NON-VIOLENCE AND VEGETARIANISM

By Acharya Sushil — Jain Monk Kumarji Maharaj

There are two theories concerning man’s survival and his interaction with environment. One is that in order to survive, we must destroy other life — ‘Jivo Jivassa Jivanam’ —this is similar to the survival of the fittest. The second faith is that we must live and let live. As Lord Mahavir taught, ‘Paraspar Upagraha Jivanam’ — without the help of others we cannot survive. All creation is supporting our existence. Even the smallest of creatures have their purpose on this earth.

Wherever there is paid, suffering and violence, the entire universe is suffering. When we breathe, the whole universe breathes. We are one with the universe. This is the meaning of non-violence — oneness. Lord Mahavir said that If we harm any living being, we are harming ourselves. “All things breathing, all things existing, all things living, all beings whatever should not be slain or treated with violence, or insulted, or tortured, or driven away.’

You are the sun, the moon and the stars. You are the five elements. You are everything. If you deepen your awareness, you will find this body is not a simple mechanism. It is the microcosm. A drop of water is the same as the ocean. A snowflake is the same as a blanket of snow. Existentially, we can say it Is separate. But we must broaden our thinking. Individual “I” is part of the universal “I”. This is the purpose of life — how we can merge one into the other. We are that drop of water and we are the same as the ocean. Do not think you are alone.

If anyone hurts your loved ones or your cat or dog, then you will feel pain. Why? Because you have established oneness with that person or animal. You have expanded. This is all a matter of attitude. It is this attitude we must adopt in all aspects of our life, and specifically concerning the food we eat. If we visit a slaughterhouse and see the situation of the terrified animals, it will not be possible to eat meat again. They are full of fear and anger. And these bad vibrations, along with the diseases of the animals, create innumerable toxins for anyone who consumes the meat. Wherever there is violence, the result will be negative. If we go against nature, then nature will give punishment. If we destroy another’s life force, then our own will be destroyed.

We must not eat for taste, but for health. We must choose our food according to that which will provide the most life force — the most benefit for health. We must fulfill our body’s needs. A light vegetarian diet consisting of fresh, whole foods will provide all the necessary nutrients for health and well being. But if food is eaten without the proper awareness, even a vegetarian diet will not benefit us much. It is not enough to be a vegetarian only for health reasons. Many vegetarians are basically violent in nature. They may be argumentative, egotistical, angry people — these are all aspects of violence. It is also not enough to be vegetarian because of tradition. There are many millions of Indian families who have been vegetarian for generations. but are also basically violent. They do not know why they are vegetarian. It is the attitude that it important... Right Thinking as well as Right Conduct.
Non-violence means love. And this love is established by each individual’s effort. Do not feel that you are only one ineffective person. There is no question of number. Mahavir was one. Christ was one, Buddha was one. One person can change the entire world. Their effect can never be erased from this world. They exist even now. Why? Because they were not simply persons—they were principles, they were lights of the world. We are very fortunate to have the direction and teachings of the great enlightened masters of all faiths. We must adopt their high ideals.

Whatever habits are not useful for us or the world, we must transform into good habits. We are man. We have so much power to advance physically, mentally and spiritually. We must choose our food to develop in these ways, and to honorably nourish this temple of God which is our body.