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Ecological Violence in Jainism Human race considers itself highest production of nature. His attitude towards other creatures is callous. The dilemma is, he cant do without material things. His basic instinct is possessiveness by tendency. On other side his existence is threatened as we are trapped into environ mental & ecological crisis. How?
Due to carelessness in industrial growth, technological advancement, increase in human population, over exploitation of natural resources over extraction, over- use, over - misuse, over population, over industrialization, over consumption, over production of material goods, environment is disturbed.
Brutality of humans towards other living beings is interfering with the laws of nature.
Who is responsible for ecological disturbance ?
Who is destroying the existence of other species for personal needs?
Who is greedy & over desirous to kill the eco- system ?
Who is destroying the beauty of earth- nature & playing with natural- resources?
Human creed is at the center of all these disturbance. We need to protect environment & ecology not because we hear the cries & feel pity towards plants and animals but because of our own life, we are worrying about thinning of one layer, by poisoning the air, soil, water basic elements needed for life sustenance. Depletion of substance will give legacy to next generation infectious diseases, & destruction of plants & other living beings.
Teaching of Mahavira is equanimity to all reverence, respect, & tolerance to all forms of life . ... All living being has capacity to feel pleasure & pain in different degrees. They also have right of freedom to live .All sentient creature love happiness, wants to live. No one wants to die. Buddhist eat meat since Buddha was meat eater. This encourages violence.
Why toss two day old chick in grinder or cook frogs & Lobster by throwing alive in boiling water or few day old calf to produce tender veal dine to derive pleasure? Acharanga sutra 12.: 3 says : Hodara yod Fiat Ho HIT :
सव्वे भुवा न हंतवा न परितावेयवा
Uttaradhyan sutra : One must balance towards all living being whether friend or enemy. All rivers meets sea, like wise all virtues meets in ideal of non- violence.
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