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What do Jains do when it comes to microorganisms?

A good part of my great respect for Jains is that they are known for their non-violence and love for all things living; killing anything at all is considered great sin. Because of this, they cannot eat certain foods, obviously including animals, but it stretches out to include all vegetables that are considered to be killed when they are picked, i.e. potatoes, onions, radishes, yams, etc, considering they are cut at the root before being pulled out of the ground. Some especially observant Jains won't even prepare food before sunup or after sundown for fear that an insect may fly into their meal or drink without them noticing.

With that in mind, what about microorganisms such as bacteria or prions? May Jains not disinfect surfaces, wash their hands and bodies, brush their teeth or anything else of the sort? I know viruses are not considered to be living beings because they only reproduce, but don't breathe or feed (thus making them ineligible for the category of living things), so destroying them isn't sin, but bacteria are prokaryotes and as such are considered to be part of animalia and, by extension, living beings.

Note that I'm not trying to disprove anything about the Jain religion here, I'm merely curious to know if there's any answer to this conundrum. Answers on behalf of practicing Jains would be great, if not ideal.

2 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    They had no idea about microorganisms 2500 years ago, dude. But that's the absurdity of ahimsa carried to the extreme. We are literally slaughtering millions of "critters" every minute in our very bodies. Which of course are essential for our own survival. Face it, life feeds on life. ☼

    Hope you get some Jains to answer. Will check back.

  • Anonymous
    8 years ago

    i have seen naked jain babas,they roam around naked among people.

    i admit jain are believers of nonviolence and are strict vegetarians.

    but who can they roam naked??

    it a shame seeing them,ladies take them for god,they drink water flowing through their penises.

    their philosophy maybe right but their behaviour is totally wrong.

    i have heard they tear their breards with their nails, it is horrible.

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