Words may be limited, but emotions are infinite — that’s the law of the universe.
The visual may be small, but the knowledge, joy, and emotions it brings are limitless.
This is truly an ocean in a pot — Gagar Ma Sagar.
Episode 24: Addiction – A Symbol of Inhumanity
Addiction is where a person loses their humanity.
Just as being born human is rare, achieving humanity within human life is even rarer. Not every human possesses compassion or culture.
There are three types of tendencies in people: culture, nature, and perversion.
- When someone gathers things only for their needs, without harming anyone, that is culture.
- When someone collects what they need to survive and fulfill life’s needs, that is nature.
- But when someone harms others to fulfill their desires, it becomes perversion — a sign of inhumanity.
To consider the whole world as personal property, to torture others, to enjoy by causing others pain, to act with cruelty — this is not humanity, but utter inhumanity.
Who behaves this way?
Those who are deeply addicted — they manifest this inhumanity.
What are these forms of inhumanity?
They are the seven vicious addictions, with violent actions and deadly consequences.
And their outcome is nothing but hell or Nigod gati (lowest life-form) — nothing else.
The Seven Addictions That Destroy Humanity:
1. Gambling
The first and worst addiction that destroys a person’s character.
Even the Pandavas, after losing themselves in gambling, gambled away their own wife — without any right — leading to the destruction of their entire lineage.
The cause of that tragedy was gambling, not just Shakuni’s actions.
Even today, gambling continues — under the disguise of betting, IPL entertainment, and online games. It may seem fun, but it’s the same addiction that once ruined kings.
From cockfights to camel races, to match betting — all these are forms of gambling.
Even hoarding food grains and selling them at high prices is a kind of gambling.
It ends up destroying human values.
2. Tobacco and Smoking (Harmful Substances)
Even a donkey wouldn’t touch a tobacco plant, yet humans consume it knowingly.
People educated enough to know the harm of carbon dioxide still choose to smoke — this is mental corruption.
If even a doctor fails to understand that one should not inhale poison, then that doctor is no better than an inhuman being.
3. Alcohol and Intoxicants
Alcohol and all such intoxicating substances are clearly marked injurious to health.
Still, people consume them — proof that such individuals have lost their sense of right and wrong.
I once visited a Jain man’s house. In his showcase was a ₹15 lakh liquor bottle.
He proudly claimed, “It shows I can afford this.”
But what’s the use of expensive liquor if it still destroys your soul?
Instead of reducing intoxication, stop drinking altogether.
4. Non-Vegetarianism (Violence towards Animals)
Consuming meat by killing innocent creatures is pure inhumanity.
Even King Shrenik, who is destined to be a Tirthankar in the next cycle, is currently in hell due to past actions of hunting.
Today, games like PUBG promote virtual hunting, which is equally dangerous.
Whether virtual or real, the result is violent thinking and desensitization.
5. Theft and Cheating
Once someone becomes addicted to stealing or cheating, they lose their character.
Be it through selling adulterated goods or manipulating prices — it’s all a form of theft.
Even Jain scriptures say:
“Even breaking a twig without permission leads to hell.”
That’s how deeply Jainism values non-stealing.
6. Visiting Prostitutes
This addiction erases a person’s self-respect and moral compass.
Even lawyers, whose duty is to uphold justice, often abandon humanity when defending such cases.
It is not dharma to engage in or support such acts.
7. Adultery (Illicit Affairs)
Losing oneself in relationships outside of one’s marriage is a betrayal of family and society.
Such people cannot connect with spirituality or religion — they carry too much negativity within.
Even if one performs rituals, fasts, or visits temples — as long as addiction persists, spiritual progress is impossible.
🧘♂️ Conclusion
Whether people fall into addiction due to sorrow or luxury, the end result is loss of humanity.
Today, many pursue these habits not because of misery, but out of pleasure-seeking. This is even more dangerous.
The Jain tradition has always been rooted in purity.
Even among the 5.5 lakh disciples of the Tirthankars, not one consumed any intoxicant or engaged in vice.
Let us strive to be part of a vice-free, addiction-free society — where we take pride in living with humanity, culture, and compassion.