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restraint also keeps them away from all temptations and helps them in practising complete non-violence and thereby helping protection of the ecological balance. They are so conscious about environmental pollution that monks and nuns of some sects even tie pieces of cloth over their mouths so as not to cause air pollution.
Jaina laity, too, observes such restrictions as the monks and the nuns but only less rigorously. Their minor vows of refraining from gross violence (meaning strict and inviolable vegetarianism), gross untruth, gross stealing, gross violation of sexual discipline, and unlimited possession and conspicuous consumption go a long way in making them follow a life style that does not grossly infringe upon the natural environment. Besides the fact that many Jaina laymen and lay women follow some of the restrictions meant for the clergy, the Jaina householders are also prohibited from pursuing such vocations as cause mass destruction of life of any fine or gross kind. They do not fell trees, cut or burn forests, empty ponds and dig mines, run slaughterhouses or trade in meat or any products thereof. They even do not run such industries that have harmful effluents and cause heavy pollution of ground, air or water. They do not hunt or keep animals or birds of prey as pets. They also do not resort to use of pesticides and, in general, refrain from all forms of avoidable violence towards all forms of life that constitute the Eco-system. They consider all these as grave sins and term them as 'Mahārambha'. Some Jaina householders also restrict the quantity of water and number of vegetables that they can take. Vegetarianism : The Most Important Environmental Protection -
Vegetarianism is one of the strictly inviolable injunctions for the Jaina clergy as well as the lay followers. Also, it is the most important environment protecting measure. It is said that the animals that the non-vegetarians eat in one month eat away vegetable food that can sustain hundreds of hungry humans for 356 : JAINISM: THE CREED FOR ALL TIMES
