Jain Digest 2005 01

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

Page 18

Bhogopabhog virman......
toes, turnips, radish, carrots, balbus, beets, onions, garlic etc. as multiorganic having innumerable souls. This may seem controversial from the scientific view point. It is, however, a fact that potatoes have several set-in eyes and one potato plant can be raised out of each eye. Moreover, extracting such products out of the ground does result in killing of symbiotic micro-organism that grows and survives interdependent with the roots. The extraction process thus involves too much violence. Jain tradition therefore urges its followers to desist from eat- ing such roots. As such, the staunch Jains avoid eating the roots and root products.
The traditional belief in this respect, however, does not seem to be uniformly or consistently observed. There are Jain religious organizations like Virayatan, which do not consider it objectionable to use roots and root products. Moreover, even the staunch Jains, who do not eat potato and other roots, do consume dried ginger, turmeric etc. Their logic is that such dried products are devoid of life and can therefore be con- sumed. On that analogy, however, there cannot be any objec- tion even to eating dehydrated potatoes, carrots, onions, gar- lic etc. Really speaking, extraction from the ground seems to be playing a major role in causing violence. The product being green or dry cannot make significant difference. The traditional approach seems to be based on the prevailing belief about green and sun-dried vegetables. It is not known whether this aspect has been scientifically examined. It would there- fore be appreciated, if knowledgeable persons share their findings in this matter.
It is not intended to discuss here other inconsistencies that prevail relating to peanut, eggplant etc. Suffice it to state that the approach about the eating or not eating certain veg. etables has not been uniform. The people should therefore need to decide which vegetables they should avoid and take suitable vow for the purpose. Lapses in observation of such a vow should be treated as transgression of this restraint.
Traditionally, this restraint also lays down five types of transgressions in respect of food, viz. i) eating the articles that are under impact of live life, ii) cating the forbidden articles, iii) eating unripe or uncooked articles, iv) eating partially ripe or partially cooked articles, and v) eating the articles having little or no food value. Persons observing this restraint should avoid such transgressions and atone for the transgressions that they happen to indulge in.
In addition to food, this restraint also deals with trades and avocations that involve too much violence. Following 15 occupations are considered highly violent and this restraint urges to avoid the same.
1) Those involving use of furnace, like brick kiln, lime and cement kilns, coke oven, steel works, blacksmith shops etc.
2) Those involving large scale destruction of plant life like clearance of forest etc. 3) Fermentation industries like distilleries, breweries etc. 4) Making and renting animal drawn vehicles
5) Those involving breaking of grounds like drilling, mining, quarrying, etc. ing, quarrying, etc. 6) Trade of ivory, bones, horns etc. 7) Trade of lac, wax etc. 8) Trade of lard, meat, fat, honey etc. 9) Trade of animals and their hair, fur etc. 10) Trade of toxic and poisonous materials like potassium cyanide, arsenic oxide, pesticides, opium etc.
11) Occupations dealing with crushing of cane, oil seeds etc.
12) Occupations dealing with amputation and mutilation of animals
13)Occupations dealing with setting fire in the forests, fields
14) Occupations dealing with drying of lakes, wells and other water reservoirs
15) Occupations dealing with rearing and maintenance of prostitutes, violent animals etc.
These 15 forbidden categories were laid down long back when the life was very simple and people used to survive without the necessities of the present day. What most of the people needed then, was food to eat, few clothes to put on and a roof over the head. But conditions have undergone total change and that necessitates change in the outlook. While insisting on old traditions, people are prone to forget that Jainism does believe in altering the traditions in light of varying Dravya (substance), Kshetra (location), Kal (time) and Bhäv (mental approach).
It has to be admitted that some of the above mentioned occupations have to be considered unavoidable at present. For instance, no construction can be undertaken in absence of cutting trees or quarrying or brick making or lime and cement kilns. Similarly, it would be hard to survive without resorting to mining, metallurgy, drilling, crushing etc. These are no doubt the occupations that involve much violence, but some of them being unavoidable, the traditional list needs to be modified. Simply reciting that list during Pratikraman as occupations to be avoided would amount to the lifeless rhetoric.
16/JAIN DIGEST. Spring 2005
Jain Education Intemational