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PRABUDDH JEEVAN
NOVEMBER 2016
This land of earth where we are born is, in other happen so? I am sure you will agree with me, and if words, a field of Karma. A farmer, in his field, when not, please overlook my words, but I feel, eventually plants seed, and takes good care of it, takes care of these good words and thoughts take a back seat in good weather and plantation, he will get good results. our mind and reside there till next Paryushan arises. Similarly, if we take good care of karma as guided by And hence, this is when rituals and vows on daily bases our dharma, we take good care of our actions, then assist us to remind our soul and trigger those thoughts the outcome on this field will for sure be positive. and good words which have taken a back seat in our Karma- your action can be good or bad, although, when essence. The code of conduct of rituals helps us one follows Dharma, it guides your karma to be awaken our consciousness and follow our religion with accountable to good action.
its true aroma. Every action will come to its But this is not just it! There is a way much of a implementation in the right form only if it is practiced difference in understanding this and implementing these more often. Your Dharma is the righteous living and understandings. We do easily understand this when consists of doing good to others. Practice of Love, Charity, we read about Dharma and karma but when it comes Truthfulness and purity is one's right form of life. to acting upon it in our daily life, we land up forgetting Your Future, Your Karma, Your Dharma rests on it. When Paryushan comes, we hear Vyakhdan and the thoughts and intentions you form today! understand it very well. We also tell ourselves that yes,
-Lama Surya Das even after Paryushan we will implement the right code 49, Wood Avenue, Edition, N.J. 08820, U.S.A. of conducts and vows in our daily life. But does it (+1-917-582-5643)
VEGETARIANISM, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN AND WORLD PEACE ENLIGHTEN YOURSELF BY SELF STUDY OF JAINOLOGY
LESSON - FOURTEEN
DR. KAMINI GOGRI It is a practice to support the Bhogopabhoga Vrata What is vegetarianism according to Jainism? to minimize the violence. Bhogopabhoga Vrata is for According to Jainism, only lacto-vegetarians and restricting the use of the consumable and non- fruitarians are vegetarians. consumable items. It is to support the practice of How does vegetarianism help? It helps in: Dravya Ahimsa as the consumption of food involves • Limiting one's needs. actual Physical act of killing. It is impossible to survive . Limiting one's needs of sensuous pleasure. without violence. But one can survive with minimum • Supporting different vows well. violence to minimum number of lives. Humans can have Humanitarian aspect of the practice of vegetarianism: the choice of food. So one should choose where What does it mean to be human? Is killing natural to minimum violence takes place. One can avoid violence human beings? Taking into consideration the human thus, as two sensed to five sensed beings more qualities of compassion in mind this aspect has to be evolved, selecting from plant life which is one sensed understood. Basic survival instincts (sangya) common being. Thus avoiding violence to two to five sensed life to man and animals are Ahara (food), Bhaya (fear), forms for consuming the food and turning to vegetarian Maithun (desire for sex), Parigraha (desire of diet could help minimize violence.
acquisition). Only humans have rationality. Going The types of vegetarians as per
beyond the survival instinct is possible only for humans. general understanding:
So acting out of rationality. Trying to understand the Partial vegetarians: eat fish and chicken but no pain felt by the other is a human quality. Humans can red meat such as beef, pork and lamb.
understand physical as well as emotional pain that the Lacto-ovo-vegetarians: include eggs along with creature must be feeling at the time of death. The aim milk and milk products
is also to make a commitment to let the other living Lacto-vegetarians: include milk and milk beings live without fear (Abhaydana) by the practice of products but no eggs
compassion. Practice of vegetarianism on the basis of Fruitarians: live on fruits, seeds, grains and these aspects is based on the humanitarian approach. vegetables only.
Spiritual perspective of the practice of vegetarianism:
