JAINA Convention 2009 07 Los Angeles

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

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15th Biennial JAINA Convention 2009
Ecology - The Jain Way
THE TRUE VALUE OF
pleasure. Acharang Sutra (1.28), the first
canonical text of Jainism explains it at length. ENVIRONMENT
'Appege andhmabhhe, appege andhmachhe' - if Samani Vinay Pragya
the earth-bodied beings are pierced or cut, they samaniji@jvbhouston.org
have the feelings of intense pain like human beings born blind, deaf, lame and deficient in
other limbs. Samani Vinay Pragya is a Jain nun and is a disciple of His Holiness, The key principle of Jainism is non-violence - it Acharya Mahapragyaji. She has a means not to hurt a single living thing of this B.Sc. and M.A. degrees in Jain
universe by your thoughts, words or actions. By Philosophy & Comparative, a MPhil
accepting the one-sensed beings as the lowest in Jainology and NET, a degree for form of life, Lord Mahavir gave them their
lectureship. Besides lecturing, she existential value and identity. Why should one not has participated in conferences and seminars, hurt living organisms? It is said in Dasvaikalik conducted camps, written dissertations and (6.10), 'savve jiva vi ichhanti, jivium na research articles. She is trained in Yoga, marijjium'-life is dear to all, not death. Therefore, meditation, the science of living and non-violence. to hurt nature means committing violence. Man
does not have the right to take a life which is not In the age of science and technology the dream of given by him. These beings have all the instincts progress is at the forefront. But this race is that man possesses, such as hunger, fear, sex begetting imbalance in every facet of human life and possessiveness. The difference is the desires are more, discipline is less; comforts are activities in such beings are subtle and out of the more, conduct is less; selfishness is more, self- reach of materialistic or gross instruments. control is less; cruelty is more, sympathy is less; Therefore, common man does not believe. materiality is more, spirituality is less.
Fortunately, in this technologically savvy era, man This imbalance of the individual has degraded the is doing intense research on nature. Dr. Weston value of Mother Nature. However, some people has done many experiments on plants which show are trying hard to keep nature alive. Is saying 'go their instincts of fear, love, hate and lot more. green' enough to rehabilitate it? Going green will
Plants are already proven to be living forms. not be successful for an ecological balance until Modern geologists also agree the rocks, man stops destroying and misusing natural mountains, etc. undergo growth and decay. Water resources just to satisfy his selfish desires. To
has emotions too. A Japanese researcher, Mr. maintain the environment, we will have to give Masaru Emoto, has written a book named value to all natural constituents. We will have to "Message from Water," which explains the be very sensitive and compassionate to nature. response of water to human emotions. Mr. Emoto This is what Lord Mahavir experienced around
and his colleagues decided to see how thoughts 2700 years ago. He perceived the life in earth, and words affected the formation of untreated, water, air, fire and plants, not just human beings distilled water crystals, using words typed onto and animals. These five forms of life constitute paper by a word processor and taped on waternature or the environment. Lord Mahavir filled glass bottles overnight. The bottles were recognized them as living beings with one sense - then frozen and photographed. the sense of touch. Lord Mahavir said that the smallest unit of life also experiences pain and
Reaction of water to the words "You make me sick" taped to bottle overnight.
Reaction of water to the word "Peace" taped to the bottle overnight.
In this way, science is getting close to the truth, searched through the inner power of soul. Truth never changes; it needs to be revealed.
have discussed this issue a little differently. They ask, "Why should we protect or respect the environment?" Is it because a sustainable environment is essential for human well-being? Or is it because nature and its parts have certain values in its own right? The former is the value of
The same issue regarding ecology is discussed in environmental ethics also. Western philosophers
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