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Many a religion and very particularly Jainism have emphasised frugality of consumption and containment of needs and desires, and have prescribed a prudent way of life accordingly. This Jainism has a very important role to play in the next century by way of refrainment from consuptionism and hoarding of material wealth. Thus 'Live and Let Others Live' and harmonious living in 'Peaceful coexixtence' are essential tenets of Jainistic thought and culture, which were always relevant and significant in human history and are even more so today.
Again, through its most ardent insistence on refrainment of non- vegetable food or other consumption, Jain way of life has contributed significantly towards thwarting the depletion of world food resources and resource base. It is estimated that the lavish life style of so called developed countries of the West of feeding the grain to animals and then using them for human consumption-requires over five times the food resources needed to feed the same human population through direct consumption of food grains as staple food. The Jain way of life is thus distinctly more eco-freindly by far. Therefore, the institutions preaching 'Shakahar' are rendering ylomen service to the mankind and his natural resource base by effecting the change over from non- vegetable to the vegetable food habit. And it is heartening to note that this movement has gained good momentum and has broken new ground in many parts of the world.
I believe, hope, and wish this international convention under the aegis of 'Ahimsa International' will certainly contribute substantialy towards propagating the Jain thought and culture which is going to be ever more relevant to the burning problems of 21st. century.
Jain Education International
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Translated by: Dr. Jawahar Lal Jain
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