Dr. Sulekh Chand Jain
This is unfortunately true. It is becoming quite a real scenario in some homes. Some people tell me that the percentage of Jains who eat meat is already quite high (I don’t know how high) and is on the rise. Some first generation immigrants in the West and a good number of second and third generation Jains in the UK and North America have taken to flesh eating.
In India, I am told that some Jain kids will not dare to eat non-vegetarian meal at home but may be eating outside at restaurants (away from the watchful eyes of their elders). Dismayed by such trends, one Jain leader painfully told me that time is coming when we will regularly need to ask a Jain to tell whether he/she is a vegetarian Jain or a non-vegetarian Jain. This is unbelievable.
I have been to a few Jain homes in US where the lady of the house and mother cooked non-veg foods for her children, in spite of the fact that both parents claimed to have grown up in strict Jain families in India and were still pure vegetarians themselves. A few times, I have tried to talk to the parents fostering non-vegetarianism in their children, but the father argued that he does not want his children growing up weak in the US and feeling inferiority in front of their non-veg peers. And also he does not want to deprive them what he did not do himself. You can imagine the difficulty: in this situation, what more could I have said?
I don’t have any statistical data or proof, but I am told that in the UK the percentage of Jain youths eating flesh may be as high as thirty to forty percent and is slightly below that here in North America (I ask for forgiveness if I am wrong here). This is simply shocking.
Twenty-five years ago, Acharya Sushil Kumar-ji told me that several times he has been hesitant to stay in some Jain homes in US because he often notices meat items in his hosts’ refrigerators.
Another developing trend is that some Jains have begun openly serving meat items in their homes and also at their publicly organized events such as dinners or luncheons to celebrate birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries. I have been to a few such events not even realizing that non-veg meals would be served. What is shocking to me is that some of these people happen to be respectable members of the Jain community.
These days, several successful Jains own their own businesses in fields such as IT, medicine, engineering, and consulting. The trend is developing that even some staunch Jains - the owners of these businesses and prominent executives - will not think twice about serving non-veg meals to their important guests and clients.
One can see and sense where we are heading. To me, it is unthinkable, but the society in general maintains silence. This is the state of affairs. Now, let me narrate some of my own personal experiences and encounters.
- One of my close Jain friends in the US came to this county quite a while ago, did her studies, began a very high level professional job and married to a non-Jain and non- vegetarian Indian. The husband eats meat. The wife is still a vegetarian as she was raised in a religious Jain family in India. To the best of my knowledge, they don’t cook meat at home but the husband and their two children are non–veg.
- A few years ago, one of their daughters was getting married. We went to attend the engagement ceremony. In the morning, I mentioned to the mother, “I am hoping that there will be no non-veg food during formal dinner today.”
The mother assured me that there would not be but the young woman who was going to be engaged later that day argued with her mother and questioned my position in dictating to them whether or not they might serve non –veg food. I did not know about this development between the mother and the daughter. In the evening, after the pooja and engagement formalities, the dinner was being served. In one corner, I saw a meat tray. I was really shocked, and not as a casual outsider. I am considered to be part of this close family.
Now at that stage, what should I have done? Right there and then, without anything on my plate, I began a thirty-six hour fast in front of everyone. They tried to bring a fresh veg plate for me, but I refused to eat. This was my way of protest.
One year later, there was the actual wedding ceremony for the same young woman. Together with all my family, I was invited. This time too, before making the out-of-town trip, I inquired again about the serving of non-veg food. I did not want to repeat or create the same scene, in front of their many guests. This time, they were honest and told me that although they were serving non-veg food, they intended to make available to me a separate, pure, Jain food plate. All of my family, including my wife, my children, and grandchildren went but I refused to go. You can imagine the unpleasantness and arguments within the family by this decision on my part. All were unhappy with me and they all insisted that I am stubborn.
I repeat again - I was not trying to dictate and enforce my personal rules and beliefs on others. In this case, they were part of my near family and this brought great pain and anguish to me. Now please tell me - what else I should have done?
- At least twenty-five years ago, I read a news item that described a business meeting between Apple Company Chairman, Steve Jobs - who was a vegan - and one of his major vendors. For the vendor, Mr. Jobs was a very important client and they arranged a lavish, red carpet welcome for him at a very posh private club with many entrées including meat items and alcoholic drinks. The host did not know that their chief guest was a vegan. In fact, the irony is that in those days, the host did not even know what veganism was. At the luncheon, the host noticed that their guest was not eating. Finally, when asked, Steve Jobs told them of his food habits. Hearing this, the host was in frenzy regarding what to serve. Mr. Job asked for a fresh fruit plate and the meeting continued. What an uplifting and inspirational story, and what a great example of publicly practicing one’s personal beliefs.
I wonder how many Jains exemplify this trait. Luckily, I do know a few Jains who do come close to what Steve Jobs exhibited. I only wish this would become the standard norm within the Jain world.
- A few years ago in Houston, where I live, a young Jain couple (both born and raised in India in religious Jain families), arranged a large dinner party at their home. For this party, they invited several of their Indian friends, as well as non-Indian friends and colleagues from their office. I came to know from the host that for the non-Indian friends, they were planning to serve non-veg food. Quite frankly, I was shocked - I cannot accept and observe a Jain prepare and serve non–veg food. I immediately talked them out of this. I was relieved, as otherwise I would not have eaten there.
- More recently, I visited another Jain family in North America. While talking about food preferences and what I will not eat, they very plainly and openly told me that they eat meat all the time, as do their children. I was shocked.
Please note that these are not just stray incidents. They are happening more and more and in many cities and towns in North America, UK, and maybe in India as well.
Now you decide: is this behavior consistent with ahimsa?
