The Jain Dharma has adopted for Itself the method of
releasing the soul from all the bondages of Karma as the ultimate and
supreme aim of life. Only human beings are capable of cutting off the hard
and deceptive bondage of Karma. Other beings cannot achieve this aim
completely. In the endeavor to achieve deliverance, the cooperation of the
body is very important. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of the
body. But we should not forget one vital point in this connection. Just as
we should not cause the body to wither away with hunger, thirst and
hardships, so also we should not make it bulky and florid by enjoying (
eating and drinking ) various things. If the senses and the mind should
remain healthy and wholesome we should exercise control over our instincts
and passions; and in this manner, we should exercise discipline in respect
of food. Moreover, with a peaceful and elevated mind we should contemplate
on the soul, achieve firmness and cheerfulness and should achieve self-
realization.
Here is a list of things that should not be taken
(eaten).
Meat-eating
One should not eat any kind of meat.
Alcoholic drinks
People should not take any alcoholic drinks including
beer.
Eggs
Eggs and the so called vegetarian eggs also should not
be eaten.
Roots
Potatoes, onions, garlic, carrot, radish, ginger, sweet
potato, white yam. the elephant's foot ( a root ) and other such roots
should not be eaten.
Some other foods
Brinjal, cheese, cream. honey, butter etc., should not
be consumed.
Eating ( Dwidal ) pulses
Preparing food by mixing raw dwidal with raw milk and
curds (The grains like wheat, Bengal gram, Green gram, black gram, lentil
etc. ). This is Viruddha food or prohibited food for body and soul.
Stale food
Eating of stale food ( which has remained in the night)
in the next morning is prohibited.
If we think of all these items from the religious point
of view, they are not fit to be eaten because eating such food involves
the killing of various kinds of microscopic creatures and germs; and so
people should abstain from eating them. If we think of them from the point
of view of health and physical wellbeing we find that they provoke the
darker aspects of human nature. They provoke the senses, the instincts and
the passions. They provide fuel to the fire of latent and dormant
instincts and passions. The virtues like tenderness, softness, kindness,
equanimity and peace wither away by the consumption of such foods. The
choice of food should depend more on considerations relating to the
natural freshness. health and wellbeing of the mind than on considerations
relating to the wellbeing and nourishment of the body.
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