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JAINA DOCTRINE OF AHIMSAL
mentioning these points merely with a view to compose, if possible, the differences between the two great religions of the world. I am not here in a spirit of fault-finding to day. Time will not permit me to go deeper into the subject, otherwise I would have been glad to give you a still greater insight into the Jaina view than I have been able to do. But 1 might mention that I am holding weekly classes on Jainism and comparative religion and connected subjects, at 8 p.m. on Thursdays at 110 Cleveland Gardens, (London) N. W. 2, where one and all are ever welcome, and I shall be glad to see some of you there if you care to come.
It only remains to be added that the value of vegetarianism, as a healthier method of diet, is now being perceived with clearer vision even in the West, though some people still think that they will simply die of starvation unless allowed to eat flesh. Medical opinion has adequately shown that this fear is totally unfounded, and that the best and the most healthy and strength-giving foods are the vegetables, fruits, nuts and cereals with milk and butter and cream. I shall not enter into the subject this evening, as its importance would seem to demand a whole hour for proper treatment ; but merely refer you to two of the latest books on the subject of diet. These are Dr. Hauser's, "Eliminative Feeding System" and Dr. Bircher-Benner's "Food Science for All." You will find the whole subject treated by these authors in the scientific way from the medical point of view. I rejoice in the perfect agreement between the views of these learned scientists and Jainism; though strictly speaking religion places the point much higher than mere health consideration. The real question is not whether flesh food is healthier than vegetarian food; but whether it is right to eat flesh ? The answer is that no one who has the least regard for the future welfare of his soul would ever think of eating flesh. What matters it even if good health cannot be maintained without it ? Would we eat man if it became necessary for health or
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