Nonviolence to Animals, Earth, and Self in Asian Traditions

by Christopher Key Chapple

This book probes the origins of the practice of nonviolence in early India and traces its path within the Jaina, Hindu, and Buddhist traditions, including its impact on East Asian Cultures. It then turns to a variety of contemporary issues relating to this topic such vegetarianism, animal and environmental protection, and the cultivation of religious tolerance.

Genres: Buddhism

146 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1993

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great summary of some of the earliest non-violent traditions in the world. I found the information on Jainism helpful, as there are surprisingly few resources available on it on the web.

[Bobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a worth while read despite the fact that it is more academic than I'd imagined. The intended audience would seem to be someone more educated in Asian traditions than I am. That said, it is written in a way that makes the ideas accessible even when many of the traditions (and terminology) are not. In the end, it's a dense little book that sheds light on not only the traditions of Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. but their relevance for late 20th century (the book was published in 1993) / early 21st century Westerners. For those more educated about such things, I imagine that this is an absolutely wonderful and worth while read.

[Kelly Palakshappa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to help you explore your spirituality. I learned a lot about the practice and study of Ahimsa. This book traces the origins of the practice of nonviolence in early India, Jaina, Hindu, and Buddhist traditions. It also discusses traditions of vegetarianism, animal and environmental protection, and religious tolerance.