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
JAINISM - A RELIGION OF ECOLOGY
each new 'advancement' in technology, we have inflicted more and more harm to the earth and to
ourselves, and then we justify it by claiming that Shanehi Shah
it is for the greater good. There is definitely a lot Heyitsshanehi@gmail.com
of good we can do with our technology today, but there is an equal or greater amount of bad. And
the cost of this? Our environment, our minds, and Shanehi Shah has been attending our independence. This is not an effort to Pathshala at Jain Center of Southern
convince every person to become a "hippie,' California for 15 years and served as an
abandon all electricity, and move to a hut in what assistant teacher for 4 years. She
is left of the jungle. This is simply to get a graduated from University of California,
perspective of our current state, examine one of Irvine, with a major in Psychology and the many crises that threaten our existence, and Social Behavior, and minor in Education and to see what can be done to slow ourselves down Sociology. She currently works as the Educational on the path of steady destruction. Advisor for the Upward Bound program at Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, California. Now, presented with this problem, we must seek
a solution and one solution that has yet to fail is Jainism is fundamentally a religion of ecology and
the 'Jain way of living.' This religion thrives on has turned ecology into a religion.
conservation, preaching that we must take only -- L. M. Singhvi
what we need, control our wants, and not waste
anything. When we eat, we are advised to take Let me begin by saying that I am in no way an
only what we can finish. As a householder, we are authority on Jainism or ecology for that matter, asked to use only the appliances that we need and that I only write this as an observer, humbled and as few lights as possible. And though the more and more each day by life and by my deepest reason for this is to avoid killing oneexposure to Jainism. I say this not as an attempt sensed beings, Jain living just happens to produce at modesty, but more as a disclaimer, as there an eco-friendly side effect. But these are just a are many other pieces and articles published in couple of examples, chosen from hundreds. this souvenir book from very credible sources and Looking at the bigger picture now, as an effort to who have a much more extensive knowledge of Show compassion towards five-sensed beings, we Jainism and/or other religions, as well as much are vegetarians (some of us are even vegans) and more life experience. I speak simply from my numerous articles have proven on multiple levels limited observations and personal experience, as how being vegetarian is vastly more well as the knowledge from Pathshala classes, environmentally friendly, and that being vegan is amazing teachers and my parents that I have even better. The meat industry consumes a great been fortunate enough to receive.
deal of our resources, including energy, space,
and vegetation (to breed the animals for years I have been taught that the basis of Jainism is
until they are ready for slaughter), which could all non-violence, which I believe is the basis of
be used to better serve a greater number of ecology as well. I believe there is a universal
people, just by people eliminating, or at least consensus that we must try and preserve, if not
limiting their consumer support of the meat, improve, our physical and social environment and
poultry and egg industries. And now, to look at the way we relate to it, or our 'ecology.' From the the even bigger picture, our Sadhujis and environmental perspective, we as humans have Sadhvijis, or modern-day role models, are a been the single greatest cause in the drastic perfect example of where Jain living and ecodeterioration of the earth. Typical life today is
friendly living meet. They walk to each of their centered around instant gratification, and
destinations, thus eliminating vehicles, gas (the without giving back, and our destruction of our fossil fuels), and harmful environment has been the greatest victim of our emissions from the gas; they are independent of greed. Using our history as evidence, hundreds of
all types of modern technology, including even years ago, before the age of cars and airplanes, indoor plumbing; and cut down on every single mass production, computers, etc. the earth was
type of extra activity or usage. Taking this to healthier - there was exponentially less pollution, something as seemingly simple as the food they fewer environmental toxins, more forests and eat, which is required to come from a Jain family, nature, and a much stronger harmony between to whose house they travel unannounced and humans and the natural planet. However, with
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