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perspective and contemporary relevance as an answer and antidote to the ever increasing violence, hatred, intolerance, greed and exploitation among human beings as well as to the irresponsible and exploitative human behavior towards Nature, Mother Earth and its environment.
RELIGION OF ENVIRONMENT
Practicing Jain Religion in the 21st Century should acquire the orientation and focus of a Religion of Environment. The intense ecological awareness can greatly contribute to Jainism playing a pivotal role in preserving and protecting mother earth and reversing the current downslide and degradation. The basic Jain Doctrine of “Parasparopgraho Jeevanam" - peaceful interdependence among all living being extends to the respect for life sustaining natural environment as well. Protection and up-gradation of ecology is integral to the practice of Jainism. A poet has put it aptly:
We live in all things All things live in us We live by the Sun We move with the Stars We eat from the Earth We drink from the Rain We breathe from the Air
We depend on the Forest"
We owe it to the future of the universe to protect our environment. After all, among all living beings on Earth, humans alone have much more refined faculties of seeing and understanding. Hence we have the responsibility of caring for all and conserving what nature has given to us for use by future generations. However, humans have unfortunately tended to seek only their security, exploited the environment, plundered the nature, distorted knowledge and abused their superior power.
And look what has happened:
Now the land is barren The waters are poisoned
Ahimsa: The Ultimate Winner
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