Animal Rights In Jainism, Hinduism, And Buddhism on:
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The respect for animal rights in Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism derives from the doctrine of
The respect for animal rights in Jainism, Hinduism, and Buddhism derives from the doctrine of ahimsa
(, IAST: , ) is the ancient Indian principle of nonviolence which applies to actions towards all living beings. It is a key virtue in Indian religions like Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism.
(also spelled Ahinsa) is one of the cardinal vi ...
.
In Hinduism, animals contain a soul just like humans; when sentient beings die, they can either be reincarnated as a human or as an animal.
These beliefs have resulted in many Hindus practicing vegetarianism, while Jain doctrine mandates vegetarianism based on its strict interpretation of the doctrine of ahimsa. Mahayana Buddhists similarly practice vegetarianism and Mahayana Buddhism prohibits the killing of animals.
Jainism
Almost every Jain community in India has established animal hospitals to care for injured and abandoned animals. Many Jains also rescue animals from slaughterhouses.Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...
teaches that a part of God resides in all living things, which forms the atman. As such, reverence and respect for animals is taught.
In Hinduism, many animals are venerated, including the tiger, the elephant, the mouse, and especially, the cow.
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...
is noted for his compassion to all living things; he advocated against animal experimentation and animal cruelty.
Mahayana Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism
MahÄyÄna ( ; , , ; ) is a term for a broad group of Buddhist traditions, texts, philosophies, and practices developed in ancient India ( onwards). It is considered one of the three main existing branches of Buddhism, the others being Thera ...
teaches that "we can only escape our own suffering if we avoid inflicting it on others." Mahayana Buddhists practice vegetarianism to this end.
See also
*Animals in Islam
According to Islam, animals are conscious of God in Islam, God. According
to the Quran, they praise Him, even if this praise is not expressed in human language.See "Islam, Animals, and Vegetarianism" in the ''Encyclopedia of Religion and Nature'' ...
*Christian vegetarianism
Christian vegetarianism is the practice of keeping to a Vegetarianism, vegetarian lifestyle for reasons connected to or derived from the Christianity, Christian faith. The three primary reasons are Christian spirituality, spiritual, Nutrition, n ...
References
{{Buddhism topics Animal rights and religion Animals in Buddhism Hindu theology Hinduism and cattle Jain ethics Jain philosophical concepts