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JAIN JOURNAL : VOL-XXXVII, NO. 2 OCT, 2002
all times attachment and love for the nature. They had been keeping themselves nearer and nearer to the nature and asked the masses to lead such a life in which they would feel cheerful and healthy. The dreams of Tīrthankara's mothers in which they saw various objects and events of the nature, are the symbols of their pious ideas towards the nature. Various plants have been given due honour just by calling them 'kalpavrkşa'. It is also corroborated by the fact that Mahāvīra and other Tīrthankaras got enlightment by ineditating under one tree or another. The pīpaľ, 'vata' and 'aśoka' trees have been connected with our religious customs and even today they are worshiped one way or another. In the ancient period, the saints and inunis used to reside in the forests with a view to safeguard the nature and environment. All the above examples show that the Jainas gave importance to each and every part of the nature and requested their followers not to take violent action against them. They preached also to keep a kind attitude towards the flora and fauna in all times to come.
Now, assessing and discussing the old and new conditions, we find that the entire present world is facing the danger of unbalanced nature. The people have forgotten the utility and importance of nature before the present culture of materialism and consumerism. The scientists and ecologists are afraid today with the possibility of converting big faunas into deserts on the north temperature zone on the earth. It is also feared that some portions of the earth may become so hot that it would be impossible for anything to survive there.
But, still it is not too late. We have to keep in mind that to avoid such a situation, one has no option but to see and search measures in the old Indian tradition, culture and thoughts. In this way only one could be well-acquainted with the importance of nature and would give up the cruel ideas against it. In the whole Jain scriptures, nonviolence has been regarded as the sole way of pleasure and its minute form has also been discussed there so that people may think to become non-violent towards the smallest living beings. If we wish to control the rising pollution, crime, violence and dangerous diseases, we have to take ourselves ncarer and nearer to the nature. In the present world, the biggest and most important human necessity is the prescrvation of Nature, in which every one has to be a sharer of it. Our urgent need of the current progressive scientific age is to search the ways and means from our ancient past for the preservation of natural resources as well as to understand its importance, so that the deep danger of nature unbalance could be tackled with.
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