Holistic Jain Diet – Holistic Approach to Ahimsa, Environment, Health and Spirituality Pravin K. Shah JAINA Education Committee 509 Carriage Woods Circle Raleigh NC Web Tele

Holistic Jain Diet – Holistic Approach to Ahimsa Environment Health and Spirituality Holistic Approach Holistic means analyzing the whole system of our Jain beliefs with respect to Diet, Ahimsa, and penance rather than simply its individual components. Ahimsa (Compassion) Environment Health Spirituality (Nirajara)

Spiritual Aspect of Jain Diet Goal of Jainism  Total Liberation from Karma / from Mithayatva (Ignorance) and Kshaya (Anger, Ego, Deceit, and Greed) Samvar – Stoppage of New Karma Right Conduct Ahimsa, Aparigraha, Anekantvad, etc.. 5 Samitis, 3 Guptis, 10 Yati Dharma, 12 Reflections, 22 Parishaha, 5 Conducts Nirjarä – Exhaustion of karma already acquired via Penance 6 External and 6 Internal Penances

Guide Line of Practicing of Ahimsa for Laypeople Nonviolence is the highest principle of Jain Religion However, life can not exist without violence Hence, for our existence (food) we must follow the path of minimum violence Samvar – Jain Conduct Ahimsa

Jain Diet – Follow the Path of Minimum Violence (Samvar) Basic Jain Principle for Minimum Violence The degree Violence inflicted is proportional to the number of senses a living being possesses…. Violence to a living being which has more senses (Five, Four, Three, etc.. in these order) is more sinful act than thousands of One Sense living beings. It also creates a greater impact on the Environment Order of Violence: Human, Animal, Insects, Bacteria, One sense being (Vegetables, Water, Air, Earth, and Fire) Hence Jainism believes in Vegetarianism even though Vegetables have innumerable/infinite living beings which are being killed for our Diet and Existence (survival).

Jain Diet – Follow the Path of Minimum Violence (Samvar) Order of Degree of Violence (highest to lowest) 1.Violence to oneself (Highest Sin) – from spiritual point of view, consuming food that degrades our health and awareness 2.Violence or Exploitation of other Human Beings (2 nd Highest Sin) - food, clothes, and shelters prepared by child labor, or by exploiting other human beings 3.Violence to five sensed Animals (3 rd Highest Sin) - food prepared by exploiting and killing animals

Jain Diet – Follow the Path of Minimum Violence (Samvar) Order of Degree of Violence (highest to lowest) 4.Violence to four and three sensed movable beings such as flies, bees, insects (4 th Highest Sin) 5.Violence to two sensed beings such as Bacteria etc.. 6.Violence to One Sensed Beings (use minimum for healthy survival) Water, fire, air, earth, and not root vegetables have innumerable souls Root vegetables have infinite souls

Holistic Jain Diet – Food Criteria Jain Food must be conducive to the Ahimsa, Environment, Health and Spiritual upliftment. One should not consume any food that can create the violence (Kashaya) within or degrades awareness One should not eat any food that involves violence to Movable beings (Human, Animals, Birds, Insects etc..) Not to Consume Anishta Food and Anupsevya Food  Food which have no or very minimum nutrition value. Eat little less than your hunger and early in the day for good Health and for proper practice of Meditation.

Holistic Jain Diet – Food Criteria Consume Only “Healthy Strict” Vegetarian (Vegan) Food Food should be obtained with Minimum Destruction of Environment which is plants, water, fire, air, and earth Vegetables, Fruits, Grains, Beans.. etc Consume Minimum for Healthy Survival. Waste is Violence

Anishta Food – Any food which is not good for our health or spiritual upliftment and yet we consume it only due to our intense attachment (taste) towards that food. Liquor, Drugs, Tobacco etc.. Fried Food Stale Food - Fruits, Vegetables, and other Food that has developed fungus Anupsevya Food – Improper Food which contains no nutrition and hence should not to be consumed - Coal, Clay, etc. Anishta and Anupsevya Food

 Violence to oneself is considered highest sinful act because it affects our Awareness (state of mind) and our Spirituality (which is Samyakva).  Hence the consumption of any intoxication should be avoided first for our spiritual growth.  Intoxication Liquor, Beer, Opium, Bhang (Snuff), Drugs Fried Foods – have no nutrition Violence to Oneself (Highest Sinful Act)

Meat, Chicken, Fish, Eggs Dairy Products Milk, Yogurt, Cheese, Butter, Ice-cream, Ghee, Sweets Eggs – Fertilized or Non-fertilized (highest cruelty to birds in factory farming) Honey (Bees are produced and raised) Jello made from fish Gelatin Varakh (Silver Foil) made using cow’s intestine. Food Related to Animal Cruelty

American Culture (Psychology) “Most people care about animals and do not want to see them harmed, but engage in a diet that requires them to be killed or suffer” Classification of Animals – Pets, Wild Animals, and Farm Animals Treatment of farm animals can not be applied toward pets One can not crammed dogs in a cage similar to chicken, which deprives fresh air, sunlight, and movement. America - Dogs are Pet, Cows are Farm Animals Other culture - Dogs for food, Cows are sacred we’ve become so accustomed to (and often attached to) our forms of exploitation, often intertwining them deeply into our culture, religion, and way of life. Cruelty to Animals

Statistics Animals Killed per Day in USA –Cattle - 130,000 –Calves - 7,000 –Hogs - 360,000 –Chickens - 24,000,000 Cruelty to Animals

Cruelty in Dairy Industry Cows are kept pregnant continually Slaughtering 70% to 80% of baby calves slaughtered within six months by the Veal industry or within five years by the beef industry Slaughtering the mother cow after five years of their fertile life while the life expectancy is 15 to 20 years Everyday, hormones or drugs are injected to increase the milk yield.

Greenhouse effect World's 1.3 billion cows annually produce 100 million tons of methane a powerful greenhouse gas which traps 25 times as much solar heat as CO2 Water Consumption Livestock (Cattle, Calves, Hogs, Pigs) production accounts for more than half of all the water consumed in USA. Impact on Environment

Land Usage A third of the surface of North America is devoted to grazing Half of American croplands grow livestock feed for meat and dairy products 220 million acres of land in the USA have been deforested for livestock production 25 million acres in Brazil, and half the forests in Central America Impact on Environment

 To produce 1 lb. of Meat, an average of 40 lbs. of vegetation is used. This calculation takes into consideration, the land clearing, as well as food for the live-stock until slaughter – Food cattle are generally slaughtered prior to 2-years-old Dairy cattle may live 4 years before being turned into burgers.  To produce 1 lb. of Meat, an average of 2500 gallons of water is used. 1 lb. of wheat requires 108 gallons of water 1 lb. of rice needs 229 gallons of water 1 lb. of potatoes require just 60 gallons of water *Source: USDA Impact on Environment (continued)

Waste Waste released in the Environment by American Meat and Dairy Industry: 230,000 pounds per second, polluting our land, air and water systems. *Source: USDA Impact on Environment (continued)

Impact on Health – Meat and Dairy Products  High Cholesterol  High Saturated Fats  High incidence of Prostate Cancer  Calcium Deficiency (recent study)  Less Hygienic Impact on Health

Cruelty in Egg Production Poultry Farms – Hens / Chicken are considered Egg producing Machines Confined to Narrow Space Attack One Another De-beaked Food Given Bone meal, Blood meal, Excreta food, Meat meal, Fish meal, Grain Unfertilized Egg It is the Result of Biological Cycle of a Hen but they go through the same cruelty Usage of Byproducts Cosmetics, Cakes, Cookies, Candies, Wine "clearing" agent, Shampoos, Skin Care Products

Manufactured using Cow's Intestine (Ox-gut) obtained from slaughterhouses Thin strips of Silver placed between intestine and manually hammered to create Silver Foil. Used to decorate sweets, betel nut, paan, Temple idols etc.. Annually 255,000 Kgms used ($40 Million) Cruelty in Varakh (Silver Foil) Production

Caring for the Earth and Environment is the way of Life for the Jain Community by following the two key principles of Jainism in every day life  Ahimsä Be Compassionate including to ourselves Minimize injury to all forms of life including Air, Water, Earth, Plants and Animals Be Strict Vegetarian / Vegan and avoid the use of complete Animal based products  Non-possessiveness / Self-restraint Reduce our needs and wants as far as possible Reuse / Recycle products, Eliminate Waste Share Resources Jainism in Action – Eco friendly Religion

Nirjarä – Jain Penance Nirjarä is the process of exhaustion of karma already acquired The karma exhaust themselves by producing the results (creating environment) when it is time for them to do so. However at that time, new karma begin to pour in. Hence it becomes difficult to be free of Karma. Therefore, one should destroy the Karma before they produce the result. This is real Nirjarä

Nirjarä – Jain Penance  Real Nirjarä - Removal Ghati Karma (Mohaniya Karma) before Maturity Nirjarä is done by rigorous penance Six External Penance : Relates to Physical Body (Food and Exercise) Pre-requisite to prepare our mind for Internal Penance which is true Nirjarä Six Internal Penance : Relates to spiritual improvement of Thought Process – It is a real cause of liberation

Anasan Complete abstinence from eating and drinking Alpähära or Unodari Reduce the quantity of food one normally eats Ichhänirodha or Vrittisamkshepa Control of desire for food and material things Rasatyäg Give up stimulating or tasty food –honey, alcohol, butter, milk, tea, sweets, juices, fried foods, soft drinks, etc. First 4 External Nirjarä relates to healthy diet Nirjarä – Penance : External Penance

Sanlinatä (Vivikta_shaiyashan) Stay in a lonely places free from all disturbances. Withdrawal of senses from external comfort. Käya klesha Tolerating physical pain voluntarily Last two External Nirjarä relate to Healthy Body Nirjarä – Penance : External Penance

Präyashchitta Repentance for Bad Deeds with firm determination - not to do it again Vinay Humility and proper behavior towards all living beings Vaiyävruttya or Vaiyävachcha Rendering Selfless service to needy and sufferings Swädhyäy Study of self (religious literature) Nirjarä – Penance : Internal Penance

Dhyäna Contemplation and Meditation on soul’s true nature Käyotsarga or Vyutsarga This is the ultimate internal austerity, where the activities of the body, speech, and mind are withdrawn and a person exist with complete awareness and bliss Nirjarä – Penance : Internal Penance

Relates to Cruelty to Movable Beings (Trasa Souls) also known as Vigai 01. Meat 02. Liquor (Madira) 03. Honey (Madha) 04. Butter Vegetables with Infinite Souls 05. Kandamul or Root Vegetables –Potato, Onion, Ginger (Aadu), Turmeric (Haldar) 22 Abhakshya Food Non-edible Food

Dairy product mixed with beans 06. Dvidala Milk, yogurt, or buttermilk mixed with beans and human saliva - Trasa souls are borne Five Udambars 07. Green Fig 08. Vada Teta 09. Umarda 10. Kotha 11. Pipara Teta 22 Abhakshya Food Non-edible Food

Relates to various degrees of Violence 12. Eating at Night (Ratri Bhojan) – Timing of Eating 13. Poison or Madak (Vishaya) Padarth 14. Hail Stones (Kara), Snow 15. Ice (Baraf) 16. Stale Food (Rasa Chalit Food) – Food Quality 17. Eggplant or Aubergine (Brinjal or Ringana) 18. Fruits with large quantity of Seeds (Bahu Bij Fala) 19. Pickles (Bol Athanu – Achar – old Pickles) Non-edible after 24 hours 20. Eat Less and Through Away More (Tuchha Fal) 21. Unknown Fruits/Vegetables 22. Raw Clay 22 Abhakshya Food Non-consumable Food

The Book of Compassion – List of Articles The Book has the following Articles: Universal Declaration of The Rights of Animals Universal Declaration of The Rights of Animals My Visit to A Dairy Farm My Visit to A Dairy Farm Dairy Cows - Life, Usage, and Sufferings (New York Times) Dairy Cows - Life, Usage, and Sufferings (New York Times) Recycling of Slaughterhouse Waste (Rendering Plants) Recycling of Slaughterhouse Waste (Rendering Plants) Milk - Its Impact on Health, Cruelty, and Pollution Milk - Its Impact on Health, Cruelty, and Pollution Is Nothing Sacred? - Cruelty towards India's Holy Animals Is Nothing Sacred? - Cruelty towards India's Holy Animals

The Book of Compassion – List of Articles Vegetarianism - A Compassionate Approach to Life Vegetarianism - A Compassionate Approach to Life Varakh (Silver Foil) Varakh (Silver Foil) Facts about Eggs Facts about Eggs Story of Silk Story of Silk Story of Pearls Story of Pearls The Myth about Milk The Myth about Milk Puppy Mills: Breeding Ills Puppy Mills: Breeding Ills Alternatives to Animal Abuse Alternatives to Animal Abuse How our Diet affects the Environment How our Diet affects the Environment Note – All articles are available on Jain eLibrary Website