Jainism and environmental conservation - Revision history

Gauravm: /* Nature and Jainism */

2012-04-06T15:10:23Z

‎Nature and Jainism

Gauravm at 20:09, 5 April 2012

2012-04-05T20:09:00Z

Gauravm: /* Nature and Jainism */

2012-04-05T13:44:18Z

‎Nature and Jainism

Gauravm: /* Non violence – the basis of Jainism */

2012-04-05T13:41:38Z

‎Non violence – the basis of Jainism

Gauravm at 13:40, 5 April 2012

2012-04-05T13:40:47Z

Gauravm at 13:22, 5 April 2012

2012-04-05T13:22:35Z

Gauravm at 13:19, 5 April 2012

2012-04-05T13:19:32Z

Gauravm: /* Nature and Jainism */

2012-04-02T18:55:15Z

‎Nature and Jainism

Gauravm at 17:32, 2 April 2012

2012-04-02T17:32:03Z

Gauravm: /* Jainism and environmental conservation */

2012-04-02T17:26:39Z

‎Jainism and environmental conservation

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 ==Nature and Jainism==
-[[w:Jain Agamas|Jain Agams]] depict nature in a very unique way as it says that five main elements of nature; ''Prithvi'' (land, soil, stones, etc), ''Jal'' (Water resources including cloud), ''Agni'' (Fire), ''Vayu'' (Air) and ''Vanashpati'' (Vegetation, trees and plants including fungi) are living creatures and must be treated as living beings. These five types of elements go on to form [[w:Jain_terms_and_concepts#Types_of_Kaya_.28Bodies.29|five classes of beings]] (as shown alongside). This unique concept of Jainism restricts its followers to harm any creature and eventually leads to limited consumption as well as help in protecting environment<ref name="2a">Jyoti Kothari at Hubpages.com Accessed: April 2, 2012</ref>.
+[[w:Jain Agamas|Jain Agams]] depict nature in a very unique way as it says that five main elements of nature; ''Prithvi'' (land, soil, stones, etc), ''Jal'' (Water resources including cloud), ''Agni'' (Fire), ''Vayu'' (Air) and ''Aakash'' (Sky) are living creatures and must be treated as living beings. These five types of elements go on to form [[w:Jain_terms_and_concepts#Types_of_Kaya_.28Bodies.29|five classes of beings]] (as shown alongside) such as vegetation, trees and plants, fungi and animals. This unique concept of Jainism restricts its followers to harm any creature and eventually leads to limited consumption as well as help in protecting environment<ref name="2a">Jyoti Kothari at Hubpages.com Accessed: April 2, 2012</ref>.
 [[w:Mahavira|Lord Mahavira]], who lived in forests and jungles most of the times during his asceticism, attained Keval gyan ([[w:omniscience|omniscience]]) on the bank of river [[w:Jamui_district#History|Rijuvalika]] below a shal tree. It is noteworthy that Mahavira is the 24th and last Tirthankar of Jain and all others also lived their ascetic life in similar manner. They preached sitting in [http://www.anekant.org/op_level_2_samavasaran.htm Samavasharana] after enlightenment. The Samavasharana itself is a complete ecosystem. Lord Mahavira has clearly warned in [[w:Kalpasutra (Jainism)|Acharanga Sutra]], first Jain Anga Sutra, that contamination of any natural resources is not desirable in any case. He has gone in to details of contamination. Jainism considers these as weapons to creatures (natural resources)<ref name=2a/>.

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 ==Jainism and environmental conservation==
 '''''Author: Devanshi Khokhani'''''<br>
-[[File:Mahavir.jpg|thumb|200px|right|An idol of Bhagwan Mahavir]]
+[[File:Mahavir.jpg|thumb|250px|right|An idol of Bhagwan Mahavir]]
 Jainism ( जैनधर्म - Jainadharma) is one of the most environmentally conscious religions in the world. The religion is based on the principal of non-violence towards all living beings. The religion is thought to have its [[w:Jainism#History|roots]] in the [[w:Indus Valley Civilization|Indus Valley Civilization]] and the later [[w:Vedic Civilization|Vedic Civilization]], a period of intense philosophical deliberations on the Indian subcontinent. Jainism was firmly established in India between 9th and 6th century BC. Today, there are over 4 million followers of Jainism in India and around the world<ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/India_at_glance/religion.aspx "Indian Census"]. Censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 2010-09-01</ref>.

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 One of the ways Jain monks or the followers of Jainism, observe non violence is by restraining themselves from eating the roots like potato, [[w:radish|radish]], [[w:carrot|carrots]], ginger etc, especially during the 4 months of rainy season. The reason behind this is they think that during harvest of these vegetables, earth is dug out and the soil organisms are killed more during rainy season. Jains called this period as “Chaumasu” or “Chaturmas”. In this period, even the monks do not wander from one place to another in order to avoid any unintentional killing of any form of life. For example, on a rainy day, they would observe fasts as they cannot walk on the wet streets to get “Gochari” (get food for themselves).
-Jain scriptures motivate people for minimal consumption. They emphasize on Tyaga (Sacrifice). Jain Sharavaka / Shravikas (Laymen and women) are preached to minimize their Bhoga (Consumables). The seventh vow for Jain households is ''Bhogopbhog Pariman Vrata'' (Vow). This vow restricts them from unlimited consuming of natural resources. Moreover, this vow is a ''Shiksha Vrata'' (Educational vow). It preaches its observers to learn and educate themselves towards limiting their consumables.
+Jain scriptures motivate people for minimal consumption. They emphasize on ''Tyaga'' (Sacrifice). Jain ''Sharavaka'' / ''Shravikas'' (Laymen and women) are preached to minimize their ''Bhoga'' (Consumables). The seventh vow for Jain households is ''Bhogopbhog Pariman Vrata'' (Vow). This vow restricts them from unlimited consuming of natural resources. Moreover, this vow is a ''Shiksha Vrata'' (Educational vow). It preaches its observers to learn and educate themselves towards limiting their consumables.
 ==Other media==

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 ==Non violence – the basis of Jainism==
 [[File:Hierarchy of Beings.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Hierarchy of beings in Jainism]]
-"Ahimsa-paramo-dharmah" (non-injury to living beings) is one of the basic virtues of [[w:Jainism|Jainism]]. To kill a living being is considered to be the greatest of sins. Practice of non violence is not just limited to humans or animals but is extended to all forms of life. All living beings are regarded as equal<ref name="3a">[http://www.religioustolerance.org/jainism.htm Jainism - Religioustolerance.org] Accessed: April 2, 2012</ref>. Jainism also stresses on the moral responsibility of the humans in their mutual dealings and relationships with the rest of the universe and hence it is a religion of [[w:compassion|compassion]] – it aims at the welfare of all living beings. An important principle of Jainism is expressed in [[w:Jainism#Literature|Sutrakrta-anga]] (1.11.33) as follows:
+''Ahimsa-paramo-dharmah'' (non-injury to living beings) is one of the basic virtues of [[w:Jainism|Jainism]]. To kill a living being is considered to be the greatest of sins. Practice of non violence is not just limited to humans or animals but is extended to all forms of life. All living beings are regarded as equal<ref name="3a">[http://www.religioustolerance.org/jainism.htm Jainism - Religioustolerance.org] Accessed: April 2, 2012</ref>. Jainism also stresses on the moral responsibility of the humans in their mutual dealings and relationships with the rest of the universe and hence it is a religion of [[w:compassion|compassion]] – it aims at the welfare of all living beings. An important principle of Jainism is expressed in [[w:Jainism#Literature|Sutrakrta-anga]] (1.11.33) as follows:
 ''<blockquote>A man should wander about treating all creatures as he himself would be treated.<ref  name="1a">http://blog.jainee.com/2009/08/jainism-and-environment-part-1.html Jainism and environment] Accessed: April 2, 2012</ref></blockquote>'' Apart from preventing oneself from act of injury or killing, Jainism also considers controlling emotions like aggression, possession, and consumption that are usually the root causes of violence in today’s world.

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 ==Vardhaman Mahavir==
-The most important religious holiday for [[w:Jain|Jains]] worldwide is [[w:Mahavir Jayanti|Mahavir Jayanti]], the birthday of Lord Mahavir. Lord Mahavir was the 21st and the last [[w:Tirthankara|Tirthankar]] in Jainism who played an important role in defining the Jain religion as it exists today.
+The most important religious holiday for [[w:Jain|Jains]] worldwide is [[w:Mahavir Jayanti|Mahavir Jayanti]], the birthday of Lord Mahavir. Lord Mahavir was the 24th and the last [[w:Tirthankara|Tirthankar]] in Jainism who played an important role in defining the Jain religion as it exists today.
 Bhagwaan Mahavir, who is also known as Vardhaman Mahavir, was born in 599 BC in Kundgram near Vaishali of Bihar in India in the royal family of King Siddartha and Queen Trishala . After 30 years as a householder, he abandoned his family and went to the forests to perform a penance. After about 12 and half years of severe penance he attained “Keval Gyan” (Omniscience). Since then he preached non violence to people and insisted to inculcate the feeling of compassion towards all forms of living beings. He, himself set as an excellent example by remaining calm and forgiving all the creatures who imposed severe austerities on him.  He is the last tirthankar of the 24 tirthankaras , who attained salvation on New Moon Day of Kartik, 527 B.C.E at Pavapuri in state of [[Bihar]] in India.

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