JAINA Convention 2009 07 Los Angeles

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

Page 43

15th Biennial JAINA Convention 2009
Ecology - The Jain Way
things as a 'means' to some other ends. This is their wealth. Even codes of conduct for a layman called 'instrumental value;' whereas the latter is defined by Lord Mahavir are quite kind to the the value of things as an end regardless of the environment such as - not cutting trees, not utility. It is known as 'intrinsic value.' For wasting water in daily activities, not hunting, example, as an employee a man has instrumental reducing travel, controlling desires, etc. They are value, but he has an intrinsic value as being a forbidden to do such businesses which involve human. The former is conditional and the latter is significant violence. unconditional.
In a nut shell, the environment will be respected The traditional western ethical perspective, known and stay green if: as 'anthropocentric,' is human-centered. Intrinsic value is assigned to the human being alone. For 1) We control our desires. There is no end to example, Aristotle, and Immanuel Kant did not desires. Acharya Mahapragya says to make the consider any wrong in destroying a non-human circle of selfishness so big that all constituents of entity. According to Historian Lynn White Jr., this universe would fall within that range. It is not Judeo-Christian thinking has encouraged the over- selfishness, but self-control which is the only exploitation of nature by accepting humans as foundation of love, non-violence and peace. superior to all life on the earth. Later, Leopold, Roultey, Holmes Rolson III and many more have fewer desires, fewer products, fewer given intrinsic value to land, water, mountain and industries, less exploitation of resources, less all natural resources. They believe that it is pollution and global warming more protection immoral and unjust to destroy nature.
of environment.
Another concept, Animism, is quite similar to 2) If we assign nature an intrinsic value, then we Jainism. Animism is a philosophical or spiritual will only have the sense of sameness; 'what I feel, idea that souls exist not only in humans and they also feel. I like pleasure, these small lives animals, but also in plants, and rocks; natural also like pleasure.' When we consider ourselves phenomena such as thunder; geographic features and these subtle forms of existence on same such as mountains or rivers, and other entities of platform then we would not think to hurt or the natural environment.
destroy them; rather we would let them enjoy
their lives. The true value of environment is to It is true that the concept of 'shadjeevnikay' - six accept their independent true existence. forms of life - is a unique concept propounded by Lord Mahavir. The whole Jain philosophy and Lord Mahavir proclaimed the ecological truth: ethics are profoundly ecological. The monks and "One who neglects or disregards the existence of nuns are completely friendly to nature. Self- earth, water, fire, air and plants disregards his restraint is the motto of their life. Satisfaction is own existence, which is entwined within him."
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