ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 03

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 57

Amazingly, the first formal and detailed declaration on environmental protection covering air, earth, water, fire, vegetation and other increasingly higher forms of life reaching up to the level of man, was made by Mahāvīra in his first set of discourses delivered more than 2550 years ago and embodied in Ācārānga-sūtra. There are seven sections in the first chapter of Ācārānga-Sūtra dealing with the subject of environment only. Mahāvīra strongly pleads for recognition of life in air, earth, water, vegetation etc. and desires that one should be careful not to damage it. To give a flavor of what he said, it may be apposite to quote aphorisms 113 to 117 of Ācārānga-Sūtra as under:
"Comparison of plant life with Human life - 113
this (i.e. plant) too is born. this too grows this too possesses consciousness this too becomes sad (i.e. withers)
(a) This (i.e. human being) is born; (b) This grows; (c) This possesses consciousness; (d) On being cut this becomes sad;
on being cut. (e) This takes nourishment; (f) This is mortal; (g) This not eternal; (h) There is metabolism (anabolism;
this too takes nourishment. this too is mortal. this too is not eternal. there is metabolism in this too and catabolism) in this (i.e. building up of new cells and decaying of old cells); this too undergoes various Transformations (such as ageing etc.)
(i) This undergoes various transformations (such as ageing etc.).
He who uses a weapon on the beings of vegetable body has neither comprehended nor forsworn actions (causing violence to the beings of vegetable body and other beings residing in the vegetable). 114.
(On the contrary) he, who does not use any weapon on the beings of vegetable body, has comprehended and forsworn actions (causing violence to the beings of vegetable body, and other beings residing in it). 115
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