Contemporary Jain Way of Compassionate and Ethical Living
The Jain philosophy does not view non-animals as commodities for human use
1.0 Jain Ethics and Compassion
Main Principles of Lord Mahävir’s Teaching:
Ahimsa (Non-violence) is respect for the life of all living beings.
Aparigraha (Non-possession/Non-possessiveness) stems from respect for other lives as well as the environment.
Anekäntaväda (Non–one-sidedness/Open Mindedness) is respect for the views of others because the expression of truth is relative and hence it has many sides.
Lord Mahävir made the following profound statements of all times:
“All lives are bound together by mutual support and interdependence.” This is an ancient Jain scriptural aphorism of Tattvärtha sutra.
“One who neglects or disregards the existence of earth, air, fire, water and vegetation, disregards one’s own existence” (Ächäränga sutra).
“We harm and kill other lives because of our greed and possessiveness” (Shrävakächär).
Since all lives are interconnected, one should realize that “if we harm ONE, we harm ALL Living Beings” and “Greed, Possession and Possessiveness are the primary causes of all violence as well as imbalance in the environment”.
These ancient statements form the basis of the modern science of ecology and are refreshingly contemporary in their promises.
Lord Mahävir’s entire life was full of compassion. After attaining Kevaljnän, he traveled barefoot for 30 years to deliver the message of true compassion directly to the common people. He lived in perfect harmony with nature throughout his life and provided utmost respect for the environment.
He stated that earth, water, fire, air, and vegetation which constitute the five basic elements of our environment, possess life. They possess one sense which is the sense of touch.
Animals and human beings possess five senses and a mind. The five senses are: touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing.
Human beings are also blessed with advanced developed thinking as compared to animals. They are the only livings beings who can do the meditation (meaning observing the observer) and hence attain Keval Jnan and Liberation. Hence, they also have the responsibility for achieving oneness and harmony among all living beings, including the environment, through Compassionate Living and Disciplined Conduct and Behavior.
It is not possible to sustain human life with absolute non-violence and absolute non-possession. To sustain a healthy human life, one needs to eat plant-based food which is a life by itself according to Jainism. Also, one may need minimum clothes and shelter. Hence the destruction of some form of life and limited possession are essential for human survival.
The goal of Jainism is to minimize the violence and negative impact of our existence to other living beings and the environment.
In his book “Jain Darshan” Muni Shri Nyayvijaji explains very clearly the following definition of minimum violence which is to be used only for our existence/survival. This guideline applies to laypeople (Shravak and Shravika) only.
Monks and nuns must practice total non-violence (i.e. Ahimsa Mahavrat).
2.0 Survival of Human Life and Ethical Living
Definition of Minimum Violence
Jain philosophy believes that violence is proportional to the state of development of soul’s knowledge (Jnan Guna of a living being). Also, the soul’s development of knowledge is proportional to the number of senses it possesses. Hence for our survival, if we hurt or kill even a single five sense living being it is considered higher violence compared to millions of one sense living beings (ref: Jain Darshan of Muni Nyayvijayji).
A human being possesses all five senses and a very developed mind and hence to hurt, to exploit (slavery, child labor etc.), or kill any human being for our survival results in the highest form of a violent act.
Other animals also possess all five senses but a less developed mind and hence to hurt, to exploit, or kill any animal for our survival also results in a violent act.
Similarly, killing, exploiting, or hurting a living being with four, three, and two senses results in a violent act.
Since a human life can healthily survive by consuming and using only one sense living beings (fruits, vegetables, air, water, earth, fire etc.), Jainism prohibits the destruction and exploitation of higher sense living beings for the survival of laypeople.
Also, modern science has quantified that the killing or exploitation of higher (five, four, three etc.) sensed living beings has a much greater negative impact on the environment.
Hence, Jainism advocates strict vegetarianism and is against raising animals for food for ethical, spiritual, as well as environmental reasons.
To read/download Muni Shri Nyayvijaji’s article in Hindi, Gujarati and its English translation, by downloading the file serial numbers 200027 (Hindi), 200028 (Gujarati), and 200029 (English).
Any other reasons that we hear, or we are told that we use excess milk of the mother cow from our religious scholars and leaders or from other sources are Totally Incorrect Under Natural Healthy Environment. They do not possess good knowledge of this subject. (Make sure they provide supporting data for their concluding statement).
From the Jain principle point of view, by consuming dairy products we commit the highest sin of violence which is “stealing mother’s milk which is meant for a newly born animal calf”.
In conclusion, we can safely say that more than 98% of milk production worldwide inflicts pain and suffering on mother cows and we slaughter them after 5 years of their productive life. We also rob the baby calf mother’s milk and consume only for our taste. Animal milk is not needed for healthy human survival.
Please reflect upon the “Laws of Mother Nature” and decide for yourself whether to consume or not to consume milk and other dairy products. Please provide your feedback to my email address
- No mother (cow and human) can produce milk unless she delivers a baby first.
- After the birth of a calf, the cow starts to produce milk only to feed her calf. She also produces just enough milk that is needed for her calf under a natural healthy environment (same as humans).
- The cow slowly stops producing milk after her calf reaches a weaning age (same as humans).
- Nature has not made any provision for mother cows to produce more milk than the needs of her calf under natural healthy environment.
Any drop of milk that we drink, or we consume in dairy products is considered stolen from the mother cow that was meant for her baby calf under normal healthy environment.
The following law of Mother Nature is true for all mothers of humans as well as mothers of all 5 sense animals under a natural healthy environment.
In summary, we can safely state that:
3.0 Universal Law of Mothers of Human and Animal Beings
jainaedu@gmail.com
Pravin K. Shah
JAINA Education Committee Chairperson
I sincerely apologize to the people whose feelings may have hurt because of this article. However, I have presented the reality of our action of milk consumption. If you have any academic level data or papers, please send me via email.
Michchhämi Dukkadam,
Pravin K. Shah
919-859-4994