Jakkrabbit's Page

<p>About Me: I live off a stomach tube since I can't take anything by mouth due to nerve damage in my face. The damaged nerves are so sensitive to temperature, moving air, and sunlight that I'm completely housebound. But that's not going to prevent me from getting in the best shape of my life and becoming superbly healthy!</p> <p>I've transitioned off canned hospital formula to raw vegan with the use of a Vitamix 5200, and I'll be starting round one of P90X in the near future. I will keep you all posted on my journey to raw and ripped!</p> <p>MY BELIEFS:</p> <p>I believe strongly in the principle of Ahimsa - active non-harm towards everything - humans, animals, and earth. While theologically I'm a Progressive Christian, I strive philosophically and ethically to follow many of the principles of Jainism, Taoism, and the teachings of Buddha in regards to my actions, my diet, and my outlook.</p> <p>I especially ascribe to the following five principles and five-fold code of conduct of Jainism:</p> <p>TEACHINGS:</p> <p>1. NON-HARM</p> <p>(Ahimsa)</p> <p>"Do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult, torment, torture or kill any creature or living being.</p> <p>2. INTERDEPENDENCE</p> <p>(Parasparopagraho jivanam)</p> <p>All life is bound together by mutual support and interdependence. One who neglects or disregards the existence of earth, air, fire, water and vegetation disregards his own existence which is entwined with them.</p> <p>3. THE DOCTRINE OF MANIFOLD ASPECTS</p> <p>(Anekantavada)</p> <p>The world is a multifaceted, everchanging reality with an infinity of viewpoints depending on the time, place, nature and state of the one who is the viewer and that which is viewed. Absolute truth cannot be grasped from any particular viewpoint alone because absolute truth is the sum total of all the different viewpoints that make up the universe.</p> <p>Jainism does not look upon the universe from an anthropocentric, ethnocentric or egocentric viewpoint. It takes into account the viewpoints of other species, other communities and nations and other human beings.</p> <p>4. EQUANIMITY</p> <p>Samyaktva</p> <p>The discipline of non&acirc;&#8364;&#8216;violence, the recognition of universal interdependence and the logic of the doctrine of manifold aspects, leads inexorably to the avoidance of dogmatic, intolerant, inflexible, aggressive, harmful and unilateral attitudes towards the world around. It inspires the personal quest of every Jain for samyaktva (equanimity) towards both jiva (animate beings) and ajiva (inanimate substances and objects). It encourages an attitude of give and take and of live and let live. It offers a pragmatic peace plan based, not on the domination of nature, nations or other people, but on an equanimity of mind devoted to the preservation of the balance of the universe.</p> <p>5. COMPASSION, EMPATHY, & CHARITY</p> <p>(Jiva-daya)</p> <p>Jiva&acirc;&#8364;&#8216;daya means caring for and sharing with all living beings, tending, protecting and serving them. It entails universal friendliness (maitri), universal forgiveness (kshama) and universal fearlessness (abhaya).</p> <p>Jains affirm, prayerfully and sincerely, that their heart is filled with forgiveness for all living beings and that they have sought and received the forgiveness of all beings, that they crave the friendship of all beings, that all beings give them their friendship and that there is not the slightest feeling of alienation or enmity in their heart for anyone or anything. They also pray that forgiveness and friendliness may reign throughout the world and that all living beings may cherish each other.</p> <p>THE JAIN CODE OF CONDUCT:</p> <p>1. The five vratas (vows)</p> <p>a) Non&acirc;&#8364;&#8216;violence in thought, word and deed,</p> <p>b) To seek and speak the truth,</p> <p>c) To behave honestly and never take anything by force/theft</p> <p>d) To practise restraint and chastity in thought, word & deed,</p> <p>e) To practice non&acirc;&#8364;&#8216;acquisitiveness.</p> <p>2. Kindness to animals</p> <p>3. Vegetarianism</p> <p>4. Self&acirc;&#8364;&#8216;restraint and the avoidance of waste</p> <p>5. Charity</p>