Universal Values of Prakrit Texts

SR No.: 006701
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Prem Suman Jain
Publisher: Bahubali Prakrit Vidyapeeth and Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan
Publication Year: 2011
Total Pages: 368
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

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Lord Mahavira. Restraint means giving up all sorts of violent activities. Restraint in mental, vocal and physical, all types are required. Self-Restraint is possible only on the acceptance of the existence of soul.
Sensitivity towards nature
Ācārānga facilitates the understanding of different states of soul, induced by karma, which are very important from the standpoint of environment. According to Acārānga, souls exist not only in human beings and animals but also in lumps of earth, in drops of water, in the flame of fire, in the wind and in the vegetation. Thy have invisible intelligent life forms which all fulfill their own functions in nature. They all experience pain and pleasure, as they encounter violence or compassion. Jain saint Mahapragyaji says "To establish harmonious coexistence behavior with birds, animals, insects, earth, water, fire, air and vegetation is for human beings a devoted pursuit of Ahimsa. Ahimsā comprises in protecting the legacy of nature. The creation of the Universe is a mutually supportive web. If a single strand of the divine web is touched, it would sensitize the entire web. All the animate as well as inanimate elements in the universe are inter-linked precisely as pearls in a chain' In Ayāro, environment reflects ethical sensitivity towards the nature and the imperative of living peacefully in a world of contradiction and pain, selfishness and exploitation, greed and cruelty. In the ancient traditions, religion is believed to help individuals attain peace and happiness.
The attribution of pleasure and pain to the immobile beings such as earth-bodied creatures is an absolutely novel contribution. Jain doctrine, therefore strongly advocates that one must refrain from destroying them. Jain philosophy has been invoking such a commitment as an integral part of society so that human beings do not tinker with the semblance of nature i.e. the embodied souls of earth, water, etc,. The Jains have cultivated the practice to live non-violently with nature, and helped in protecting the
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