________________
IMPACT OF JAINISM
AT THE
EARTH SUMMIT
by: DR. NARENDRA P. JAIN
FORMER AMBASSADOR OF INDIA TO THE UN
Earth Pledge
ognizing that people's actions towards nature and each other one the d environment and resources needed to meet himon needs and to care ability to help make the banks for present and
Etosach to the best of
ET
The Jain delegation at the historic gathering in Rio: Gautam Oswal, Guruji and Ambassador N.P. Jain
Earth Summit, the largest ever International Conference by the United Nations took place at the Riocentre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from June 3 to 14, 1992. Presidents and Prime Ministers of over 120 countries participated in it. Earth Parliamentary Summit was simultaneously held from June 5 to June 7, 1992 under the auspices of the Global Forum of parliamentarians and spiritual leaders at the historic premises of Brazil's National Assembly. A Sacred Earth Gathering of leading religious leaders and thinkers from all over the world also held its three day session from
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Jain Education Intemational
May 27-30, 1992 at the monastery Casa de Retiros Padre Achieta. His Holiness Acharya Sushil Kumarji Maharaj was especially invited to all these three major world conferences and all other connected meetings in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He received invitations to the world Summit as the Founder Chairman of the International Mahavir Jain Mission - which has now become affiliated and accredited with the United Nations as an N.G.O. (Non Governmental Organization). To the Earth Summit, he was invited in his capacity as a founding member and one time Director. To the Sacred Earth Gathering the invitation was in recognition of his being a renowned spiritual leader of Jain religion.
Ignoring his advancing age, indifferent health and heart problems, Guruji responded to the pressing invitations to the Earth Summit since it provided a historic opportunity to propagate to the global community the universality of Jain religious principles and its deeply compassionate philosophy of Non-violence and "Live and let live." The teachings of Jainism were received with great respect, attention and a profound interest, since in their spiritual dimensions as well as day-to-day practice, they evoked relevance to the critical ecological crisis confronting the entire universe today.
World Attention
Jain religion gets world attention. What was so far regarded as an austere religion with a limited following arose the interest of human consciousness as the only religion which had not in its 5,000 years of existence compromised in any way the principles and daily practice of vegetarianism, animal care, reverence for all forms of life and respect for nature. The unwavering practice of these beliefs purported a long term practical way to save Mother Earth from drifting towards an ecological disaster. People were attracted to the concept of Paraspar Upgraha Jivanam since it convinced them that by restoring harmony and equilibrium between mankind, nature and other living beings in an atmosphere of Ahimsa (Non-violence) and Aparigraha (non-possession) could be brought back to a state of harmonious mutual interdependence through the universal forces. Sacred Earth Declaration
The responsibility for drafting the Sacred Earth Declaration was assigned to Dr. Narendra Jain as he was elected Chief Rapporteur for the Conference. It is significant that the
His Holiness Acharya Sushil Kumar Ji Maharaj
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