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15th Biennial JAINA Convention 2009
powerful than the individual when each one acts with a single purpose in mind. This is why Mahavir preached this to the masses, in their own language.
Let us make it a habit to THINK! Think of the repercussions on the environment of all our actions.
Jainism believes that the universe is in existence from time immemorial and it is eternal. Its ontological constituents can neither be created nor destroyed. It is according to the inherent qualities of the constituents that change takes place all the time.
'Who Owns the Planet?' A very interesting The same principle applies to the balance or question. imbalance of the ecosystems. As ye sow, so shall ye reap! Or, what goes around comes around!!
The planet is but a collection of ecological elements and life forms. Hence, the occupants are the owners of the planet. Do we not own our properties jointly with our spouses as tenancy in common? Well the same applies to this planet; only the number of tenants is infinite.
On that joint ownership we assume responsibility according to our skills. We should apply the same principle to the ownership of the planet. Just as in commercial enterprise, we should assign responsibility to the most apt. Let the humans assume responsibility for the ecosystems on behalf of the joint owners of the planet.
Ecology - The Jain Way
By not believing in a creator god or a supreme being as owner, controller and dispenser everything, Jainism makes us responsible for everything that happens to us. Through the doctrine of Karma, the ultimate law of causality, we are responsible for our own deeds and hence we are responsible for the fruits of such deeds.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
1. Tattvartha Såtra, of Umàsvàti/Umàsvàmã.
Translated as That Which Is with an
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introduction by Nathmal Tatia. San Francisco: HarperCollins Publishers, 1994.
2. âcàràïga Såtra. Translated into English by Hermann Jacobi. The Sacred Books of the East, Vol. XXII, Part I, Pages 1-213. London: Oxford University Press, 1884. Delhi: Motilal Banarasidas, 1994.
3. Såtrakçtàïga Såtra Translated into English by Hermann Jacobi. The Sacred Books of the East, Vol. XLV, Part II, Pages 235-435. London: Oxford University Press, 1895. Delhi: Motilal Banarasidas, 1995.
4. Saman Suttam compiled by Sri Jinendra Varni, translated into English by Justice T K Tukol
ශශශ 0 Oන
and Dr K K Dixit. New Delhi: Bhagwan Mahavir Memorial Samiti, 1999 (1993).
5. Various sources on the Internet.
We Congrulate JCSC & JAINA for the progressive advancement of Jainism in USA
Nipul, Renuka & Amar Shah Temple Arts, USA (858) 254 7656
