Pristine Jainism

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

Page 53

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Pristine Jainism
part of the country water table has receded alarmingly up to 1500' in Gujrat etc. There is water famine and even drinking water is scarce. At places like Chakrota and Manali etc. in Himalayas clean water would gush out just by inserting a small pipe anywhere on slopes but now there is problem of drinking water at these places and even at Cherapoonji the highest rainfall place. Such are the consequences of modern technology. Yet new dangerous technologies as genetic engineering are being promoted recklessly without proper evaluation and testing. Growing Consumerism is unfortunately the index of development these days. High-tech inorganic agriculture and industrialisation has polluted soil, water and air beyond tolerance limits. green house effect is raising the temperature. Protective ozone layer is rapidly decreasing. At this pace the planet earth may soon become uninhabitable.
Forest (Kalpavşkşas) Based Model of life:
The forest (Kalpavskșas) based model as in vogue in SukhamāSukhamā, Sukhamā and Sukhama-Dukhamā before the advent of agriculture, ensured sustainability of all natural resources and their productivity. People were happy, free from any anxiety and conflicts. All life forms lived symbiotically, mutually helping each other. The descending decline was because of human greed resulting in increasing biotic pressure detrimental to natural resources. Agriculture accentuated the process. The descending trend can be reversed to ascending progress and sustained at desired stage as has been possible in some areas. What is required is containment of human needs within carrying capacity of natural resources. The types of Kalpavřkşas (trees) which provided for all the needs of people during Sukhamā-Sukhamā and Sukhamā period, are still left in forests, though in dwindling numbers. These can be protected, planted and multiplied. Forest based model can be established again by adopting Agro-forestry as advised by Adi Tīrthankara Rşabhadeva (in modern forestry term the Taungya system). Trees giving edible seeds, fruits and also giving fibres, flosses, medicines, chemicals etc. can be planted in all agriculture fields at 5 to 6 metre spacing. Agricultural crops can be raised