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8. Vision (Chakshu-Indriya): the ability to see 9. Hearing (Shravan-Indriya): the ability to hear 10. Mind (Mano-bal): the ability to think
In Jainism, living beings are divided into five groups depending upon the number of senses they have. Examples of one-sensed living beings are earth beings, water beings, air beings, fire beings, and vegetable beings. They only have the first four vital forces stated above. Examples of two-sensed living beings are shells, worms, some insects, and termites. They have the first six vital forces stated above. Examples of three-sensed living beings are lice, white ants, moths, insects in wheat, grains, and centipedes. They have the first seven vital forces stated above. Examples of four-sensed living beings are scorpions, crickets, spiders, beetles, locusts, and flies. They have the first eight vital forces stated above. Examples of five-sensed living beings are animal, birds, sea animals, reptiles, humans, celestials and infernal beings. They have all ten vital forces stated above.
Living beings with more senses have not only higher physical development but also higher potential for spiritual progress. We may not understand the capacity of the lower living beings, but we know about five-sensed living beings, particularly what humans are capable of doing.
The reason we need to know about vital forces is that any injury, no matter how insignificant it may seem, affects one or more of a being's vital capacities. An injury is nothing but himsa (violence) to any of these vital forces. The amount of himsa done is less if the injury involves a fewer number of vital forces or is to a spiritually less developed living being (those with fewer vital capacities). The amount of himsa done is more if the injury involves more vital forces or is to a spiritually higher developed living being. This is why in Jainism even householders are prohibited from hurting any living beings with two or more senses. This is why Jains are vegetarian, because harm caused to other living beings is then kept to a minimum.
Some people argue that if all souls are equal then what is the difference between eating vegetables and eating meat? All souls are equal, but in their current life, their vital forces and potential for spiritual progress are different depending on the type of living being they are. Jains should not cause harm to any living beings, especially himsa to two or more sensed living beings. This is why we eat vegetables instead of meat. Some people argue that meat is a strong source of proteins and vitamins but vegetarian Jains all over the world have the same strength, intellectual development and life span as nonvegetarian people. Such illusionary arguments should not even be considered.
Even by eating vegetables we commit some himsa, by picking the vegetable, damaging the plant and disrupting the soil (earth beings). However, to survive, this himsa is unavoidable. But within vegetables, Jains should not eat underground roots like potatoes, carrots, onions, beets, etc. The reason for this is that in a single underground root vegetable there are many souls, compared to above ground vegetables that only have one soul per vegetable. If you were to eat a cupful of peas you would cause harm to approximately 200 or 300 souls. But for the same amount of root vegetables consumed,
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