Siddhachalam NJ 1993 06 Acharya Sushil Kumarji

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

Page 41

TWIN CONCEPTS OF POLLUTION AND PURIFICATION
VIEWS FROM EAST AND WEST
Page 34
The twin concepts of Pollution and Purification are very important for the survival of this universe. The continuous motion and interaction of matter and energy is actually life in its external form. The day this process stops, the whole universe will disintegrate. The millions of combinations of matter and energy during the cycling and recycling process has led to the birth of this universe. Human life and all other forms of life in visible and invisible form, are the results of many billions of bio-chemical combinations. The combinations resulting from this interaction of matter and energy is called Jiva and has a consciousness of its own. As long as Jiva resides in its body, in any shape, life exists. But when Jiva (consciousness) departs from the body, death and disintegration into the five basic elements of air, water, earth, fire and space results. These elements are then recycled into the ever-active recycling process.
Today the whole world is facing a very grave danger of pollution, which has endangered the existence of this planet and all of its life forms, and continues to threaten interplanetary balance.
Western View
Western countries are aware of the dangers of pollution, but they recognize it simply as an external threat that creates serious health and environmental hazards which are incompatible with human survival. All their efforts are therefore limited to the physical control of air, water and land pollution. Over the years they have spent millions of dollars to develop and use the best anti-pollutants to clean the environment, but their efforts have so far met with only partial success. The most effective pollutant loses its effectiveness after some time and the search for a new anti-pollutant
by: V.P. SINGH
begins anew. In fact, the pollution in the West is closely bound to the vital agricultural or industrial system. The control of the ecological pollution caused by constant use of large numbers of chemical combinations in agriculture and industry is creating other dangers. The truth is that the West has to redesign and re-evaluate its entire anti-pollution drive. And at this point the West continues to deny any connection between environmental pollution and the pollution caused by the negative thoughts (Karma) of humans living on the earth.
Eastern View
Jain philosophy recognizes that pollution and purification are two sides of the same coin that goes beyond a physical to a spiritual problem. The proponents of this philosophy argue that all external pollutants are in fact the indirect result of our thought process and that the deeds of humans give physical expression to these thoughts through the process of transduction. These thoughts combine with the actual deeds and also pollute the external environment. Furthermore, all these external pollutants combine the karmas of the Jiva to cause universal pollution. We must therefore resort to external as well as internal spiritual efforts to purify the environment. These efforts include not only purification of the air, water and earth, but also a commitment to lead a disciplined and well-balanced daily life. Together, this is known as the twin concept.
Twin concept
The twin concept of Pollution and Purification is not new. It was very well known to ancient cultures and religions. Hindu religion insisted on purity of the environment not only by physical efforts but also by disciplining the conduct and behavior (karma) of human beings. Yoganas were performed every day to purify the environment. A caste system was developed to prevent virus infection; inter-caste marriages were prohibited to guard against genetic pollution and meditation was practiced to purify mind and soul. In due course, this arrangement was distorted by the fundamentalist priest class and thus the entire significance was lost to future generations. New Philosophy came as a reaction to the fundamentalist approach, which started putting too much emphasis upon Karmkand and hence Buddhism and Jainism were born. They offered a new and a revolutionary
His Holiness Acharya Sushil Kumar Ji Maharaj