Pristine Jainism

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

Page 40

Symbiotic Aspects of Jainism : (37) Predation, parasitism is annihilating for both the predator and its prey. Man as predator hunter realised this and took up domesticating the animals instead of hunting which would have first annihilated the prey (animals) and then man also. During Sukhmā-Sukhmā (Happy-Happy) era of Kalpavṛkṣas (Natural and mixed Poly-culture forests) all living organisms and inanimate constituents functioned in harmony for mutual benefit. There was nothing like harmful bacteria, fungi or insects etc. It is human interference and antagonism that has made many a life form harmful in the same may as we turn our even close friends into enemies by our behaviour. Even carnivora like tigers etc. were not killers but scavengers as there were enough naturally dead bodies. With the advent of agriculture man considered trees, wild animals, birds, rodents, insects etc adverse and went on destroying them, thus turning many life-forms antagonistic. The process is continuing and rather accentuating with increasing use of poisonous pesticides which kill not so-called harmful pests but even those which are beneficial.
Social Problems:
Aberrations from this fundamental principle of symbiosis which symbolises maturity, stability, peace and prosperity for one and all, is root cause of all troubles, conflicts, tensions, social, national and international. Symbiosis is a pleasant barter system in nature between one and all. Predation, parasitism, exploitation leads to more and more alienation, individualism, atomisation and ultimately suicidal. When one gets alienated from rest, he loses holistic long-term perception and then indulges in narrow minded, short-sighted individual gains at the cost of others. All types of corruption, bribery, adulteration, pollution, conflicts, wars, treason, terrorism, exploitation, crimes, thefts, robberies etc. are result of such alienation. It is because of alienation of an individual or a group from others that selfish greed supersedes all other considerations. An industrialist does not bother about pollution from his industry's effluents, produces substandard materials. Even pharmacies manufacture fake drugs and their owners are insensitive to others' loss of life. Engineers