Book Title: Jainism Christianity and Science
Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: The Indian Press Allahabad

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Page 209
________________ SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 197 The doctrine of universal love, termed Ahimsa, does not make cowards of men in any sense. All the Tirthamkaras were warriors, and were born in the warrior clans; several of Them made extensive conquests. Chandragupta, who defeated the Greek army in the B.C. days, was a Jain; Kharavela, who forced the King of Magadha (modern Patna) to seek truce, was a Jain; Amoghavarsha, who expanded the boundaries of his kingdom right and left, was a Jain. Many ruling kings, ministers and other high dignitaries in the past were Jains. Ahimsā (universal love) only means this: thou shalt not kill, without a just cause, man or any lower being, which means, thou shalt not kill for food, for sport, for fashion! As for food, vegetarianism proper vegetarianism, not the kind of vegetarianism which is being practised in India to-day, and which has been vitiated by excessive use of hot spices and curry and mango-pulphas proved and is further proving its supremacy in human diet. It at once furnishes 'wholesome, healthy, pure and soul-elevating food; no one is staryed by vegetarianism, no one is likely to lose weight or strength by the adoption of a dietary free from the use of fish, flesh or fowl. As for taste, vegetarian dishes are admired for their delicacy of flavour and taste by those who take them. But it is not only a question of taste with which 'we are concerned; the real problem is this: What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and be surrounded by all sorts of delights and delicacies that tickle the senses, but lose his own soul? The difference between the Jaina culture and modern civilization is this:, in the former four ideals are kept in view, namely--dharma (soul's progress, that is

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