Science Of Life

Author(s): U S Dugar
Publisher: U S Dugar

Page 19

general pattern of saliva production is that it is greater during the day than at night and when upright rather than lying down.
Honey is forbidden in Jain discipline as its collection would amount to violence against the bees by driving them away and usurp their hard achieved collection of honey. In most of cases beehives are burnt to get it. Jains do not use leather and silk. Leather, after all comes from a dead, presumably a murdered animal.
Mahavira said, “Consumption of meat arouses one's passions, this leads him to taking intoxicants and indulging himself in gambling. Thus he falls a prey to all the vices."
It is specified that food that increases meat within the body is equivalent to meat eating. The prescription of strict vegetarianism is the prime and unique characteristics of Jain way of life. It is only a matter of intellectually knowing what one should or should not eat to transform the body into a temple in which soul can live with integrity, in harmony with mind and body. Food provides more than the sum of its nutrients - protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Since it is not possible to consume food without indulging in some form of violence or injury to living beings, it is better to select plants which have only one sense. Eating food prepared by killing animals having two or more senses would lead to greater sin and attract karma and thus vegetarianism is a conscious effort to minimise the karmic bondage. Vegetarianism is one's sensitivity, for life; one's respect, one's reverence for life. The classic law of Karma and principle of non-violence are truly spiritual approach to vegetarianism.
The vegetarian food, such as fruits,