Jainism teaches living in harmony with the environment based on the principles of non-violence and interdependence. Lord Mahavir, the founder of Jainism, taught that disregarding the earth, air, fire, water and vegetation is disregarding one's own existence as all life is intertwined. Jainism promotes vegetarianism, non-possession and minimal impact through teachings of respecting all life and nature.

1. Jainism &
Environment
a precursor to modern day ecology

2. 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)

3. The ancient Jain scriptural aphorism
• Parasparopgraho Jivänäm –
– Tattvärtha Sutra
All life is bound together by mutual support and
interdependence (If one does not care for nature one
does not care for oneself)
– Refreshingly contemporary in its premise and in its promise.
– Forms the basis of the modern day science of ecology.

4. Mahavir
• His entire life was an example of how to live in
perfect harmony with the environment.
• His entire preaching is based on respecting the
environment and ecology
• The main theme of His teaching:
– Ahimsä (Non-violence)
– Aparigrah (Non-possession)
– Anekantvad (Pluralism view points)

5. What does Jainism teach about ecology?
Ahimsä (non-violence):
• Not to cause pain to any living beings in words, in
thoughts, and in actions.
• Vegetarianism – To live a life with minimum
violence and avoid all animal base products.
• It is a compassionate living in harmony with
nature.

6. Non-violence and Compassion
• 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’

7. What does Jainism teach about ecology?
Non-vegetarian Living - Cruelty to Animals:
• Animals Killed per Day in USA
Cattle - 130,000
Calves - 7,000
Hogs - 360,000
Chickens - 24,000,000

8. What does Jainism teach about ecology?
Cruelty exist 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.

9. What does Jainism teach about 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.

10. What does Jainism teach about 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

11. What does Jainism teach about ecology?
Non-vegetarian Living - Impact on Health
• Calcium and Protein Deficiency
• High Cholesterol
• High Saturated Fats
• High incidence of Prostate Cancer

12. Practice of compassionate living
Ahimsä means:
• Respect for the lives of others and for the
environment we live in.
• Avoidance of Animal based foods and
products (Be Vegetarian / Vegan).
• Service to lift someone who is down
trodden.

13. What does Jainism teach about ecology?
• Non-Possession/Self-restraint is the second most
important Jain principle
– Reduce one’s needs and wants as far as possible.
– Not to waste the gifts of nature
– Nature provides enough for our NEED not enough for
our GREED

14. The ancient Jain scriptural aphorism
• “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.

15. Faith Action
• Caring for the Earth and Environment is the way
of Life of the Jain Community by following the
principles of Jainism in their daily life
– Be Compassionate
– Be Vegetarian and avoid the use all types of animal
based products
– Reduce our needs and wants as far as possible.