The Book of Compassion - Reverence For All Life
Collection of Articles
DEDICATED
To
Acharya Shri Hemchandracharya
(1089 AD - 1173 AD)
Acharya Shri Hemchandracharya's life was a living example of compassion and love. During his life he touched the lives of many and one of them was King Kumarpal of Gujarat. His teaching of Ahimsa and compassion towards all living beings was a turning point in the life of the king. He came to understand that by the power of refusing to harm any living creature, one could gather strength to dispel much pain and suffering from the face of the earth.
Acharya Shree Hemchandracharya convinced the king to issue an order to all his people to stop animal torturing or killing for food, sport or fun. Thus for many generations the State of Gujarat became vegetarian and no one engaged in any kind of animal killing or torturing.
This is a most unusual and hopeful incident for mankind that for a certain period in its history a whole state came to observe the ancient principle of Ahimsa.
'The purpose of living beings is to assist each other.'
Tattvarth-Sutra
(Chapter 5, Sutra 21)
from the book:
Few Words
Many times we write because we are urged from within to pen our feelings on paper and share them with others. This book came into existence as a result of our strong feeling for the subject and thus writing was a natural consequence of the passion we felt.
Non-violence (Ahimsa) is the highest principle of the religions of the East. In Padma puran (1:31:27) it is said, "Ahimsa Parmo Dharma" meaning Non-violence is the highest duty. These way eastern religions have taught the principle of compassion to the people and they have traditionally revered animals. Most of them do not take meat, fish, eggs, and alcohol and their concern for animals goes beyond vegetarianism. Their scriptures demonstrate deep reverences and love for them. Animal symbols and stories pervade their tradition. For centuries, specifically Jains have protected and cared for animals by establishing many animal and bird sanctuaries (panjarapoles) and hospitals in India.
However recent technological advances have created a new environment for violence not visible to common people. The use and abuse of animals raised for slaughter far exceeds our imagination. The cruelty to dairy cows and other animals has reached its peak behind the walls of dairy farms and slaughterhouses. Their owners, both industries and associated people treat animals and birds (chickens etc.) as commodities. Animals are produced on a large scale through artificial insemination and other means. The owners exploit and torture these animals on a large scale during the prime of their life and ultimately slaughter them well before the end of their natural life spans.
Even though most of the people of India are vegetarians the use of dairy products, wearing of silk and wool clothes still continues. Also the animal byproducts that are used in cookies, candy, clothing, footwear, household cleaning supplies, cosmetics, medicines, and in performing religious rituals are used by them on a daily basis.
The purpose of this book is to educate readers and other concerned and compassionate people regarding the high tech cruelty to all types of animals that exist in the production of dairy,
silk, wool, and other products. By reading the various articles, you will realize that cruelty to animals occurs, in a similar way, in the USA, India, in big cities, villages, and the world at large.
By consuming dairy (milk, cheese, butter, ghee, and ice cream) and other products as mentioned above we directly support large-scale cruelty to animals. One should pay attention to animals, not in a sentimental way, but in a way that gives both animals and humans the freedom to pursue their own paths and to fulfill their self-made destinies
It is our humble request to the readers that they should try to reduce the use of dairy products, silk, wool, and varakh at home and in temples and in rituals. Also they should serve vegan (vegetarian food without dairy products) food in religious function.
The information on various articles was collected from many sources over many years. In particular we have collected significant information from People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA - Ingrid Newkirk), Beauty Without Cruelty of India, Dr. Neal D. Bernard's books and tapes, literature and articles of John Robbins, Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. Narendra Sheth, Sangeeta Kumar and Dr. Christopher Chapel. We are very thankful for their and many others’ contribution in the field of nonviolence, compassion, ecology, and environment.
We are highly obliged to Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanuji who has been constant encouragement to us in compiling and publishing this book.
We hope this booklet will be well received by its readers and it will serve its intended purpose to educate the Indian community at large. If you have any more information, comments, or corrections to information found in any of the articles, please let us know. We continuously update these articles and add new information.
Pramoda Chitrabhanu
Jain Meditation International Center, New York
Jain Study Center of North Carolina (Raleigh)
The Book of Compassion - Reverence For All Life
Table of Contents
| # | Article | Page |
| A Few Words | 7 | |
| Universal Declaration of The Rights of Animals | 9 | |
| 1 | My Visit to A Dairy Farm | 12 |
| Dairy Visit in USA | 12 | |
| Indian Dairy | 14 | |
| Organic Milk | 15 | |
| American Slaughterhouse Statistics | 15 | |
| Health Issues: | 15 | |
| Calcium and Protein Issue | 16 | |
| Cholesterol | 17 | |
| Saturated and Unsaturated Fat | 17 | |
| Vitamin B-12 | 17 | |
| Milk and Prostate Cancer | 18 | |
| My Health Data | 19 | |
| Jain Religious view | 19 | |
| Usage of Dairy Products in the Jain Temples | 20 | |
| 2 | Dairy Cows - Life, Usage, and Sufferings (New York Times) | 22 |
| Summary | 22 | |
| Article | 22 | |
| Introduction | 22 | |
| American Slaughterhouse Statistics | 24 | |
| Slaughterhouse Process | 25 | |
| Slaughterhouse Products | 25 | |
| 3 | Recycling of Slaughterhouses Waste (Rendering Plants) | 31 |
| Rendering Plants | 31 | |
| Raw Material | 32 | |
| Toxic Waste Accompanied with Raw Material | 32 | |
| Recycled Process | 33 | |
| Recycled Products and Usage | 34 | |
| The Story of North Carolina – USA | 35 | |
| 4 | Milk – Its Impact on Health, Cruelty, and Pollution | 36 |
| Health Issues | 36 | |
| Cruelty to Cows | 38 | |
| Pollutants in Milk | 40 | |
| 5 | Is Nothing Sacred? - Cruelty towards India’s Holy Animals | 42 |
| 6 | Vegetarianism - A Compassionate Approach to Life | 45 |
| 7 | Varakh (Silver Foil) | 50 |
| 8 | Facts about Eggs | 53 |
| 9 | Story of Silk | 56 |
| 10 | Story of Pearls | 60 |
| 11 | The Myth about Milk | 62 |
| 12 | Alternatives to Animal Abuse | 66 |
| Facts about Violence | 66 | |
| Cows | 66 | |
| Chickens | 67 | |
| Sheep | 67 | |
| Bees | 67 | |
| Fur-Bearing Animals | 68 | |
| Cosmetics and its testing on Animals | 68 | |
| Use of Animals in Entertainment | 69 | |
| Impact on Health | 69 | |
| Impact on Economics, Ecology and Environment | 70 | |
| Alternatives | 70 | |
| Food Alternatives | 70 | |
| Clothing Alternatives | 71 | |
| Household Goods Alternatives | 72 | |
| Medicines, Drugs, Vitamins Alternatives | 72 | |
| Sports, Entertainment Alternatives | 72 | |
| Animal Based Additives to Avoid | 72 | |
| What Our Readers say about | 74 | |
| Appendix - Resource Center | 79 | |
| I - Vegetarian Definition | 79 | |
| II - Recommended Reading Material | 79 | |
| III - List of Organizations of Animal Care and Nonviolent Activities | 81 | |
| Excerpts - How our Diet affects the Environment | 87 |