Book Title: Environmental Ethics
Author(s): S M Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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Page 125
________________ another place after seeing that there is no creature under-neath and likewise while walking one should be so careful as if searching for the lost valuable like small pearl to avoid harm to any creatures. Carelessness and laziness (pramada) which also means lack of systematic and regular life-style are root causes of many wrong doings such as waste, pollution etc. The transgressions like overloading of animals, underfeeding them, tying them painfully, mutilating etc. are also violence and prohibited under the vow. Trutfulness (Satya) : This vow is very closely related to the first one of nonviolence. All untruth necessarily involves violence. Even truth if harmful to others is to be avoided. Mere statement of facts is not truth unless it is beneficial, moderate as opposed to exaggeration, cultured and not vulgar, full of esteem rather than denigration. Such trangessions of vow of truthfulness as false preaching, divulging confided secret, breach of trust, forgery etc. should not be committed. The vow if observed in letter and spirit, will ensure mutual trust and harmony and eventually stable social and physical environment. Non-Stealing (Achaurya) : It enjoins abstention from taking anything which is not given willingly. Ignorant and illiterate may be coerced or tutored to give willingly which is exploitation and this is not permitted. This definition of non-stealing is based on the principle of mutualism (Symbiosis) which is backbone for environment health and protection. For example if we take only the fruits, leaves and wood naturally dropped by trees, there will not be slightest destruction of forest. By eating naturally fallen fruits and then spreading the seeds one helps the tree as an agent for dispersal of seed. If life styles are based on this principle of give and take for mutual benefit, then there will be no degradation of environment and all conflicts will end. The butterfly or honey bees extract nectar from flowers but helps in pollination which is perfect mutualism. There are numerous other examples already mentioned o 110 For Private & Personal Use Only Jain Education International www.jainelibrary.org

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