Dr. Sulekh Chand Jain
In this chapter we will discuss issues of food, drink, and medicine and how consumption of all these affect the practice of ahimsa.Here the following lifestyles come into play:
Non-vegetarian:
The practitioners of this lifestyle freely eat, consume, and use (as food, drink, clothing, cosmetics, and home furnishings) animal based products.
Vegetarian:
There is no one definition or description for being vegetarian. It varies by culture or environment; one common attribute is that a vegetarian does not eat “meat.” What is considered meat may vary. As a result, “vegetarian” has many broad definitions and understandings in different parts of the world.
In general, a vegetarian is one who does not eat animal products (such as meat, fish, chicken, and eggs) but may or may not use animal products for clothing, furnishings, and beauty. Many vegetarians use dairy products (they are called lacto-vegetarians). Most of the Jains fall into this category.
With this general definition in mind, there are still several exceptions to this category who still call themselves vegetarians. Some who consider themselves vegetarians do eat eggs or fish. Some may eat eggs, fish, and chicken—but not beef—and still call themselves vegetarian.
There are also some who call themselves vegetarians and shun animal products in their food most of the time, but on occasions may consume meat. I call them “part time” or “convenience based” vegetarians.
To understand the dimensions and complexity of something that seems simple, just look at an airline menu; one will find a large number of food varieties under the category of “vegetarian meals.” Some contain eggs, fish, or even chicken but still are labeled vegetarian.
Vegan:
Veganism is clearly not a religion or cult. There is no church, temple, or mosque of vegans. Veganism is a philosophy and way of living (much closer or akin to Jainism) which excludes all forms of exploitation and cruelty to animals for the benefit of humans, other animals, and the environment. In lifestyle terms, it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals. Vegans are those who have chosen to open their minds and hearts to the suffering of animals. They have opened their eyes to the fact that most meat, dairy, and eggs come from factory farms where animals are crammed into spaces so tight they can’t turn around, lie day and night in their own feces, have never seen sunlight, have their beaks, horns, and genitals cut off (without anesthetic) and are horribly abused by farm workers.
Please note that all animals, whether raised in the nastiest of factory farms or raised as grass-fed and free-range, are sent to the same slaughterhouses. They meet the same ghastly end. So when a vegan tells a meat-eater, dairy product consumer about these issues, he or she is not “preaching, trying to convert,” or any such thing. Since animals can’t speak a language humans can understand (though I think the screams and terrified moans that fill slaughterhouses should be pretty much universal) it’s up to you to tell their stories and inform people of their sufferings. All animals deserve to be free from unnecessary pain, fear, and suffering at the hands of humans.
Ahimsak:
This lifestyle refers to one who is a vegan and also avoids eating even root vegetables that grow underground such as potatoes, onions, and carrots. Some Jains will avoid root vegetables because of a concern about not harming nigods (microorganisms). This practice is closest to the pure, Jain ahimsak way of life.
In these three categories, we see the possible categories from vegetarian, to vegan, to pure ahimsak.
Most Jains are vegetarians and observe a strict Jain diet. Some Jains, as noted, will avoid root vegetables. Additionally, they will not eat after sunset to avoid harm to very small organisms.
However, most Jains are neither vegan nor pure ahimsak because they consume dairy products including milk, ghee, yoghurt, cheese, ice cream, sweets (made from milk) and other dairy products. In today’s environment, consumption of these creates footprints of himsa to mobile, multi-sensed (five sensed) beings.
In today’s most common way of life for Jains, there is quite a concern for micro (sooksham) himsa but little deliberation or discussion about macro (sthool) himsa.
Unfortunately, many Jains reject veganism as a recent, Western fad that has nothing to do with Jain Dharma or with Indian culture generally. This is a misunderstanding. The Hindi word for vegetarian is shaakaa-haari (the one who lives on a plant- based diet only and does not consume any product other than those coming from plants).
Thus, veganism is neither new, nor a fad. It is an ancient concept. In fact, the very word “veganism” is derived from “vegetarianism.” I consider veganism to be pure vegetarianism (with the exception of root vegetables—vegans would consume these while a Jain ahimsak would not).
Veganism supports the notion that we cannot and should not justify killing or imposing suffering on any mobile, multi- sensed being. In my view, veganism or pure ahimsak-ism is not only consistent with the practice of Jain Dharma - it is required by it.
