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Jainism seems to be similar to Buddhism to an extent in that they are both pacifist and tolerant religions. I approve of the live & let live ideology. But the dogma, especially when it comes to diet, among Jains I've observed has always amazed me. How can people practicing such a seemingly tolerant and passive religion, be so dogmatic about what they eat? Even Buddhists aren't so particular about what they eat. But a Jain will go without eating at all if there are onions, potatoes, garlic or many other items in the food. And many, if not most, seem to be unaware of the stated purpose and rationale for such abstinence.

Maybe some practicing Jains on this forum can explain? Are Jain dietary rules the ultimate proof of the stubborn human refusal to think or question dogma in which religions thrive?

Mastan Bhai;425932Jainism seems to be similar to Buddhism to an extent in that they are both pacifist and tolerant religions. I approve of the live & let live ideology. But the dogma, especially when it comes to diet, among Jains I've observed has always amazed me. How can people practicing such a seemingly tolerant and passive religion, be so dogmatic about what they eat? Even Buddhists aren't so particular about what they eat. But a Jain will go without eating at all if there are onions, potatoes, garlic or many other items in the food. And many, if not most, seem to be unaware of the stated purpose and rationale for such abstinence.

Maybe some practicing Jains on this forum can explain? Are Jain dietary rules the ultimate proof of the stubborn human refusal to think or question dogma in which religions thrive?

Many Hindus (especially from Gujarat, Rajashtan area) also engage in not eating stuff such as garlic, ginger, onions, potatoes. I guess they consider it dirty being grown underground. But then some of them will eat this, except for on Mondays and here they just cannot provide any rationale, although some have said that root vegetables arouse passions and on Mondays they want rest.

So that is why the Indian stores in my area are mostly closed on Mondays. The mind boggles to think of the kind service providers in those stores having imbibed passion arousing root vegetables over the weekend and taking Monday off to have some "rest". :)

I had heard that the root vegetable prohibition has to do with life forms that live in/under ground.
And monday-shop-closure is to contain (behind closed doors) the roused passions that come up with the counting of the money collected from the weekend shoppers.

AFAIK - The root vegetables, ie, Garlic, Onions etc, - when you remove them from the ground, you 'kill' the plant -as opposed to fruit bearing trees.

Killing a (pant) life - is 'probably' what the regligion faith condones.

Mastan Bhai;425932
Maybe some practicing Jains on this forum can explain? Are Jain dietary rules the ultimate proof of the stubborn human refusal to think or question dogma in which religions thrive?

Dogma in Jainism and Budhism are minor compared to Hinduism, Islam and Christianity.
There are lot of examples of "Human refusal to think".
Jains attempt to cause minimal harm to the living system around them. That is their reason and is a reasonable thinking.

Listen from the horse's mouth :) I practice Jainism. Well, it is not like we never eat garlic, onions , etc etc :)
It is only that during the 4 months of 'Chaturmas' we have to abstain from eating the above due to reasons stated by Okonomi.
Franky speaking it is just the first two months that are really important but there are people who follow the 4 month cycle.
And we follow vegetarianism since birth so we are used to it. Even my kid knows that we don't eat non veg and he makes sure that he says that in birthday parties. It was difficult to find food in US - Subway, Falafel, Indian Restaurants, Pizza and Burgers. But hey, that is one of the reasons for R2I :)