Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Overview
• Introduction • Jain Philosophy • Eco-Example in Jain Traditions • Jains Today • Closing
Introduction • Contemporary Indian environment?
• Jain cosmology, ethics towards the nature?
• Jain worldview and contemporary theories?
• Jain response to environmental issues?
Environmental Problems in India • Assault on land • Loss of forest (lack of firewood, fodder,
encroachment) • Industrial Pollution (~ Pittsburgh in 1940s) • Unplanned urbanization/industrialization • Large scale projects and less rehabilitation of
displaced • River pollution (~ Ohio’s Cuyahoga,1960s) • Population explosion and consumerism
The 80-20 problem in the world?
Indians “greenest” in the world? National Geographic Survey 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/greendex/
• Housing: Air-conditioning, Heating, Water needs, Dwelling size, Appliances
• Transportation: Ownership rates and average usage of motorized vehicles, length of daily commutes, and utilization of public transport
• Food: Consumption of locally produced foods, as well as their relative consumption of bottled water, meat, and seafood
• Consumer goods: Everyday consumption, “big-ticket” items
The “Hindu-Jain” Sustainability Way
Jain Cosmology • Siddha Loka • Eight heavens • Manushya Loka – 3 continents,
2 oceans, animals, humans • Seven hells • Living (Jiva) – consciousness, energy, bliss • Nonliving (Ajiva) – karma • One’s present > Other’s past or future
Jain Taxonomy
• Touch only (immobile beings) – earth, water, fire and air bodies, nigoda, plants
• T and taste (life span – 12 years) – worms, leeches, oysters, snails
• T, t, and smell (life span – 49 days) – insects, spiders
• T, t, s, and see (life span – 6 months) – Butterflies, flies, bees
• T, t, s, s, and hear (Sentient and non-sentient) – Birds, reptiles, mammals, humans, gods, demons
Jain Taxonomy World = Living + Non-living
Soul (jiva)
Mundane Liberated
Mobile Immobile
2,3,4 and 5 sensed beings One sensed beings
(touch)
Earth Water Fire Plants Air
Jain Philosophy • Ahimsa (Non-violence)
– Greatest Dharma for one’s Karma
• Aparigraha – Non-accumulation, Dharma
for the nature (ecology) • Anekantavada
– Many perspectives towards the environment
– Anthropocentric/egocentric to “plurality of reality” and “reality of plurality”
• 22nd Neminatha – Responds to animal slaughter
• 23rd Parshvanatha – Responds to the burning of a snake
• 24th Mahavira (600 BCE) – Sends Indrabhuti to stop slaughter – “Trees inherently valuable” – AS 2.4.2.11-12
– “Vegetation has life just as humans” – AS 1.1.5.9-11
• Other Texts – “Souls render service to one another” – TS 5.21, BS 2.2.5.6-7
– “Behavior of the bees” – Dashavaikalika Sutra 1.2-5 – “Forests are like saints. Tree for + karma” – Adipurana
Tirthankaras
• Do's (non-violence) – Trading, banking,
commerce, clerical activities
– Traditional medicine – Arts and crafts – Service to the
government or ruler – Manufacturing
(textiles, machines) – Publishing and media – Education
Jain Householders • Don'ts (violence)
– Charcoal, timber – Carts, animals – Alcohol – Slaves – Weapons – Poisons – Sugar canes, seeds – Fire – Lakes (Bhogopabhog vrata)
Brian Swimme’s Cosmology • Material objects > consumerism > depression
– Jain Aparigraha (non-accumulation) • Earth alive and responds to our presence • Universal celebration of origin (big-bang)
– Jain respect for all Jivas (creatures)
Contemporary Theories
Thomas Berry and David Abram • World is a “communion of subjects, not a
collection of objects” – Berry – Jain view of soul in all beings
• “Diversity of local forms” – Abram – Jain insistence of changing lifestyle – Mahavira for “changing the minds” – Trees as inherently valuable for beauty & strength
• “Role of senses” – Abram – Empiricism in Tattvarthasurtha by Umasvati
Eco-Examples Gandhi
• Inspired by the Jain guru Rajchandra (1891 – 95) – Truth – Satya – Non-violence – Ahimsa – Simplicity – Aparigraha – Celibacy - Brahmacharya – Self-reliance – Purushartha – Austerities – Upavasa
• An Ecological treatise, a living ecosystem – Small meals of nuts and fruits – Daily ablutions and bodily practices – Periodic observances of silence – Morning walks – Cultivation of the small with the big – Spinning wheel – Abhorrence of waste
– The moralists, nonviolent activists, feminists, journalists, social reformers, trade union leaders, peasants, prohibitionists, nature-cure lovers, renouncers and environmentalists all take their inspirations from Gandhi's life…
Eco-Examples • Ashoka’s edicts & Sacred
Groves • Ashoka’s grandfather and
grandson • Gurjar king Siddharaja &
his successor Kumarapala • Muhammad Tughlak,
Akbar, and Jahangir
Jains Today… • Pollutions • Strip mining industries • Wastage of resources AND • Bird Hospital, Delhi • Cattle Sanctuaries
Diaspora Jainism • De-emphasizing rituals, asceticism • Non-sectarianism, interfaith, meditation • Vegetarianism, animal rights • Sociocentric Environmentalism • Ecologization of the Neminath story
Green Jain Temples • Detroit Jain Temple • Dallas Jain Temple
– Invested about $45,000 and received the matching grant from Oncor Energy Company, more than 100 electric fixtures and 11 HVAC units replaced with 30% saving per month
• Shatrunjaya Temple, Palitana, Gujarat • Veerayatan, Bihar • Anuvibha and ANARDE foundations
[email protected] Thank you जय िज$%&
