Jain Spirit 2005 09 No23

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 65

YOUTH
Not one to discriminate, Jain Spirit's Youth Section realised that it's not only Aunties who have the answers- how about the Uncles! We persuaded Dr. P.K. Jain to join Pallavi Gala in tackling your trickiest questions
Dear Uncle,
"I've heard that according to the Jain dharma, we should not eat mushrooms. Can you please explain why?"
guidelines to minimise the amount of unnecessary violence in our lives. Ultimately, it is a personal decision.
and are a product of our own deeds. Ultimately, sexual activity of any kind results in the acquisition of new karma. For someone on the path of spiritual upliftment, the fundamental goal is to minimise the accumulation of new karma while dissipating old ones. So, such a person abstains from any sexual activity at the mental, verbal and physical levels. This is the reason for the vow of complete celibacy taken by sadhus (monks) and sadhvis (nuns).
Sincerely, Dr. P.K. Jain
In contrast to the modern harvesting of mushrooms, mushrooms normally grew in dirty places among fallen, dead, rotting trees and vegetation, in damp conditions, and in total or partial darkness, away from direct sunlight Under these conditions many insects and tiny life forms would breed on a mushroom, particularly in between the under-ridges of the mushroom. It is difficult to remove these nests of insects without killing them.
Dear Auntie,
"Please can you fill me in on the Jain view on homosexuality?"
For the rest of us householders, there is a clearly defined code of sexual conduct. Sexual relationships are to be limited to the legally married husband and wife. Any sexual activity (either mental, verbal or physical) other than the natural biological function between these two people is considered a violation of the householder's vow of celibacy, thus adding extra karma.
The Jain scriptures are relatively clear on the subject of sexuality.
Therefore, it is thought that the consumption of mushrooms leads to unnecessary violence to a large number of life forms. Furthermore, in order to harvest a mushroom, the entire plant must be pulled out, destroying it in its entirety. Finally, the millions of spores released by mushrooms are considered potential life, which are also destroyed upon harvesting.
The following is stated in the Jain scripture, the Tattvartha Sutra: Sexual desire is the result of mohaniya karma. This desire can be toward male, female or both. Physical sex or gender is the result of naam karma. It also comes in the three types, namely male, female or hermaphrodite. The two are completely independent of each other.
Thus, one's present gender and sexual desire are pre-determined. Yet, the individual has total control over his or her action. Human life affords us this power of discrimination
In the Jain spirit of minimising violence, it is therefore better to eat a fallen fruit or other food source, for example, which does not involve the uprooting of the entire tree or plant.
Sincerely, Pallavi Gala
There is no doubt that our consumption of any food will be accompanied with some level of violence. The key, however, is to use these religious
This means that a male can end up with a sexual desire for another male, female, or both. The same is true for females. The important point here is that gender and sexual desire both result from previous karma. In other words, our sexual desires (and thus, sexual inclinations) are pre-programmed
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