By:-Upadhyaya Munishri kamakumar Nandi ji

Ref books Fundamental features of Jainism (Extract form) and other related books

 

Acharya Amritchandra's words need careful attention, "Meat cannot be procured without causing destruction, one who eats meat, therefore, commits Himsa (Violence) or injury unavoidably. If the meat be that of  a buffalo etc., which has died by itself, even then Himsa is caused by the crushing of the creatures spontaneously born therein. Whether pieces of meat are raw or cooked or in the process of cooking spontaneously- born creatures of the same genus are born  creatures of the being generated there. He who eats or touches a raw or cooked piece of the meat certainly kills a group of spontaneously- born creatures constantly gathering thereon" (Purushartha-Sidhyupaya,pp.65-68) 

Why Vegetarianism:- There are various reasons that justify the stand in favor of vegetarianism and a few of them are mentioned below:-

1. Ahimsa, the law of no injury, is the Jain's first duty in fulfilling religious obligations and follow the basic rule of Jainism "Ahimsa Permo Dharma" (Non-Violence is the prime religion) subsequently leading to co-existence i.e. "Live and let live".  The non-vegetarian diet is available after injury, pain and death only.  

2. The Karmic Consequences Reason:- All of our actions, including our choice of  food, have Karmic consequences. By involving oneself in the cycle of inflicting injury, pain and death, directly , indirectly or even to accord consent by eating other creatures, one must in the future experience in  an equal measure the suffering caused.

3. The Spiritual Reason:- Whatever we eat, it affects our consciousness, emotions and experiential patterns. If one wants to live in higher consciousness, in peace and happiness and love for all creatures, then he cannot eat meat, fish, shellfish, fowl or eggs. He should take "Satvik "  means exclusively pure vegetarian diet  By taking the non-Vegetarian  or   " Tamsik " food one introduces into the body and mind anger, jealousy, anxiety, suspicion and a terrible fear of death, all of which are locked into the the flesh of the butchered creatures. For these reasons, vegetarians live in higher consciousness and meat-eaters abide in lower consciousness.

4. The Health Reason:- It is known fact and proved by medical science that a vegetarian diet is easier to digest, provides a wider ranger of nutrients.. Vegetarians are less susceptible to all the major diseases that afflict contemporary humanity, and thus live longer, healthier, more productive lives. They have fewer physical complaints, less frequent visits to the doctor and fewer dental problems. Their immune system is stronger, their bodies are purer and more refined.

5. The Ecological Reason:-  As everyone well knows, we need our forests. However, our forests are disappearing at an alarming rate.  Consequently the escalating loss of species, destruction of ancient rainforests to create pasture lands for live stock, loss of top soils and the consequent increase of water impurities and air pollution have all been traced to the single fact of meat in the human diet. It takes between 100,000 liters of water to produce a single kg of beef, and where as the same amount of water can produce 100 kg  or more of grains. No decision that we can make as individuals or as a race can have such a dramatic effect on the improvement of our planetary ecology as the decision not to eat meat apart from growing and use more and more agricultural products.

The words of Mahatma Gandhi Ji are noteworthy: "If any one said that I should die if I did not take beef-tea or mutton., even under medical advice, I would prefer death. That is the basis of my vegetarianism; I would love to think that all of us who called ourselves vegetarians should have that basis."

Egg and fish are non-vegetarian:-

Persons interested in vegetarianism should carefully bear in mind the fact that eggs in diet comes under the category of non vegetarian food. People in some countries think that eggs come under the vegetable; therefore, they serve the Indians/Jains egg preparations under the name of vegetarian diet. It is therefore necessary for the strict vegetarians to be careful, else fish or egg-preparations may violate their sacred vow. Fish is a living animal therefore apparently fish eating will come under the category of meat i.e. non-vegetarian diet.

Our Jain sages, who were great philosophers as well as astounding spiritual- scientists have explained that egg comes under meat diet. The white side of the egg is a bony substance. The liquid matter inside  forms the body of the chicken when hatched. Thus it has been classified as meat. To treat egg at par with milk is as erroneous as to call a horse, a cow. Milk is the stage of food before it is transformed into blood, while egg contains blood and other constituents of flesh. Even the unfertilized egg is a non-vegetarian item. It is something like still born baby or unfertilized egg of mammals. It is clearly stated in the scriptures that this animal mass is the habitat of infinite number of nigod (microbes) souls irrespective of whether we interfere with ultimate growth by arresting the process of fertilization.

Therefore vegetarians should never eat egg to keep their vow of Ahimsa.

VEGETARIANISM AND JAINISM 

Who are Vegetarians?
  Vegetarians are those who include milk and milk products,  fruits, seeds, grains and vegetables only in their diet but no eggs and meat.
Jains are vegetarians because they believe in nonviolence. Violence means to 
kill or injure, to be angry or be greedy, to engage in self-torture, to be intolerant, not listening to what other people are saying, etc. If we do not take proper care of our body and mind, we are committing violence of self. A vegetarian diet is natural and better for our health as described below. Thus vegetarianism helps us avoid violence of self. Vegetarians do not eat meat, poultry or fish. Here are some health reasons why some people don't eat meat:
1. To protect their heart.
Animal fat and high cholesterol diet may set a stage for heart disease. In some places where very little fat is eaten, the death rate from heart disease is lower than in other places.
2. To reduce the risk of cancer.
Animal fat and cholesterol have been linked to some forms of cancer such as the cancer of colon, breast and uterus. The National Academy of Sciences reported in 1983 that "people may be able to prevent many common cancers by eating less fatty meats and more vegetables and grains." A vegetarian diet also reduces the risk of kidney trouble.
3. To control their weight.
What are the different types of vegetarians?
   Vegetarian are different types as per their diet. Strict vegetarians, called vegans, eat no animal products at all. The staples of their diets are fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, seeds, and nuts. Lacto-vegetarians eat dairy products in addition to plant foods. Lacto-ova vegetarians include dairy products and eggs as well as plant foods in their diets. Those  who eat animal flesh (meat, fish, chicken) are not considered to be vegetarians.

The Jain code of Food (Aharasamhita)

1. Boiled water - The monks, nuns, Sravakas and Sravikas should always drink boiled water.

What modern science has discovered now, the great Tirthankaras proclaimed thousands of years ago? It was that water contains innumerable bacteria. Many living beings are killed by drinking water with bacteria and many physical diseases appear. For this reason, public propaganda is undertaken for drinking boiled water at the time of epidemics like cholera, malaria, etc. Boiled water should be taken to avoid violence and diseases. Raw water should be used only after straining it. By drinking strained and boiled water one can save oneself from the sin of violence and probable diseases.

2. Giving up eating of non-eatables.

There is a proverb - As is the food, so is the eructation. If one has eaten sour food, his eructation would be sour. Food and water have a definite effect on body, mind, behavior and thought. That food and water, the intake of which causes the mind to be excited, the feelings to be distorted and the thoughts to be polluted, are considered non-eatable. Devotees and aspirants should give up such food and water.

In Jainism a detailed study has been made of non-eatable things. They are fully discussed in books like ‘Jiva-Vichara’. The following is a brief summary of non-eatables in general.

1. Eating meat: Meat-eating is strictly prohibited. Meat of small or big creatures, fish and eggs should not be taken in any form. (Medicines and things, wherein these are used should also be avoided as far as possible.)

2. Bulbs, roots, tuber - bulbs etc, should be given up. There are innumerable living beings in bulbous vegetables. By these things living beings die and the mind gets excited. There are 22 types of bulbs like onion, ginger, radish, brinjal, etc. Blood becomes warm by eating these things. The mind gets excited easily and feelings get polluted.

3. Prohibition - Innumerable bacteria are killed in the production of wine. By drinking wine, not only does killing of bacteria take place, but also the drunkard loses his discretion and takes to unworthy things. His intellect gets blunted and feelings get quickly excited.

In order to keep body and mind cool, healthy and free from sin, eating meat, bulbs etc., and consumption of wine should be given up for the whole life.

4. Giving up eating at night - If possible both food and water should be given up after sunset. If water cannot be given up, taking food at night must be given up.

Hygiene also says that food taken after sunset is not properly digested. Non-digestion of food leads to diseases like dyspepsia, constipation, etc. If the stomach is disturbed, surely one cannot worship god with a calm and tranquil mind.

At night many small insects are produced and they die. If we take food at night, many small insects are killed. Eating at night should be given up to save oneself from the sin of violence and also to keep one healthy.

 The health benefits of a vegetarian diet.
   Vegetarian diets are lower in saturated fats, cholesterol, and animal protein. They’re also high in foliate, anti-oxidant vitamins like C and E, etc. Overall, vegetarians have substantially reduced risks for obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, and some forms of cancer - particularly lung cancer and colon cancer. Vegetarian diets that are low in saturated fats have been successfully used to reverse severe coronary artery disease.

 

 Vegetarianism FAQ /Replies to Arguments of Non-vegetarians:-

 

Given below are the answers to the arguments put forward by non-vegetarians to justify meat eating.

Question:- Nature enjoins a struggle for survival. One living being preys upon another to feed upon it. So, what is wrong about man feeding upon animals?

Answer: - The struggle for survival is indeed a fact of nature but this does not mean to kill and eat others. Rather it means to fight for the defense of our own life and that of others. No doubt, some wild animals and animals of lower order lives on flesh of others, but animals of higher orders such as cow, horses and elephants, etc live only on grass or other plants. Many animals having shape and size similar to that of man like Apes and Chimpanzees survives only on fruits Many animals help and defend the weaker individuals of their spices. Then why not compare man with nobler animals, like cow, ox, horse and elephant etc rather than the barbaric animals. One wrong can not justify another wrong.

         

         According to Bio-Chemistry, the body structure of man is different from meat eating animals which proves that nature has not evolved the body of a man as flesh eaters. Nature has also bestowed man with many materials and has given him the ability to produce food through the noble vocation of agriculture. It is defiantly going to be condemned if the master of so many abilities and power of rich culture leads a barbaric life and act against the whims of nature.

 

Question:- If a  man is vegetarian, why he has dog-like sharp teeth in his mouth.

Answer: - The so called sharp teeth in man's mouth are not like the teeth of dog but are like the teeth of apes and monkeys who are all vegetarians, Meat eating has no relevance to these teeth.

 

Question:- If animals are not eaten, will they not over-crowed the earth?

Answer: -  It is a false notion. The number of animals always remains within a reasonable limit due to hunger, disease and other natural factors. Wild animals generally confined themselves to forests. Their balance of population is maintained by what is called the food chain. Man himself causes an artificial population boom among the animals he wants to eat. If men were to cease rearing such animals their number would remain at a reasonable level.

 

Question:-Will only my renouncing of flesh-food will stop violence to animals?

Answer: - No, not totally but it will definitely decrease violence to animals to some extant. A further step will definitely be treated in the direction of achieving the goal. In the beginning only one person takes the initiative for every cause, others follow him. Your example will encourage others who come in your  contact then with those examples many others coming in their contact will renounce flesh food and so on it will go on multiplying. Thus, only your renouncing of flesh food means renouncing by several other persons too in the long run.

 

Question:-If there is nothing wrong in killing snakes ions, wolves, etc., why is it bad to eat meat?

Answer: - " Live and Let Live" is the best dictum to follow. To defend oneself against an attack is justifiable. In self defence, even the killing of a man is considered just, because the motivation is preservation of life, (self-defence) not destruction of life, But to kill any animal for fun or satisfaction of your taste buds is a sin and it is prohibited in every religion. In law also, killing anyone deliberately is considered a crime, if , however, a person is killed in self defence, the crime is mitigated.

 

Question:-Even man treads the earth, many ants and insects are trodden under foot. So, what is different if other animals are killed?

Answer: -A man's character is judged by his intentions and deliberate actions. If a man deliberately and knowingly crushes under his feet any harmless animal then it is violence. But if involuntarily or in unavoidable circumstances, some insects are killed then it is an exceptional situation. But to kill others without any specific reason or to abet killing for food is plain murder.

 

Question:-Does not meat give more strength?

Answer: - Pulses, soybean, dry fruits and nuts, etc. contains more protein than do eggs or meat. Much more than our body's requirement of protein can easily be had from vegetarian food. Mostly all unrefined foods contain significant amounts of protein. Potatoes are 11% protein, oranges 8%, beans 26%, and tofu 34%. Other foods, beans and fruits contain sufficient amount of protein.
 Besides, vegetarian food contains the vitamins, minerals, etc. which are very essential for health and development of the body. these items are completely missing in non-vegetarian food.

Meat eating gives the body not strength but a kind of unhealthy stimulation. The body receives an excess of nitrogen which creates uric and other harmful compounds in the blood stream. Just to expel these compounds from the body a lot of energy is needed which the body's defence mechanism pumps up in a hurry to meet the emergency. This is mistaken as an input of energy, although in fact it is a depletion of the body's reservoirs of energy.

 

Question:-Are not the meat eating races of Europe, more civilized learned and powerful?

Answer: - Their civilization, power or learning is not a gift of non-vegetarian food. Rather, it is a resultant of their other qualities, such as discipline, application co-operative working and extracting power from the forces of nature. As regards meat. many jungle tribes also eat meat but they are backward because they lack the other qualities. Europe itself is witnessing an energetic movement against meat-eating and in favor of vegetarian. Hence, it is wrong to ascribe the power of Europe race to the practice of eating meat.

For more questions please click the following link;-

 

Question:-Why do people become vegetarians?
 Answer: - Many people switch to a vegetarian diet for weight loss and improved health. Some are concerned about the safety of meat following recent outbreaks of salmonella and e. coli bacteria. Others feel that it is moral or spiritual issue. Some individuals deplore the suffering of animals in modern factory farms. Still others are concerned about the environment and world hunger. A few just don’t like meat. For many vegetarians it is a combination of issues.
Question:-How vegetarians are more humane?
Answer: - Millions of animals are killed in slaughterhouses around the world. In the US, some half a million are killed each hour, while in the UK over 600 million are killed each year. A large  number are killed in India and Australia. It is nothing more than an undercover massacre. Animals suffer enormously in the process. Quite apart from the terror of being killed, they undergo pain and fear through routine stock mutilations and during transportation to sale yards and abattoirs.
    Most animals eaten in Australia today are intensively raised in dark, sunless sheds where they are fed a diet of processed foods. In most cases antibiotics, growth-promoters and hormones are routinely administered. As biological entities, these animals are treated as little more than meat machines. We would be horrified if our pet cat or dog was treated in this way, so why should we subject other animals to such cruelty? The fact that the killing is done by someone else makes it easy to eat meat but, by eating it, we are really condemning the next animal in line. Not only in Jain dharma but in other religions also  Hinsa is the greatest sin.
 

unions, societies working for Promotion of Vegetarianism.

There are number of  unions, societies those are working to create the awareness about the vegetarian diet and protection of lives used for       non-vegetarian diets etc among the general masses.

In most of Indian restaurants, hotels and Indian railways you will get vegetarian diets. Chinese restaurants offer all kinds of vegetable, rice, and tofu dishes. In Mexican restaurant you can always get beans, rice, and tortillas. Italian restaurants are known for spaghetti, ravioli, vegetable lasagna, and minestrone soup. Even a steak restaurant is guaranteed to have big salads, baked potatoes and bread. Fast food chains are also accommodating vegetarian diets.

Following is a list of organizations in Asia and other countries from where more information's can be obtained: -

Asia
IVU Regional Secretary for Asia: Jashu Shah, 114-A, Mittal Court, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021, India
Tel. +91 22 285 5755/56 or 285 3592/93. Fax +91 22 284 5040; email: asia@ivu.org

IVU Member Societies
Membership is open to any non-profit organization whose primary purpose is to promote vegetarianism and is governed exclusively by vegetarians.

Asian Vegetarian Union

CHINA
Hong Kong Vegan Society

International Vegetarian Club of Beijing

INDIA
The Indian Vegetarian Congress

Vegetarian Congress of Delhi - S-228, Greater Kailash -II, New Delhi

Vegetarian Society of Delhi - email: shakahar@hotmail.com

The Vegetarian Society - Reverence for Life

INDONESIA
Keluarga Vegetarian Maitreya Indonesia

ISRAEL
International Jewish Vegetarian Society - ijvsjlem@netmedia.net.il

JAPAN
Japan Vegetarian Society

SINGAPORE
Vegetarian Society (Singapore)

SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka Vegetarian Society

THAILAND
Silver Dove Club

Vegetarian Centre of Thailand

IVU Internet Partners
How to become an Internet Partner

Happy Cow Global Guide - Asia

World Animal Net - Asia

There are number of web sites that gives information about the vegetarian restaurants all over the world. Some of these are given below for reference.

1.Vegetarian restaurant guide and directory-Providing vegetarians around the world with vegetarian and vegan healthy restaurant dining and a directory of natural health food stores. ...
     www.happycow.net

2. VegEats! - Vegetarian/Vegan Foods and Restaurants Guide :-Portugal - Restaurants - Macrobiotic and Vegetarian Food in the area of Lisbon [2002 Oct 05][cached] Europe/Portugal/Madeira - Madeira Directory - MIRADOURO ...

www.vegeats.com/restaurants

3. Toronto Vegetarian Directory - Restaurants :-restaurant day – open daytime only early – closes early (7 ... vary, call ahead V – all meals vegetarian Vv – all ... please email us at directory@veg.ca ...

www.veg.ca/noframes/pubs/vegrest.htm

4. London Vegetarian Restaurants in London Vegetarian Restaurants ...Your guide to London Vegetarian Restaurants in London Vegetarian Restaurants directory UK in your comprehensive Touch London Vegetarian Restaurants directory ...

www.touchlondon.co.uk

5.Vegetarian Restaurants In London in directory.co.uk :-Find Vegetarian Restaurants In London information in directory.co.uk - Locate Vegetarian Restaurants In London related web sites in the UK's favourite online ...

www.directory.co.uk/ Vegetarian_Restaurants_In_London.htm

6.Vegetarian Restaurant Guides - Vegetarian Restaurants:-Directory of vegetarian or vegan restaurant guides and vegetarian or vegan restaurants around the world. Also: organic food restaurants. ...

www.ecobusinesslinks.com/links/restaurants.htm

7.VegEats! - Vegetarian/Vegan Foods and Restaurants Guide:-guide and directory of natural health foodstores. [cached] Asia & Middle East/Japan - Happy Cow's Global Guide to Vegetarian Restaurants - Japan, Asia 

www.vegeats.com/restaurants/asia

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