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Dr. Binod Kumar Tiwary: Jain Non-Violence and Conservation of Nature
In Jain principles, the vanaspatis or flora have been accepted as having jīva. which have the feelings of pleasure and sorrow like human beings. Here, the relations between flora and fauna as well as soil objects and air have been shown. In this context, even the scientific researches of today show that the planets, creatures and animals are closely dependent on each other and if there is any interference with one group, it naturally affects the other. While we get the life saviour air-Oxyzen-from vegetables, they even gift us flowers and fruits and help in bringing rain as well. The flora purify the soil and air too and so we cannot ignore vanaspatis at all. The green land, air and water around us are environment, but it is a pity that we are destroying them all due to our selfishness. We are brutally murdering even the animals and innocent birds, which have been presented to us by the nature. The Jain texts condemn bad behaviour and violent attitude to the animals, creatures and plantations of any kind. Even the creatures, which we think are useless for us like earth worms, frogs and snakes are not so, as they are helpful in cultivation. On the other side. the unchecked deforestation has hampered the usual and natural rainfall. While in one hand, the air is polluted with dust and poison, the global air temparature is increasing day by day. These ecological changes have brought the fear of drought anf famine. Besides, the cutting of trees is not only an act of violence. rather it is helping and increasing the pollution as well. The conception of jiva even in the grasses was recognised in the Jain scripture thousands of years ago. Later on, Cluc Becuster and Jagdish Chandra Basu proved in their researches that there existed life in floras or vegetables, which like other living beings, take birth, grow. feel sorrow and pleasure and even die. In spite of all these facts, the forest wealth is decreasing very fastly due to our greed and selfishness, which is unbalancing the nature and environment both. It is our own misdeeds which have recently created the problem of Ozon and have slowly invited various global dangers and diseases. The Jain philosophy mentions that if the soul of any being is hurt by actions or words, it is a simple case of violence. Ahimsa does not mean avoidance of killing only, but it contains the idea of affection towards every jiva of the world. Non-violence can be seen in the background of human patience and wisdom. A man should and have to vaoid hatred, anger and harsh words if he thinks for the welfare of the humanity. Though, the nature itself tries to maintain balance, it is being disturbed due to the violent actions and thoughts of human beings.
Apart from the principles and customs of Jainism, the life style. events and biographies of the Jain Tirthankaras and munis show their
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