THE JAINISM AND INTEGRAL ECOLOGY

On the Birth Anniversary of Mahavir, April 14,2022

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Greetings of peace to you. April 11, 2022 marks the 59th anniversary of the encyclical Pacem in Terris (Pope
John XXII, 1963). The encyclical says that the world will never be the dwelling place of peace, till peace has
found a home in the heart of persons and families (no.165). One of the factors that endangers peace is the
inability to live with the people of other faith traditions. This inability is born of the lack of knowledge and
appreciation for others. Due to the migration and displacement, we can encounter people of various
religions on our streets. Pope Francis says that we have welcome, protect, promote and integrate the
migrants and refugees. Integration means not only the newcomers integrating to the culture of the host
countries, but also the hosts knowing about the others’ socio-religious traditions. Knowing and developing
appreciation for their values can plant seeds of peace and harmony in our hearts and homes. For this
reason, a few basic information about Jainism is brought to you in the context of the birth day of Mahavir
(April 14 Mahavir Jayanthi) to generate further interest to know of it.

We wear masks to protect ourselves from corona virus. There are a group of people who wear masks,
since many centuries, to avoid the death of micro-organism, by preventing them from entering through
their nose and mouth. They are called Jains and their philosophy is called Jainism. They are 4.4 million
people who mostly live in India. About 200,000 of them are in East Africa, Fiji, Hongkong, UK, USA,
Australia, New Zealand etc. 82% of them are traders, money lenders and bankers; only 18% are working
class. Close to 75% live in urban area.
 About the origin of Jainism there are opinions
that it is older than Hinduism, it is parallel to
Hinduism and it is off-shoot of Hinduism. But
the Jains claim that theirs is the most ancient
religion. In Jainism there are twenty-four
enlightened people (Tirthankaras) who have
conquered the cycle of births and deaths. The
first among them is Rishabhanatha and the last
is Lord Mahavir (599-527 BC) who is considered
to be a father cum reformer of modern
Jainism. His birth day (Mahavir Jayanthi) is
celebrated this year on April 14th.
The compilation of the teachings of
Tirthankaras called Agamas form the scripture
of Jains. . There are two main sects among the
Jains: the Digambaras (sky-clad) who do not
wear clothes and the Svetambaras (white-
clad) who wear white clothes. The Jains have
very high literacy and very low infant mortality.
They are mostly rich, peaceful, close to nature,
upholders of social cum gender justice and
charitable. They are called as Jews of India.
The teachings of Jainism are one of the factors
for these qualities.

Non-consumerism (Aparigraha):
Consumerism is insatiable desire to possess. Greed to possess
is the root cause of violence including nuclear wars. Jainism
says that one has to earn the livelihood like the bee that sucks
only the needed amount of honey, without harming the
flower. This non-consumeristic spirituality promotes self-
discipline, less shopping and saving of money. They do not
believe in the existence of God who is a creator and saviour
and they do not have priests and rituals. In the ceremonies like
death and marriage the intoxicants and meat are not served.
Thus, they save money and time which are in turn invested in
business.

Non-violence (Ahimsa):
Lord Mahavir says that one who disregards the existence of
earth, water, fire, air and vegetarian life, disregards his own
existence as it is entwined with nature. This is what Pope Francis
calls as Integral ecology. Jainism says that no harm can be given
to animals, birds, plants and micro-organisms as they are
connected with human. Killing an animate or inanimate being,
is equivalent to killing oneself. Therefore, the Jain monks walk
bare foot, do not use cars, sweep the floor as they walk and do
not eat after sunset in order to avoid harming of the insects.
During the rainy season usually, there are more insects on the
ground and the pedestrians are likely to harm them. Hence,
during rainy months, the monks avoid travelling and use that
time for the ongoing formation and spiritual exercises. During
the Indian tsunami of 2004, they offered money for the
housing of the fishermen but not for buying boats and nets which kill the fishes. They build homes and
hospitals for the birds and animals. In New Delhi there is a Bird Hospital where wounded birds are treated.
Ahimsa promotes social and gender Justice. There are no caste or class differences among them. They run
around 5000 educational institutions in which 15 million students are studying, who are mostly non-Jains.
They also run hospitals. Mahavir accepted a slave woman called Mahasati Chandanbala as the first woman
disciple and appointed her as the first head of the community of nuns that he founded. On the foot prints
of Mahavir, the Jains promote gender justice.

Ahimsa implies non-violence in thought and word also. The Jains are guided by a philosophy called
Anekantwada (non-absolutism) which says that the truth has varied dimensions. This principle of non-
absolutism promotes tolerance towards varied cultures, theories, belief and encourages harmony and
peaceful co-existence with all. There are Jain-Christian and Jain-Jewish Associations and an Ahimsa Society
for the Care of Nature in UK. In fact, Gandhi learned Satyagraha (compassion to all) from the Jains.

Satya (Truth):
The Monks are required to
Satya is a vow not to lie as
observe this vow strictly and
well as to speak the truth.
completely.
Truth also invites to oppose
the falsehood and failing to Purification:
do this causes the lie by
For praying, fasting and
omission.
rectifying the life, a festival
Ateya (non- stealing): called Paryushan Parva
(Festival of coming together) is
Ateya says not to take celebrated annually. During
other’s belonging. Stealing this feast they make public
also means to accumulate confession and seek
more than what is needed forgiveness from each other
for one’s needs. In today’s for the transgressions of the
context it also includes the previous year. There is a
paying the just salary, the ceremony called Santhara
taxes and not cheating in (Desired death). Some of the
exams. elderly people voluntarily
Brahmacharya (sexual give up food and drink and
continence): embrace death. This is done
for the purification from sins
Brahmacharya refers to total
and to pass from one life to
abstinence from the pleasure
another. Such death is
of all five senses. Sensual
considered a privilege and
pleasure is an infatuating
grace to the family. Hence
force which sets aside all
the family does not cry on
virtues and reason.
the dying.
 Conclusion:
The following Jain prayer sums up their life and aspirations:

“May the world attain the bliss,

May all strive for other’s welfare,
May all evils be destroyed,
May all attain happiness”

-Brahatsantistva

(S. Vincent Anesthasiar, Cmf,

JPIC General Secretary of the Claretians. Rome)