Jain Dharma is and ancient Indian tradition in which the highest ethical principle is ahimsa, or non-violence. Jains believe that everything has a soul, or Jiva, and the highest good is to protect the Jivas above all else. A core belief of Jain Dharma is that you can obtain salvation through purification and inaction doing no harm. To achieve this, Jains may limit food intake, renounce some or all possessions, and there are limitations on digging, bathing, fanning, lighting or extinguishing of fires—all to protect earth, water, fire, and air jivas. Largely as a result of Jain efforts, vegetarianism is practiced in all parts of India, and animal sacrifice is now illegal in most states.
Ahimsa is the Sanskrit word for non-violence and can be found throughout the ancient Jain literature. Himsa means “harm” or “violence” and the A– negates it. But ahimsa can be thought of more as dynamic, active compassion. It is the number one guiding principle to Jains and you see the practice of ashima throughout the ancient literature and tradition.
Vegetarianism has been the moral baseline for the Jain community for a centuries. Jain vegetarianism excludes meat, eggs, fish, and seafood. The traditional Jain diet even excludes certain forms of plant life that are killed in the process of harvesting, for instance root vegetables. There is a body of Jain teachings, prayers, and songs in which it is consistently communicated that human beings have no right to take the life of other living beings. The Jain community understands that all lives are interdependent and that we should do the least harm in our daily lives, purchases, and consumption.
DAIRY
Though cow’s dairy has traditionally been included in the Jain diet, an increasing number of Jains have recognized veganism as the necessary extension of ahimsa into our modern world, and there are numerous resources addressing the interconnectedness of Jainism and veganism. Because of the Jain’s uncompromising stance on vegetarianism, vegan advocates in the Jain community have not needed to convince Jains not to eat meat and thus focused mostly on dairy. Please read this informative article from Dr. Christopher Jain Miller of Arihanta Institute about dairy consumption in Jain Dharma.
AHIMSA’S NATURAL EXTENSION TO VEGAN
The cruelty of wearing animal products is recognized in Jainism and traditionally Jains do not wear leather into the temples. Silk is also discouraged. Honey is not taken according to Jain philosophy and even farming of plants is scrutinized and its practice managed as it can cause harm to insects and small, burrowing animals.
“Of course, ‘Ahimsa’ means non-harming to all living beings. But for Jainism, Ahimsa is as wide as the whole universe. All living beings are protected under the broad definition of Ahimsa. May it be a drop of water, grass blade, insects, birds, all of sea life, animals, human beings, or any beings in between, they all are protected under the Jain principle of ‘Ahimsa’. The wide definition goes far beyond. ‘Ahimsa’ does not stop at physical actions, it extends to thought and speech, to complete the whole ‘AHIMSA’.” —Chandubhai Morbia
(this page’s content was inspired thanks to the website www.VeganJains.com)
To learn more:
For more about Jain Dharma and Veganism:
We recommend Arihanta Academy, an online Jain college, for in-depth Jain, Ahimsa, and Vegan Study. https://www.arihanta-academy.com