Siddhachalam NJ 1993 06 Acharya Sushil Kumarji

SR No.: 528592
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Siddhachalam NJ
Publisher: USA International Mahavir Jain Mission Siddhachalam
Publication Year: 1993
Total Pages: 104
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Souvenir Jain Center NJ Siddhachalam, & USA
File Size: 6 MB

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deeply moved when some of them came to this assembly and spoke of their pathetic condition - human pollution of a most degraded type. Priests must develop a new active social role and should be there to help solve other similar problems concerning the killing of animals, destruction of forests, or abuse of nature. As volunteers of God, they would carry more conviction with the people because they have renounced material life and possessions. They would not be merely going around delivering religious sermons or expressing compassion, but would also be discharging a global responsibility to humanity by giving lead and direction in the specific disaster areas which are threatening to accelerate reckless environmental destruction and create a vicious gap between Human beings and Nature. The Jain religion teaches three pearls of wisdom: Right Perception (Samyak Darshan), Right Knowledge (Samyak Gyan), Right Conduct (Sumyak Charitra). It is the time that preachers should not merely preach or teach, but take the lead in providing the direction of "Right Conduct" to masses of people. Let them share their alms compulsively with the hungry and the poor everyday. Let them exhort society to adopt abandoned children and feed the poor. Every religion teaches human beings who are more affluent to become trustees of the society and not remain its cruel exploiters. Lord Mahavir of Jain religion used to tell his followers that there was nothing wrong in working to become rich. But once you have reached a certain stage of reasonable affluence, make a solemn decision to pass on any further accumulation of wealth to the poor and the dispossessed. The monks need to go out to forests not merely to meditate, but also to act as a catalytic force to prevent the indiscriminate razing of trees. Such sinful activities need the struggle waged against them by our religious leaders. Prevention of cruelty to animals, their uninhibited slaughter in slaughter houses and the absence of animal care clinics, are issues which can no longer, and should no longer, be ignored. It is violence of the worst order, and full of hypocrisy as we choose to raise
Crusader for Peace and Non-Violence
certain selected animals as house pets. This kind of double standard must cease if we wish to tackle environmental pollution which affects the lives of living creatures. The world was not created solely for the dominant living species, nor for human beings to simply survive and prosper. Others have an equal democratic right as they live, breath and possess a soul. In fact, priests need to take an inter-religious initiative to prepare a charter for animal rights, a charter on Earth Ethics and present it to the United Nations for adoption and later to humanity for implementation. Mahatma Gandhi set a very worthy example. He was not only a great political leader, but an even greater spiritual leader of our times, who led India's non-violent struggle for independence to its successful fruition. Whenever, in whatever city or village he went, he always stayed in a colony of the Untouchables. He gave them the name of HARIJANS (sons of God). He dressed like the poorest of the poor and lived a lifestyle full of utter simplicity, frugality and high thinking. That is the kind of example our monks and priests need to follow. They must become active volunteers to serve the cause of religion even better. Priests have done some wonderful work in the field of education and public health. Now, it is time for them to consider expanding their activities to cover the comprehensive field of ecology. The great Jain Monk Acharya Sushil Kumarji who is with us, and who has been the founding member and one-time director of the forum, has initiated many such projects in India and the United States. Furthermore, he has been trying to negotiate with terrorists in Punjab (India) to take to the path of peace and non-violence. These are tasks full of challenge and complexities. But initiatives by holy men can excite and inspire the entire society and bring about positive fundamental changes in the attitudes of individuals everywhere. Spiritual leaders have been servants of God: Let them now become servants of people, because in time, their preaching will become more effective and convincing. Let our religious leaders lead us not merely to light, but also to action.
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