Jain Study Center NC Raleigh 1997 11 YJA Regional Convention

Author(s): Jain Study Center NC Raleigh
Publisher: USA Jain Study Center NC Raleigh

Page 91

Saurabha Dalal
We all know Ahimsa is a timeless and far-reaching concept. It can be applied to essentially every aspect of our lives. I'd like to get started with a few excerpts from Jain texts and scriptures. I hope this will reinforce the correlation between our religious philosophy and the practice of Ahimsa in our daily lives.
Ahimsa Perspective from Jain Scriptures
Let me quote the first perspective from our first canonical (Agam) text Acharang Sootra, stanza 1.6.55. It says,
"Some kill living beings for sacrificial purposes, some kill for their skins, some kill for their flesh, some for the blood, heart, liver, fat, feathers, or teeth, some with specific reasons, some without reason, some out of fear (defense).
"He who is disinclined from killing the smallest living beings knows what suffering is because he who knows his own happiness and pains, knows others' too, and he who knows others' feelings knows his own feelings. This is the way one must compare one's self with others. He who has obtained this knowledge would not wish to live at the expense of other living beings."
My next excerpt is from the Pratikraman text, Lesson 7, First Minor Vow, Non-violence:
In reference to this vow to restrain from violence towards any creature, there are five acts or deeds, which should be known and avoided. They are:
Tying animals where it could hurt them, or putting them in cages where there is no freedom,
Beating them with sticks or by any other means
Piercing their nose, ear, or amputating limbs or any part of the body
Making them carry heavy load
Depriving them of food and shelter
If I have indulged in any of the above acts, then may all my such sins be dissolved. TASSA MICHCHHAMI DUKKADAM. (I seek forgiveness for all of it.)
My last excerpt is from the Pratikraman text, Lesson 13, Seventh Vow, Number of Articles and Trades - 1st paragraph, and 15 specified trades:
The second supporting vow is to put restrictions to the amount and number of articles which can be used and re-used, and which trades should be avoided.
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