Pristine Jainism

Author(s): S M Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 39

(36) : Pristine Jainism have not been possible, had there been the slightest unfavourable physical or chemical behaviour of any of the constituents in ambient environment. The unicellular foetus develops into complex body only under congenial symbiotic environment in the womb.
Mature and Stable Systems:
All mature and stable systems are symbiotic. Predation, parasitism, amensalism, competition, neutralism, commensalism, proto-co-operation are transitory, unstable stages in the ascending and descending process of succession and retrogression. As Eco-systems evolve to maturity and stability, the negative interactions predation, parasitism etc are replaced by neutralism, commensalism and ultimately by mutualism or symbiosis. It is unfortunate that positive interactions and associations between species have been under estimated. The acceptance of Darwin's theory of the survival of the fittest has directed attention to competitive aspects of nature and positive interactions have not been subjected to as much quantitative study as the negative interaction. The Darwinian concept needs scrutiny and more objective study with fair share of emphasis on positive and co-operative aspects. Eminent Scientist William Thompson Kelvin opposed the views expounded by Charles Darwin. Even at present when predatory trends are on the increase, there are numerous examples of co-operation and mutualism viz., plants and nitrogen fixing bacteria (bacteria feed on plants but make it capable of fixing nitrogen directly from air), micorrhiza (behaviour of fungus same as bacteria), plants and insects (such as honey bee and other insects helping the plants in pollination), lichens (algae and fungi live in perfect mutualism), crabs and coelenterates (harmonious relationship), ungulates and ruman bacteria (bacteria help animals in their digestive process), bacteria in human colon (digestion of food is not possible without the help of these bacteria in human colon), termites and intestinal flagellate, ants and fungi, remora fish and sharks (small remora fish enter the mouth, feed and clean teeth of ferocious sharks), Crocodile and crocodile bird, animals and birds, plants and birds and many other associations in different Eco-systems.