Introduction to Jainism

Author(s): Rudi Jansma, Sneh Rani Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 65

AHIMSA
63
exaggerating to say that the Achārānga Sūtra is the oldest, thorough, scientific and pointed endeavor by Jain thinkers at evolving an environment-friendly way of life after understanding the importance of all facets of the environment.
The Āchārānga starts with a discussion about movement (gati) or direction of movement of life. It says – “I have heard, Olong-lived one (Jambu Svāmi), Bhagavan (Mahāvīra Svāmi) says thus – 'Some beings in this world are not aware of this - whether I have come from the eastern direction, or I have come from the southern direction, or I have come from the western direction, or I have come from the northern direction, or I have come from the direction above (zenith), or I have come from the direction below (nadir), or I have come from some an intermediate cardinal point or another directions (between these points)”” (Achārānga 1.1).
The traditional doctrinal interpretation of the term gati (realm of nature within the universe) is related to the concept of rebirth. Let us now look at it in the context of the physical world and day-to-day life. The direction of movement of a thing or a living being plays a vital role in the protection or destruction of the environment and ecology. As we know, the environment is a setup of innumerable complex systems made up of near infinite numbers of living organisms, things and forces which are always in an all-pervading dynamic balance. A change in natural functioning of just one of the infinite constituents of one of the innumerable systems disturbs this balance.
In such a situation man, endowed with the unique capacity to think, imagine and translate his thoughts into action, has an added responsibility. His conduct and actions can be damaging not only to himself but also to this dynamic balance if he is ignorant of the natural functioning of the things around him.
The Achārānga then advises us to be aware of violent actions and mentions reasons for this: “In the world (being a source of violence) all these sinful activities that are causes of