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Hunting for pleasures is gambling with life and a ban on it at global level would send the right signal for conservation of world's diversity at local community levels.
Non-possession:
Jain philosophy of "Aparigraha" (attitude and practice of non-possession, non-attachment and voluntary abstinence) encourages the restraint in consumption and limitation of wants. The culture of unrestrained and wasteful consumption in affluent societies is a sinful violence and must be halted.
(1) In the Jain way of life, periodic fasting is common. Fasting from one to several days without intake of any food keeps a person physically in control and spiritually more motivated.
We should consider calling for community fasting atleast for one day each month as a step towards conservation of earth's limited resources. (2) The world community should encourage voluntary renunciation of such items of daily use as may involve killing of animals and birds. This is in line with growing international campaign against items like wink furs, shantoosh shawls or leather goods.
(3) An awareness campaign needs to launched all over the world to ensure that at wedding and other festivities, there is no waste of food and that the individuals develop the culture of not leaving any left overs in their plates. "Waste not want not" should be widely propagated. Mother Teresa used to lay considerable stress on this and she used to collect left overs for distribution to the needy and the hungry.
Jain Religion offers the comprehensive concept of "active non-violence" 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 who are rapidly sapping the earth's biological and environmental vitality and resource strength.
Robert Muller an ardent globalist echoed Jain Philosophy in his poem.
14
Received: 18.01.02
Jain Education International
"Know this planet love this planet
care for this planet
For you come from Mother earth
You are made of her elements
You are the earth become conscious of herself
Her mind and heart"
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Arhat Vacana, 14(4), 2002
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