jain monk or a nun. To do otherwise is a pure deception and fraud. Mahatma Gandhi never wore the dress of a Hindu monk nor proclaimed himself as a Hindu monk.
If we condone such activities under the garb of courtesy or false
Thank you for your additional comments and the support of your community in asking us to consider using synthetic, rather than animal, enzymes in our cheesemaking.
As you know from your research and our previous response, the use of enzymes derived from the growth of pure cultures of certain molds, called microbial rennets, are a more recent development in cheesemaking. They are commonly used for the production of certain types of cheese and contain no animal derivatives. Kraft Swiss cheese produced in the United States is made with microbial rennet and contains no animal derivatives. Our research scientists and food technologists are working on the further development of these cultures for exclusive use, and to some day entirely replace animal rennet.
We appreciate your further contact with us, and have forwarded your concerns as expressed in the letter and through the supporting signatures, to our product develop ers. We will certainly continue to work towards this endeavor.
Jante Venters Consumer Representative Kraft Consumer Response Center
18