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Tulsa Jain Sangh Pratishtha Mahotsav 2004
Nathaniel Altman said, " a vegetarian actually eats fewer plants than a meateater does, because the animals that the meat-eater has for dinner consumed thousands of pounds of plants in order to reach slaughter weight."
It is a fact of life that our present stage of evolution calls for the eating of plants in order to survive. Until we find a way of getting our nutrient from the sun we have to take it from the plant kingdom thus doing the least amount of harm to the sentient beings.
Two thousand and six hundred years ago, Lord Mahavir, the last prophet of Jainism and exponent of non-violence and compassion emphasized that thoughts that govern our actions are the products of the food we eat. The food that feeds the system has a definite influence on the person physically as well as emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. Healthy, whole and harmless foods give rise to healthy whole and harmless thoughts. Once the thoughts are harmless and healthy, the actions also reflect the same qualities. Weakness in character always develops in those who are in poor health, mentally or physically.
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Science has discovered in recent years that character and personality are attributes of the inner workings of the body and have a great bearing upon our success in life and in our happiness. The personality reveals and expresses itself through the physical body. The expression of the face, the smile, which is the manifestation of joy, happiness and compassion, reveal the personality within. Without a healthy body, these manifestations are not possible.
Thus vegetarianism means a compassionate approach to life, expressing our reverence for all life forms including ourselves- from the minutest microbeings to the macro- beings, from the lowest developed consciousness to the highest developed consciousness.
I would like to end this paper with an Affirmation of Peace.
O Hidden Life, Vibrant in Every Atom
O Hidden Light, Shining in every Creature
O Hidden Love, Embracing All in Oneness,
May each of us who feels as One with Thee Know that we are therefore One with every other.
Jain Education International
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