Siddhachalam NJ 1993 06 Acharya Sushil Kumarji

Author(s): Siddhachalam NJ
Publisher: USA International Mahavir Jain Mission Siddhachalam

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movement for this purpose, for a change of heart of all concerned. Mahatma Gandhi succeeded in his non-violent movement which the masses of people joined with courage, zeal and faith. His disciple, Vinoba Bhave, succeeded in his land-gift (Bhoodan movement) because he spoke the language of non-violence and love to the landlords. Sundarlal Bahuguna is succeeding in his struggle for protecting forests in India by launching a non-violent campaign (Chipko Movement) which literally means "save the tree by embracing them and clinging to them" so that no one can do the trees any harm. I do hope one day we will be able to build up a similar non-violent campaign to bring about the closure of slaughter houses. Let us not forget that the site of the United Nations Headquarters in New York used to house a slaughter house. It was closed and we now have a temple of world peace in its place.
It would be of interest for you to know that the Jain community in all parts of India is doing dedicated work over the past many years in the fields of animal protection and care, as well as reforestation. Opposite the famous Red Fort in Delhi (India), is the old and famous Red Jain temple. A part of it is a bird clinic where over the years thousands of birds and animals have received treatment and care. All Jain Holy pilgrimage centers are on top of hills, and Jain communities have now resolved to arrest erosion and deforestation and intensify the greenery all around. Ten thousand Jain monks go door to door every day all over India not merely to preach religious philosophy, but to persuasively propagate the practice of vegetarianism, love for all creatures, of curbing wasteful consumption and of leading a life of simplicity. They have truly spread the cultures of Ahimsa (non-violence) with love and continue to fashion the lifestyle of the Jain community. Rich and poor are guided towards harmony, shared social responsibilities and the obligations of spiritual depth.
We can recall such instances in the history of many nations and societies. But since the world is now becoming a global village for the first time, we need to do something together on a world-wide scale to promote the culture and
Crusader for Peace and Non-Violence
practice of non-violence. This will usher in a global spiritual renaissance and help us to leave a better, healthier and a more serene Earth for the coming generations. Momentous opportunity
The Earth Summit and the preceding Sacred Earth Gathering in Rio is a momentous opportunity for humanity to relate itself once again with nature as well as other living beings on this planet by restoring mutually supportive interdependence in peace and non-violence.
Indiscriminate and widespread violence in thought, word, and action has brought the world to chaos, conflict and confrontation; hatred, hostility and mistrust. Violence has, indeed, been the worst pollutant which is eroding all civilized values of humanity and undermining the very fabric of our existence. Durable peace and peaceful coexistence can be promoted only through faith in and the practice of non-violence.
Non-Violence Movement
In the presence of this distinguished gathering & in particular, of Mr. Strong, Secretary General of U.N.C.E.D. and an ecological missionary of faith and vision, I have great pleasure in announcing the launching of The World Movement of Non-Violence for Peace and Environment.
It is a happy augury that the longtime crusader for World Peace, Dr. Robert Muller, former Assistant Secretary General of the UN and also Chancellor of the UN University for Peace in Costa Rica, has agreed to join as a co-founder of this movement.
The UN University for Peace in Costa Rica and the newly established International University for Non-Violence in New York (USA), near the UN headquarters, will be the radiating nuclei for this movement. Appeal to join movement
We invite you to join us and actively support us in spreading the message of peace through non-violence all over the world and make our Earth a better place to live, grow and prosper as an integrated and united harmonious global community.
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