Jain Philosophy and the

Environment
 Who is this guy?

Tushar Mehta MD CCFP

Ontario, Canada!!!!

ER Medicine Georgetown HH

Addictions Medicine SJHC

Family Practice
 Who is this Gal??
 Tushar Mehta MD CCFP
 ER Medicine Georgetown HH
 Addictions Medicine SJHC
 Family Practice
 Why is this a relevant
presentation today?

 We are all hearing about big environmental

problems
 We look to our belief systems to:
 a) understand the problem
 b) to guide us
 Four Parts to Presentation
 What does Jain philosophy say about the environment?

 What are Jain traditions that deal with the environment?

 What are the biggest things that affect the environment?

 What are solutions to these big problems, and what

would be the modern Jain reaction to these?
 What is Jainism and what is a
Jain??
 Do you really believe in this crazy stuff?
(Jain philosphy is often very different than what we think it is)

 Just the parts that are convenient??

 What has happened to Jainism in modern

times?

 What happens to Jain values over time??

 Other Belief systems

 what other things do we follow just like a religion these days?

 belief in elements of the modern world may have
characteristics of religion “
 North American style capitalism”,
 communism, consumerism
 political parties, etc …
 can take on a religions characteristics to the point where
people just see the world in a certain way and think that it is
the only way to live, or the right way to live.
 May be very different from Jain philosphy – compete in our
minds
 Guilt vs Responsibility
 Remember!
 that these are ideas … we are not here to judge
people, though at the same time we do not
want to underestimate the degree of the
problem
 Guilt – BAD
 Responsibility and Empowerment = good
 Who Cares
 How many here are really concerned about
what is happening to the environment?

 What is happening to the environment

 So …
 Has anybody here killed an elephant?
 Jainism Your Way?

 What does this mean??

 Does it meant do what you want to do, and

then call it Jainism …

 How accurate is our knowledge on Jain

Philosphy
 What does Jain philosophy say
about the environment?
Part I

 What is the ENVIRNOMENT in Jainism??

Does Jainism have a concept of it??

 Some philosophers say Jainism does not have

an idea of the environment
 The Universe
 Space time motion rest jiva ajiva = the dravyas = the universe

 Almost everything in Jainism is alive, and has a consciousness

of some sort.

 Water, air, earth and soil, all material that comes from the
earth – has:
 a) living things imbedded in them, and
 b) interconnectedness to all other living things  so to disturb one
things causes a rippling to effect many other things
 WE AIN’T THE KING OF THE
JUNGLE
 Jainism - humans not separate from other life/
environment
 (so some philosophers say that Jainism does not have a concept of the environment)

 Humans NOT at the top of the environment

 Might/ Brains ≠ Right
 (like other religions/philosophies may do we are not really superior … our
might and our intellect does not make it right to take from others … it
never makes it right for us to do this.

 How many of us really believe this??

 Ahimsa

 Jainism recognizes that by living we are going

to hurt others

 Unavoidable

 Try to do ABSOLUTE MINIMUM HARM

 This does not mean Animsa as convenient

 AHIMSA Definition

 COMPASSION or JIV DAYA for all life =

core of Jain belief
 Definition or categories of violence
 Thought Word and Deed
 Direct and Indirect
 Knowingly and Unknowingly
 Doing one’s self, Having another doing it for you,
Appreciating violence another has done
 Is being vegetarian enough?

 Is vegetarianism the main component of ahimsa

practice?

 Violence today = mainly indirect (done by others)

and unintentional (sure, who ever means to hurt
others) and unknowingly (now this is controversial)
 many degrees of separation

 Such violence may exceed that of eating meat

 So killing an elephant …
 Such violence may exceed that of eating meat.

 So has anybody here killed an elephant?

 What about seeing someone’s big new house,

and then thinking/saying “wow that is really
great!”
 APARIGRAHA: Two components
 1) non-possessiveness –would not seek to possess
things especially if they hurt others. Lack of desire.
An attitude.
 2) non-possession

 why is this important – OVERCONSUMPTION

 note – Jain philosophy does not believe in that private property is an

absolute right

 Capitalism and Private Property are Tools / Human Convention

 Aparigraha – and 4 Kashaya
 Maan Maya Lobh Krodh
 Ego Deceit Greed Anger

 Greed – to take more than fair share,

 Especially if it hurts others

 Ego – to think we are important enough to take from

other living beings

 Deceit – to fool ourselves into acceptance of

consumption
 Aparigraha – and Stealing
(Asthaya / Achoryia)

 There is no private property

 But there is stealing…
 Stealing from future generations
 Stealing from all the plant and animal life
 ANEKANTAVAAD
in practice - when it comes to the environment

 Can you see life from the point of view of all other creatures

 Are you trying?

 Most importantly: are you trying to see the impact of your

actions through the eyes of all the life forms that you are
affecting, and the ripples you cause though the living
world?

 Do you hide from the truth? Do we reinterpret information in

favour of our desires??
 Anekantavaad – Trees and
Plants
 These are alive as one sensed beings (believe it??)

 but I have also been told by some monks that though

they are considered to have only one sense, the depth
of their consciousness can be massive …

 trees live for centuries, and some over 1000 years…

Tirthankars usually meditate under a tree!
Jainism and the non living things

 All Ajiva is considered to interact and be

interdependent with all life.

 Disturbing any inanimate object has a myriad

of consequences for Jiva

 This is amazingly true for the environment

 Life is complex and
INTERDEPENDANT

 There area a massive number of life forms on

this level of existence

 All life is interdependent

PARASPAROPAGRAHOJIVANAAM
 Kristi Wiley
 the function of souls is to render service to one another (parasparo-
pagraho jivanam)." In his translation of this famous verse from the
Tattvartha-sutra, Nathmal Tatia has noted, "souls influence each other
through service which may be favorable or unfavorable, beneficial or
harmful. They cannot live independently of one another. They have to
share their pleasure and pain with others." Awareness of the correct
view of reality (samyak-darsana), including the interrelatedness of life
and the intrinsic worth of each living being, is associated with a feeling
of compassion for others

 Kristi Wiley
 http://www.csupomona.edu/~jainism/images/Abstracts.pdf
 Mahavira Quote
 menka
What are Jain traditions
that deal with the
environment?
Part II
 The Jain IDEAL of a MONK
 A monk is considered to live the purest human life –
the most in keeping with Jainism

 many Jains feel: hey, “I’m not a monk. As long as I

am a vegetarian, do the pujas, and go to the temple –
I’m done”

 what does Philosophy say about that idea?

 this is a continuum, not an all or none idea

 Fasting, and all other food
restrictions
 Choviar Uupvas – min of 36 hours of no
eating or even water

 Fasting is to get as close to non-consumption

and non interference in the world as possible

 LIFESTYLE vs RITUAL – when we fast, it is

supposed to teach us to impact the world less
 Vegetarianism and Jiv Daya
 This applies to vertebrate animals
 Also to invertebrates and smaller creatures
 Even to plants

 To eat in such a way that disturbs nature the

least

 Jainism: Vegan, organic, local, simple diet

 Jain Diet
 limiting number of items eaten per day

 Eating simple foods

 Staying away from certain foods that would

kill the whole plant and cause more digging
(Roots)
 Material Possessions – i.e.
“Stuff”
 Minimal (or nil) ownership of material
possessions
 You do not have to be a monk to do that

 Limiting earning of wealth

 limiting wealth is a Jain tradition that is almost
forgotten - but we still know folks who do it
 Was a very strict tradition for many
 Compare that with capitalism, and modern Jains
 Material Possessions – i.e.
“Stuff”
 Spending of wealth
 If you have wealth do not spend on material things
 Do not buy things extract from the earth/affects other
life
 Donate your wealth
 (WARREN BUFFETT example)
 Jainism recognizes that every thing comes
from the earth, and goes back into it
 And can devastate all live, affect the balence
 Not buying or having a house
 Tushar’s grandmother and great grandmother

 This was a Jain tradition to minimize built property

 “nothing can cause more harm to other life than the

building of a home”

 Vow to live with family, smallest material need

 Minimize resource use - extreme
 Minimizing fire and any energy use

 Minimizing water used

 What uses the most water in our society

 answer: animal farming and manufacturing
 i.e. Milk 3000 liters to one liter
 The most energy is from manufactuing

 Sitting still and minimizing breathing, movement, etc (a part

of meditation)
 Minimizing air use!!!
 Choice of professions
 Jain philosophers have long debated what professions
should be avoided … the list was not ever fully
agreed upon,

 But the idea that one’s occupation had a profound

impact on their soul, and on the world/violence
around them.

 This is an idea that has largely been lost in the

modern age?
 Samvasari Pratikraman
 we ask for giveness for moving
up/dowm/N/S/E/W why???

 The idea existed that travel had an impact on

the environment

 That using vehicles had a greater impact

 Samvasari Pratikraman
 We ask forgiveness to all 1-5 sensed creatures
that we have ever harmed

 What does that mean … so sorry, and do it

again

 What do most Jains do after Pratikraman

 ?? Life a ususal … drive to a big home in an SUV with leather
seats??
 Many people do not know…
 That Jainism was an oral tradition – here were no
writings

 One reason was that monks would not cut even a few
leaves from palm trees to make books

 That was too violent (but we eventually needed to)

 How does that contrast with how we live our lives

now?
 The practice of Jain Living
 Living Jainism takes detailed care on the most
minute levels

 How does this compare to the massive impacts

of the lives we live today

 Is there a contradiction between things we do

as a ritual (i.e. not to eat roots) and what we do
in routine life (consumerism)
 As it turns out

Almost every original Jain lifestyle tradition is

profoundly ecological!!!!!
Modern Environmental Movement –
Principles and Problems?

Part III
What is the Environment in modern
Western thought?
 Refers to the “Natural Environment”

 That which exists without significant impact

from human activities

 Somewhat different than Jain idea of nature,

which does not distinguish the surrounding
world from humans
 Information: Too Much and Not
Enough
 We are inundated with this and that are going
to HURT or SAVE the environment

 what are the big factors – and why are they

important

 small ones – good to work on also, but not

without the big ones.
 The main problem in one word

Overconsumption

Some other good words?? The mindset??

 Greed

 Materialism

 Consumerism

 Modern Western Capitalism

 Lack of knowledge, selfishness, ego

 GLOBALIZATION
 Material/overconsumption globalization (trumps everything) )

 Overpowers the globalization or RIGHTS, ENVIRONMENT,

COMPASSION, ETHICS,

 The ECONOMY is worshiped like a GOD

 (I am not saying that the economy is not important)

 Remember, that Jainism does not believe that private property

is an absolute right- Capitalism and Property are Tools/
Human Convention
 MATERIAL GLOBALIZATION
Where is the Damage??
Life looks good to me!

 A) far away
 the damage to people, animals, environment –
 the benefits are in front of us – personal
 hidden, just pictures on the TV or internet
 the powers that control these things want it that way

 B) in front of you but you don’t realize

 Anekantevaad again
The Big Bad things – to the ENV
 turning natural areas into farms

 urban sprawl – building stuff –scorched earth

 look out a plane window, and on google maps

 climate change
 Big Bad things
 human population explosion

 resource extraction and manufacturing of all

things (big things especially)

 animal agriculture

 Fresh water, ocean , fishing

 Big Bad things …
 Resource extraction and manufacturing of all things
(big things especially)

 Ecosystem annihilation and ecosystem segmentation

 Human subspecies extinction, extinction of race,

ethnicities, cultures (especially

 WAR-Iraq is and other

 How many people have died there?
 Is overconsumption of oil a factor (Sudan Iraq
 SMALL THINGS ( do not cause
permanent damage)
 Poor recycling
 Smog, particulates
 Old light bulbs
 Pesticides
 The thousands of green products that are
advertised
 (some are okay, some a sham, some outright bad for the
environment i.e. ethanol)
 Solutions to the Big Problems,
and the modern Jain approach?

Part IV
 Theory: The Inner and the Outer
(at the same time)

 Find inner happiness

 Think and learn and spiritualize
 Put your soul, and other souls first
 Put material things last
 Life first, Material second
 The outer
 By living a nonviolent life, it enhances the soul
 Good outer actions can lead to better inner development
 Inner solutions
THINK THINK THINK
LEARN LEARN LEARN
 about what is going on in the world around you
 remember things that are far away and out of sight
 Wikipedia
 Document - Livestock’s Long Shadow
 NPR and CBC radio 1 and BBC
 Environmental Defense
 RAN
 Sierra Club
 Vegetarian Associations,
 PCRM
 PETA,
 IFAW
 Humane Society International,
 Amnesty International
 Document - Livestock’s Long Shadow
 DO DO DO
(theory of doing)
 Passive Compassion
 Make changes in your own life!!!!!

 Active Compassion
 Getting out there and working for changes in the
world

 (both are important)

 Practical Things
modern day Jainism
 CONSUME LESS!!!!

 HOUSING Restrict Urban sprawl

 choose a small dwelling, high density area
 Apartment>town home> Semi Detached/Small home>
huge home
 Jainism supports the least possible
 Jain and Indian tradition supports living with extended
family
 Room mates and friends
 Choose a transit oriented place to live
 Housing cont …
(Practical Things - modern day Jainism)

 High density mixed use communities

 less land destroyed / used less

 heating and cooling

 less need for car and road

 more walking and mass transit

 Materials and Carbon
(Practical Things - modern day Jainism)
 CONSUMER GOODS
 Buy Less Stuff - MINIMIZE
 Buy used stuff
 Buy Recycled stuff

 CARBON
 Less Flights
 Less Car
 Buy less stuff
 Veg/vegan
 (Practical Things - modern day Jainism)
 WASTE (low impact – when something is
made, most if the damage is done)
 Recycle/compost
 Get to Zero Garbage

 FOOD – Huge impact!!!!!

 Vegetarianism, Vegan diet (3000 liters of water to
make one liter of milk)
 Local Food Organic Food
 Beware of so-called green products (are you
consuming less because of it)
 (Practical Things - modern day Jainism)

 YOUR JOB!!!!!!! YOUR BUISNESS!!!!!!!

 What do you do for a living
 Touchy, takes guts

 GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMIC ADVOCACY

 Economic models that create lots of employment and
economy
 Support of political parties on all levels that have solid
eco policies, not just sham policies
 Jainism and democracy
 i.e. ETHANOL
 i.e. WAR
 GET INVOLVED
(Practical Things - modern day Jainism)

 Support Environmental Organizations

 WWF
 Sierra Club
 Rainforest Action Network
 Vegetarian Organizations / PETA
 Local stuff

 Money and volunteer

 Sustainable International development
(Practical Things - modern day Jainism)
 Population increase
 sustaineable developmemt,
 education in developing countries, especially
female education and
 empowerment of women
 better maternal and child health
 Sustainable development
 Trade justice
 (Practical Things - modern day Jainism)

Jainism Your Way

 The modern and relevant application of Jain
philosphy

 Put the ENVIRONMENT into YJA’s Projects

and Goals
 Summary
 Jainism Philosophy is extremely ecological
 (although Modern Jains may not be)

 Ahimsa
 Aparigraha
 Anekantevaad
 Parasparopagrahojivanaam
 Greed Ego Deciet
Summary – the Environment Today
Massive Permanent Devestation
 turning natural areas into farms
 urban sprawl – building stuff
 climate change
 resource extraction and manufacturing of all things (big things especially)
 human population explosion
 animal agriculture
 fresh water
 fishing industry, ocean
 species extinction
 human subspecies extinction, extinction of race, ethnicities, cultures (especially
 ecosystem annihilation and ecosystem segmentation
 look out a plane window, and on google maps

WAR-Iraq is and other
Summary Human Behaviour
Over-Consumption is the Key issue

Materialism
Consumerism
Greed
Current economy vs sustainable economy
 SUMMARY your Brain
 THINK LEARN MEDITATE
 -Get into the know! (Especially form people who are
not involved with multibillion dollar industries)
 Jainism Your Way
 that does not mean that- interpret it however you want
 it means apply the principles in the best way that you
can, in a way that suits modern times
 Calculate Your Footprint
 www.myfootprint.org
 Summary – what to do
 Housing
 Diet
 Consumerism
 Transportation
 Your job
 Activism!!!! Get involved
 Summary – Jain Philosophy
 Every little detail of your action causes a ripple
effect and affects all other beings in the world

 Karma Chaos!

 Compassion Compassion Compassion

 For ALL LIFE
 Is Ecological
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Grassy Narrows
Grassy Narrows – Amnesty
International involved
Alberta Tar Sands
Alberta Boreal Forest