Pristine Jainism

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

Page 65

(62) : Pristine Jainism
can be stopped and sustained at any stage as is done in forest management practices, e.g. teak forests which are in serial (succession) stage and if allowed to progress the new succeeding species that will come up though higher in succession are not economically as valuable as teak. So progression is stopped at teak by manipulating biotic factors. This is progression or succession in modern scientific terms and it corresponds to ascending order mentioned in Jaina literature. Such ecological perceptions in ancient Jaina literature, now recognised in modern science, are really astounding.
Arresting Time Cycle:
In Tiloyapanṇatti, the ancient Jaina treatise on cosmology, it is interesting to note that certain areas or planets viz., Harivarsa, Hemavata, Hairanyavata, Kaccha Videha etc. have been described as immune from retrogression. This means that people there have controlled their numbers and wants (which is possible by following Jainism, its prescribed code of conduct) to the carrying capacity of land and natural resources and thus arrested and stopped degradation by judicious management. This is what is advocated in modern forestry and the recent doctrine of sustainability. The conditions described in some such cases and areas are briefly given below:
अवसेसवण्णणाओ सुसमस्स व होंति तस्स खेतस्स ।
uaf य संठिदरूवं परिहीणं हाणिवड्डीहिं || Tiloyapanṇatti Ist Part, 4th Chapter - 1744
i.e. In Harivarsa area the conditions always remain as in Sukhamā period. अवसेस वण्णणाओ सरिसाओ सुसमदुस्समेणं पि ।
णवरि यवट्ठिद रूवं परिहीणं हाणिवड्डीहिं ॥
Tiloyapanṇatti Ist Part, 4th Chapter - 1703
i.e. In Hemavata area the conditions remain same as in Sukhamā