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preservation of environment. At the same time, environmental movement should not become anti-development particularly in developing countries. Worldwide joint community and inter-faith programmes are required to promote reforestation of denuded lands on hill tops, plateaus and plains.
The culture of unrestrained and wasteful consumption in affluent societies is a sinful violence and must be halted.
For encouraging “Ahara-Vivek” i.e., ethics in food consumption, Jain scripture Uttaradhyayan Sutra has much to say and advise against excessive, wasteful consumption. At one place it observes at 32.11
जहा दवग्गी पउरिघणे वणे, समारुओ नोवसमं करेइ एविंदियग्गी वि पगामभोइणो, न बंभयारिस्स हियाय कस्सई ।
As in a dense forest, a fire fanned by strong winds cannot be extinguished, so also the sensual fire of the person who eats food in excessive quantity can never be extinguished. Therefore, excessive food is not
beneficial.
According to Dasavaikalika Sutra 'Dharma' is of prime importance in human life and the constituents of the practice of * Dharma' (righteousness) are non-violence, self-restraint and austerity.
Jain Religion offers the comprehensive concept of righteousness becoming a life force for promoting ethical, aesthetic and biological harmony and ecological equilibrium. This approach and attitude is of immense and urgent relevance to the world at large - a world dominated by over 6 billion human species that are rapidly sapping the earth's biological and environmental vitality and resource strength.
Ahimsa: The Ultimate Winner
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