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Why can't Jain monks and nuns travel to other parts of the world where Jains live?
First of all, travelling by jet and modern vehicles, the monks' and nuns' peaceful life is jeopardised and it becomes difficult to practise the five vows. The peaceful life of meditation, simplicity of living, and life in nature are lost.
As a Jain, should I dissect animals for my biology class or participate in it?
The progress of science should not be at the cost of the suffering or vivisection of animals. Animals have the right to live peacefully as do human beings. More and more doctors who are aware of the painful exploitation of animals are now refusing to prescribe medicine where animal enzymes or byproducts are involved. In America, millions of people are aware and are working with compassion for animals and have become a voice for voiceless animals: doctors of PCRM (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, www.pcrm.org), dedicated workers of PETA (People's Ethical Treatment of Animals, www.peta.org), and ASPCA (American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). The advice is: live in the awareness of the present, minimise the violence, be aware of the vices that generate disease, and meditate on life.
Are all meat-eaters evil?
According to Jain Dharma nobody should call any other person 'evil'. To use harsh words is violence. And besides that, who gave the right to whom to call anybody 'evil"? People change. Change is the law of life. Yesterday somebody may be a fleshetarian. If the person is convinced, today he becomes vegetarian. Without judging, if we share our deep feeling of reverence for life with compassion, it may help the person to think without resistance and that will bring change.
It is a pity that fleshetarians by eating meat hurt themselves and hurt innocent, helpless animals. They are not aware that any violence done to any life has a consequence and comes back like a boomerang to the doer. Violence begets violence and in the moment of violence the effect of the cause is forgotten but the result is inevitable. gic
The universal law is: what one sows, that is what one reaps. So, it is better to be a vegetarian and have compassion for the people who eat meat and are not aware of the consequences. It is not blaming; it is showing understanding and compassion.
Jain Education International 2010_03
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Can Jains ever be fundamentalists, as in other religions?
Jain Dharma is anekantvada, which respects differences in practices so there is no room for fundamentalists. Jains are not dogmatic. Jains practise anekantvada. Anekanta shows that reality is multi-faceted; its perception varies, depending on the state of mind of the viewer, the time, the place and
nature.
What is right from one point of view can be open to question from other points of views. Absolute truth cannot be grasped from any one particular point of view. Absolute truth is the sum total of all different viewpoints that make up the universe. Anekanta respects different perspectives which are harmonious with respect for life.
Why do we do aarti?
Aarti is swaying the lighted lamps in front of murtis of Jinas with devotion before the night engulfs the world in its peaceful arms. Aarti is done to have the imprint of darshan on our mind before the temple is closed. In the performance of aarti, the devotee enjoys the divine presence of Bhagwan. Those who carry the darshan in their being have a peaceful night. This presence of darshan protects the devotee from nightmares, bad dreams and fear. Light is the symbol of divinity, and the ever-growing light of aarti dispels darkness, signifying the overcoming of negativities. 2
Pujya Chitrabhamuji has written a large number of books on Jainism and has done a lot to promote Jain knowledge and understanding all over the world. He lives in New York and Mumbai. His books and cassettes can be ordered from chitrabhanuji@aol.com
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