Book Title: Mahavira Life and Philosophy
Author(s): Sumeruchand Diwakar Shastri
Publisher: Jain Mitra Mandal

View full book text
Previous | Next

Page 90
________________ 76 the sublimity of the above ordinance. One, who relishes the flesh of an animal without any compunction cannot really understand and fully appreciate the sublimity and majesty of Ahimsa doctrine. If the heart is not hardened and the conscience is not brutalised, one will agree with these remarks of Dr. Annie Besant, “Humanity rises, becomes nobler and diviner as the virtues of unselfishness, selfsacrifice and compassion for the weak develop. We all love things that live. God is love." If a person fattens his body by the flesh of other animals his adoration of Ahimsa is in fact, hypocritical. The point for serious consideration is if a thorn which pricks into your foot makes you uneasy and uncomfortable, would not your bullet-shot or stroke of knife cause indescribable agony to the harmless, miserable and speechless victim ? It is extremely surprising to hear tall talk about morality, amity, harmony, fraternity and universal brotherhood from the cultured leaders of modern society, who forget the miseries of the mute animals, whose flesh they enjoy with great taste and satisfaction. Gandhiji in his essay on Vegetarianism says, "Vegetarian moralists also argue that since meat-eating is not only unnecessary, but harmful to the system, indulgence in it is immoral and sinful, becauses, it involves the infliction of unnecessary pain and cruetly towards harmless animals." He further observes, “I submit the following for the consideration of those who believe in the Bible. Before the Fall we were vegetarians. And God said:

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200