Mahavira Life and Philosophy

Author(s): Sumeruchand Diwakar Shastri
Publisher: Jain Mitra Mandal

Page 93

approach of the ancients was worng, brutal and yulgar, why not the same logic be applied to the case of voiceless animals who also think and feel like us ? Man must behave like a sensible, rational and cultured creature. Man should not be mean and brutal He has to answer the point, whether kine, like men have any right to live and survive or not? A cultured gentleman should not encroach upon the natural rights of others on the ground of his superior intelligence. If he is really cultured he will gladly respect the legitimate rights of others and abandon animal butchery.
Some men of extremely refined taste angrily remark that it is indecent and unjust to criticise one's personal life and conduct, which depend upon personal tastes and temperaments. These fellows are warned of the evil consequences of their heartless and callous conduct. They must remember that the path of cruelty leads to destruction and grief and the life of love and mercy leads to divinity and bliss. Dr. George Arundate in his book “The Night Bell" writes, “One way leads to destruction. It is the way of tolerance of cruelty, if not active engagement in it. It is the way of hunting for sport, the way of vivisection, the way of killing animals for food, the way of making slaves of animals without thought for their happiness and well-being. This is the way the world has been treading."
"The other way leads to salvation. It is the way of harmlessness, the way of recognition of brotherhood with all creatures, the way of endurance