Environmental Doctrines of Jainism

Author(s): S M Jain
Publisher: S M Jain

Page 55

optimizing population and consumption. Hopefully, the realization is gaining momentum and efforts are on at the level of United nations involving entire comity of nations i.e. the whole mankind. Sooner the realization is given practical shape and concerted efforts are made and implemented the better it will be.
According to Jain chronology such realization and implementation does come naturally also but after experiencing worst scenario. The ascending trend does start after worst sixth era to fifth, fourth, third, second and first. But it is not necessary that such natural swings must take place. By resolve and effort the degradation can be checked at best and happiest or happy conditions can be sustained and improved at any stage as is the case in many areas (may be some planets) mentioned in Jain scriptures: "उत्तर कुराए ...... जा चेव सुसमसुसमाक्तळ्या 3 G |12/104||"
- Jambudweep Prajnapti "In Uttarkuru Mahavideh area the conditions are perpetually sustained at first happiest (Sukhma-Sukhma) stage" "ERANT T HAT H at | 12/94 II"
- Jambudweep Prajnapti "अवसेस वण्णणाओ सुसमस्स व हॉति तस्स खेतस्स। u T 3166-170 Reli aifo acolt I 11767 11"
- Tiloypannatti 2nd Part, 4th Chapter "In Harivarsh area the conditions remain sustained as in second happy (Sukhma) era"
"हेमवयस्स....बहुसमरमणिज्जे भूमि भागे पण्णते, va 4HHTC O fà | 12/9311"
- Jamnbudweep Prajnapti "Condition remain as in Sukhma-Dukhna era." "अवसेस वण्णणाओ सरिसाओ सुसमदुस्समेणं पि। ordt afge- tui sifor gaf 1 117261
- Tiloypannatti 1st Part, 4th Chapter
"In Hemvat area conditions are sustained at the third HappyUnhappy (Sukhma-Dukhma) Stage."
The above phenomenon of cyclic changes as well as of sustainability at a particular stage is same as retrogression, succession and climax stages in various eco-systems in nature. It can be illustrated by example of a forest eco-system in plain areas of tropics. In case of a river changing course and leaving the land barren without any nutritional contents, the area will initially be occupied by inferior annual grasses though seeds of other plant species are also being brought and dropped in the area through various agents of dispersal of seeds including air, birds, insects and animals. Other seeds will not germinate because the site is not suitable. The drying and weathering of annual grasses will add some nutrition and higher perennial grasses will occupy the area which will further improve the site and colonizer trees like babul will occupy the land. If the area is not disturbed by human activities of cutting, burning grazing etc., there will be continuous improvement and higher and higher kinds of species, like shisham, siris and then teak, will occupy the area. If natural improvement is allowed to continue mango, jamun etc. will occupy the land. This is final evolution on such sites and is called climax stage. It is such a stage when the plant forms and other life-forms are completely in tune with ambient environment the climate, soil etc. and this is sustained perpetually. This is called succession.
The succession stages mentioned here are like worse to bad to good to better to best stages mentioned as cyclic changes (Utsarpini). If human intervention starts damaging the site, degradation will start from climax to lower and lower stages and ultimately the land will become stark barren. This is retrogression (Avasarpini). However, succession or retrogression can be stopped and sustained at any particular desired stage. In the above succession in forest-eco-system, teak stage is important because teak is more valuable commercially then higher species mango and jamun. To maintain this stage i.e. teak in the area controlled cutting and burning is introduced to stop further succession or progression.