3. Introduction
• Contemporary Indian environment?
• Jain cosmology, ethics towards the nature?
• Jain worldview and contemporary theories?
• Jain response to environmental issues?
4. 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?
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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 PlantsAir
9. 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”
10. • 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
11. • 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)
12. 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
13. 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
14. 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…
15. Eco-Examples
• Ashoka’s edicts & Sacred
Groves
• Ashoka’s grandfather and
grandson
• Gurjar king Siddharaja &
his successor Kumarapala
• Muhammad Tughlak,
Akbar, and Jahangir
17. Diaspora Jainism
• De-emphasizing rituals, asceticism
• Non-sectarianism, interfaith, meditation
• Vegetarianism, animal rights
• Sociocentric Environmentalism
• Ecologization of the Neminath story
18. 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
