Prabuddha Jivan 2016 12

SR No.: 526101
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sejal Shah
Publisher: Mumbai Jain Yuvak Sangh
Publication Year: 2016
Total Pages: 44
Language: Gujarati
Classification: Magazine, India_Prabuddha Jivan, & India
File Size: 2 MB

Page 41

DECEMBER 2016
PRABUDDH JEEVAN
41
the planet rises and which in turn causes global Jainism was not to deal with the environmental issues, warming. This may lead to melting of glaciers and rise but if the Jaina principles are followed with proper in water level in the oceans. Nuclear waste is another understanding, the by-product would be healthy danger for the human being, which is the recent environment for everyone. phenomenon of the last century. We are well aware of Not only Jainism but also all the religions have taught recent crisis in Japan. Psychologically because of mankind to respect nature and live the life, which not pollution, humans feel stress and the physical only supports but also nourishes the environment. problems are also seen occurring.
Hinduism has always emphasised a great reverence Who is responsible?
for nature. The idea of Rta was to establish harmony The role of human beings in creating the pollution in nature. Buddhism also favours non-greed for all the is major. Only human beings are responsible for pursuit of human life, which shows the attitude of polluted air, water etc. Human greed is costing us a spiritual ecology. The practice of pancashila also lot. It is affecting the lower kingdoms very badly, which supports the harmonious relation with all forms of life. in turn will be very dangerous for the human kingdom Christianity also has spoken about interconnectedness in the long run.
and interrelatedness of all the bodies of nature. All the We need physical comforts but we must examine- major religions have always taught man to live in - how much of it we need and what is the role of the harmony with nature. It is deviation from morality that physical comfort.
has caused all the problems. Besides physical facility, is there anything that is Changing our lifestyle to spiritual ecology is not very important for human life?
difficult if we bear the following points in mind and act We must examine ourselves - who are we and what accordingly: we want to be?
Cultivation of helping attitude, detachment & Is it possible for us to live a lifestyle, which is natural?
universal friendship. Does Jainism suggest any answers to these
Cultivation of an attitude of restraint, minimum problems?
use of natural resources & consumables What the other religions have shown mankind? • Cultivation of the habit of carefulness in all We have seen that Jaina ethics takes into
activities. consideration all forms of life, including air, water, fire,
Daily penitential retreat & prayer for the welfare vegetation and earth. Jaina Acharyas have always
of all living beings & for the universal peace. emphasised a nonviolent lifestyle, which takes into
Cultivation of satisfaction & tolerance. account all living beings. Jaina conviction of
Cultivation of a 'True' nonviolent lifestyle. 'Parasparopagrahojivanama' teaches that all forms of . Cultivation of an attitude of giving. life are bound together in mutuality & interdependence. . Finding out what is my relationship to nature Jaina Acharyas say that if we disregard the existence
around. of earth, fire, water & vegetation; then our own . We must ask how can I help. existence will be destroyed.
How can we help? In Dasavaikalikasutra it is said:
There are a lot of things we can do to help. "As the bee that sucks honey in the blossom of a
We must first of all try not to waste anything. Almost tree without hurting the blossom & strengthening itself, everything, we think is rubbish is useful in some way. the monks take food from lay people such that they we can reuse things, recycle things that can be do not disturb them."
recycled and best would be if reduce the usage of Jainism teaches restraints in the consumption of material things. material things and advocates simple lifestyle. We must check the use of things that we get from Indulgent & profligate use of natural resources is seen the Mineral kingdom. If we could use the material as a form of theft & violence.
derived from the Plant kingdom it would be wonderful. Michael Tobias, the author of 'Life Force' declares The material from Mineral kingdom takes a lot of time the Jaina ethics of nonviolence to be 'Spiritual Ecology' to regenerate. But the material derived from the Plant & Biological Ethics'. Thus it indicates that Jainas have kingdom can be regenerated faster as compared to not only thought of human beings alone but for all other kingdoms. Many ecologists suggest a lifestyle, species of the universe. Even though the main aim of which is eco-friendly in this sense.