Jainism & Environment

a precursor to modern day ecology

JAINA Education CommitteeFederation of Jain Associations in North America

509 Carriage Wood Circle, Raleigh NC 27607 USAwww.jaina.org

eMail – education@jaina.org

A profound truth for all times

“One who neglects or disregards the existence of earth, air, fire, water and vegetation, disregards his own existence which is entwined with them”

- Lord Mahavir (599-527 BC)

Lord Mahavir is the 24th and Last Tirthankar (Prophet) of Jain Religion

The ancient Jain scriptural aphorism

• Parasparopgraho Jivänäm – – Tattvärtha Sutra (2000 year old Scripture)

All life is bound together by mutual support and interdependence

• Environment is imbued in every living beings

• If we harm “ONE”, we harm “ALL” living beings– Refreshingly contemporary in its premise and in its promise. – Forms the basis of the modern day science of ecology.

Mahavir

• Lord Mahavir’s entire life was an example of how to live in perfect harmony with the nature.

• His entire preaching is based on respecting the environment and ecology

• The main theme of His teaching:– Ahimsä (Non-violence)– Aparigrah (Non-possession / Non-possessiveness)– Anekäntväd (Pluralism view points / Open

Mindedness)

Non-violence and Compassion

Jainism recognizes sanctity in all life forms. • Ahimsä is disciplined behavior towards every living

being - Dashvaikalika Sutra (6/9)

• Absence of violence of any sort towards all beings at all times is Ahimsä. - Yogasutra

• In its absolute definition:– ‘Ahimsä is the absence of destructive thoughts,

feelings or attitude’

Environment Possesses Life

• Jainism believes that all Five basic Elements of the Universe which makes our environment possess life– Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Vegetation

• It also believes that every living being possesses one to five senses– Touch, Taste, Smell, Sight, and Hearing

• Vegetation, Earth, Air, Water etc. possesses one sense (touch) while Animals and Humans possess all five senses.

• Also human beings alone are blessed with the sixth sense of advanced developed thinking. Therefore, – Humanity is responsible for achieving oneness and harmony with all

life by being careful, compassionate, loving and nonviolent.

What does Jainism teach about ecology?

• Survival of Life is not possible with absolute non-violence. Hence the destruction of one or the other form of life is essential for our survival.

• However destruction of higher sense living being is more cruel act because of higher development of their senses, which inflicts more pain in them.

• It also has a greater impact on Environment• Hence Jainism advocates Vegetarianism against

Raising Animals for Food.

Compassionate Living

Ahimsä (non-violence): • Not to cause pain to any living beings in words, in

thoughts, and in actions. We do not have right to harm, abuse, or exploit animals, birds, fish etc.

• It is a compassionate living in harmony with nature.

• Vegetarianism – To live a life with minimum violence and avoid animal base products.

What does Jainism teach about ecology?

Non-vegetarian Living - Cruelty to Animals:• Raising animals for Food involves significantly higher use

of natural resources than vegetarian food• It creates significant environmental unbalance• Animals Killed per Day in USA

Cows - 130,000Calves - 7,000Hogs - 360,000Chickens - 24,000,000

What does Jainism teach about ecology?

Cruelty in Dairy Industry• Cows are kept pregnant continually• Slaughtering 70% to 80% of baby calves within six

months by Veal industry or within five years by beef industry

• Slaughtering the mother cows after five years of their fertile life (life expectancy is 15 years)

• Everyday hormones or drugs are injected to increase milk yield.

Non-vegetarianism Impacts Ecology

Non-vegetarian Living - Impact on Ecology• Greenhouse effect

– World's 1.3 billion cows annually produce 100 million tons of methane

– Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas which traps 25 times as much solar heat as CO2

• Water Consumption– Livestock (Cattle, Calves, Hogs, Pigs) production

accounts for more than half of all the water consumed in USA.

Non-vegetarianism Impacts Ecology

Non-vegetarian Living - Impact on Ecology• Land Usage

– A third of the surface of North America is devoted to grazing

– Half of American croplands grow livestock feed for meat and dairy products

– 220 million acres of land in the USA have been deforested for livestock production

– 25 million acres in Brazil, and half the forests in Central America

Non-vegetarianism Impacts Ecology

• To produce 1 lb. of meat, an average of 40 lb of vegetation is used.

(This calculation takes in to consideration, the land clearing, as well as food for the live-stock till slaughter - food cattle are generally slaughtered prior to 2-years-old, dairy cattle may live 4 years before being turned into burgers).

• To produce 1 lb. of meat, an average of 2500 gallons of water is used.

(1 lb. of wheat requires 108 gallons of water, 1 lb. of rice needs 229 gallons of water, 1 lb. of potatoes require just 60 gallons of water).

*Source: USDA  2001.

Non-vegetarianism Impacts Health

Non-vegetarian Living - Impact on Health• High Cholesterol• High Saturated Fats• High incidence of Prostate Cancer• Calcium Deficiency (recent study)• Less Hygienic

Practice compassionate living

In Summary Ahimsä means:– Respect for the lives of others and for

the environment we live in.– Service to lift someone who is down

trodden. – Avoidance of Animal based foods and

products (Be Vegetarian / Vegan).

What does Jainism teach about ecology?

• Non-Possessiveness / Self-restraint is the second most important Jain principle – Minimizing consumption provides respect for other’s

life and Environment– Reduce needs and wants as far as possible.– Reuse / Recycle Products - Not to waste the gifts of

nature– Share resources– Nature provides enough for our NEED not enough for

our GREED

• “Aparigraha seve attai karanti prananam behanam”

– Lord Mahavir

• We kill other lives because of our greed and possessiveness.

• This is the primary cause of all violence as well as imbalance in the environment.

The ancient Jain scriptural aphorism

Jainism in Action – Eco friendly

Caring for the Earth and Environment is the way of Life for the Jain Community by following the two key principles of Jainism in every day life

• Ahimsä– Be Compassionate – Minimize injury to all forms of life including Air, Water, Earth,

Plants and Animals– Be Vegetarian / Vegan and avoid the use of Animal based

products• Non-possessiveness / Self-restraint

– Reduce our needs and wants as far as possible– Reuse / Recycle products, Eliminate Waste– Share Resources