This article is about a spiritual response to environmental crisis, an emerging field of ethics that joins ecology and environmentalism with the awareness of sacred within the creation2. Drawing on environmentalist, feminist, and marxist thought, moore offers a groundbreaking new synthesis. Chapples 2006 edited volume jainism and ecology, nonviolence in the web of life2, to which a long list of eminent scholars of jaina studies have contributed. Ahimsa can save the planet magazine web edition octobernovemberdecember 2012 publications hinduism today magazine. This traditional body of knowledge includes a longstanding theory and practice of personal, social and environmental sustainability, addressing such. But can jainism adopt a sociocentric environmentalism without compromising its own ascetic principles and spiritual tradition. Jainism and ecology christopher key chapple harvard. Elements of ecology 9th edition freshwater ecology, second edition. Pdf the web of life download full pdf book download. But humans live out of sync with the mechanism when we go against our qualities of love, kindness and friendship for all living beings.
Jainism incorporates the traditional hindu concepts of karma and reincarnation, but rejects the veda scriptures, castes and the idea of a creator god. Read jainism and ecology nonviolence in the web of life religions. Jainism and ecology bibliography isee international society for. Life is viewed as a gift of togetherness, accommodation and assistance in a universe teeming with interdependent constituents.
Ecospiritualities of different kinds seem to be the invisible backbone of the growth of this child. Jainism realizes that various trials and tribulations are part of life and that we humans are prone to all kinds of weaknesses. In jainism, nonviolence is not merely a ritual but discipline for all at all. The physical environment plays a key role in the jaina worldview, which makes a direct connection between its cosmology and its ethical system. In this paper, an attempt has been made to examine some of the key concepts of jaina religion from an environmental perspective. The jain principle of ahimsa nonviolence and ecology this is the revised text of a lecture delivered at the institute of oriental philosophy on november 30, 2012 sohan lal jain gandhi crumbling ecosystem and humanity t hough ahimsa, the basic tenet of jainism, has been in vogue since. Nonviolence in the web of life religions of the world and ecology triotiopa. Nonviolence in the web of life religions of the world and ecology saltmarsh ecology cambridge studies in.
The personal, social and environmental sustainability of. But can jainism adopt a sociocentric environmentalism without compromising its own. Most jaina follow a lay life and have excelled in business, particularly in publishing, pharmaceuticals, the diamond trade, marble, and textiles. Weeks 2, 3, and 4, students read selected chapters found in jainism and ecology.
The author, gaurav patel, brings at least a few of these emotions to anyone who likes to read poetry. The web of life available for download and read online in other formats. Each being is a vital thread in anothers life tapestry and our lives are woven together for a reason to survive and be happy. Living beings need not fear those who have taken the vow of ahimsa. The cluster of jain temples perched on the summit of palitana hill in gujarat, india, demonstrate the jain ideal of care and attention for nature. Sigurd bergmann1 introduction scholars such as sigurd bergmann have noted that each tradition is uniquely. The paper focuses on jains parasparopagraho jivanam or interconnectedness. The voices in this volume reflect the dynamic nature of. The 2500yearold tradition of jainism, which emphasizes nonviolence as the only true path leading to liberation, offers a worldview seemingly compatible with the goals of environmental activism. Harvard university press for the center for the study of world religions, 2002. It is also translated as, all life is bound together by mutual support and interdependence. Harvard university faculty of arts and sciences, jainism literature center. It has a necessary role of application in nonviolence.
Jainism religion yale forum on religion and ecology. Nonviolence in the web of life issr library publications of the center for the study of world religions, harvard divinity school volume 7 of religions of the world and ecology. Ahimsa is often translated simply as nonviolence, but its implications are far wider. Ecology ahimsa can save the planet establishing nonviolence as the central principle in our relationship with nature is the key to an effective and lasting environmental movement by pankaj jain ecology. Religion and environmentalism is an emerging interdisciplinary subfield in the academic disciplines of religious studies, religious ethics, the sociology of religion, and theology amongst others, with environmentalism and ecological principles as a primary focus. Concepts and environmental applications of limnology aquatic ecology jainism and ecology. Jainism emphasizes the teaching of nonviolence ahimsa.
Nonviolence in the web of life religions of the world and ecology pawarutratanar. Jainism evokes images of monks wearing facemasks to protect insects and micoorganisms from being inhaled. Nonviolence in the web of life religions of the world and ecology author. A case study of jaininspired ethical and ecoconscious living. Matthews, mary evelyn tucker, and philip hefner, 283292. Ecology of love and avoidance negotiating the boundaries. Read online the web of life and download the web of life book full in pdf formats. Although many jaina selfidentify with the larger hindu tradition, census figures place the jaina population at between 4 and 6 million. Traditions and transformations the worlds religions. Nonviolence in the web of life christopher key chapple, hava tiroshsamuelson, harvard university.
Laxmi mall singhvi, in jain declaration of nature in jainism and ecology. Nonviolence in the web of life religions of the world and ecology by christopher key chapple editor 3. Jainism and ecology paperback nonviolence in the web of life. Jainism, dharma, and environmental ethics pankaj jain environmentalism is comparable to a child that only recently learned to walk.
Human beings, like all living things, have a place and a purpose in. Cambridge, mass center for the study of world religions, harvard. In the struggle to sustain the earths environment as viable for future generation, environment studies have, thus far, left religion unprobed, in contrast to the emphasis given to science and technology. The jain principle of ahimsa nonviolence and ecology. International society for science and religion, 2007. Jainism in jainism, the ancient and perhaps timeless philosophical concepts, like parasparopagraho jivanam, were more recently compiled into a jain declaration on nature, which describes the religions inherent biocentrism and deep ecology. In jainism beliefs, the three jewels consist of right perception, right knowledge, and right conduct as a path to liberation or blissful existence. Jainism is considered a rich and profound way of life embraced by a strong and largely affluent minority in india. In view of these facts, jainism provides a unique system to attain inner peace and happiness. Nonviolence in the web of life christopher key chapple the twentyfivehundredyearold tradition of jainism, which emphasizes nonviolence as the only true path leading to liberation, offers a worldview seemingly compatible with the goals of environmental.
Find some humor, sadness, joy, and everything in between in your life. Loneliness depressed humor thoughts happiness web of life is just simply everyday reading enjoyment. Nonviolence in the web of life religions of the world and ecology book book details. All life is sacred and everything has a right to live fearlessly to its maximum potential. Bibliography jainism religion yale forum on religion. The doctrine of pluralism anekantavada is another original and basic idea of jainism that is connected with ahi. The intersection of earth, sky, and water and jainism and ecology. From the earliest extant text of the tradition, one learns that jaina monks and nuns were keen observers of the elements and the living beings of the natural world. Nonviolence in the web of life, both published by harvard university press. Ahimsa paramo dharmah nonviolence is the supreme virtue dharm. The jain community, consisting of 6 to 8 million jains or less. Trasa beings are those that possess two, three, four, and five sense organs. According to the tattvartha sutra there are 8,400,000 species of living things each of which is part of the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth, and.
In jainism, non violence is not merely a ritual but discipline for all at all. In other words, all jivas can become gods provided they tread the path of purification and practise equanimity of mind. The 2500yearold tradition of jainism, which emphasizes nonviolence a. Rediscovering and reclaiming a functional cosmology. Altogether, while first providing a brief inventory of jain ecological. Jun 20, 2019 the teachings of jainism are based on three principles including nonviolence, nonabsolutism, and nonpossessiveness. Nonviolence in the web of life religions of the world and ecology agile product management.
Living beings fall under two broad classes, trasa or mobile and sthavara or immobile. She also discussed some of the aspects of indian life like caste system. Nonviolence in the web of life 2006 by christopher key chapple, p. The principle of nonviolence, also known as ahimsa, is the most famous and fundamental principle of jainism. But can jainism adopt a sociocentric environmentalism without compromising. Mar 17, 2015 accordingly, liberated souls are revered more than the gods. In jainism, life is arranged hierarchically according to the number of senses a particular form possesses. Nonviolence in this web of life reflect the dynamic nature of the jain faith and its willingness to engage in discussion on a modern social issue. In this book, nivedita discussed on several topics of india, lives of indians and hindu people. Nonviolence in the web of life religions of the world and ecology 9780945454342.
In this book chapter, chapple provides a basic overview of the relationship of jainism and ecology, discussing such topics as biodiversity, environmental resonances and social activism, t ensions between jainism and ec ology, and the universe filled with living beings. Nonviolence in the web of life religions of the world and ecology the worlds religions plus religions in the modern world. They were called samanas monks because they believed in the equality of all beings and practiced nonviolence. The common concerns between jainism and environmentalism constituted in a mutual sensitivity towards living beings, a recognition of the interconnectedness of life. In the struggle to sustain the earths environment as viable for future generation, environment studies have, thus far, left religion unprobed, in contrast to the. Though the religion has produced worldclass leaders and has propagated its philosophies for generations, little is known about it outside the south asian continent. Download iconographic dictionary of the indian religions. Jainism classifies the various living beings under different grades according to their development and sense faculties. Center for the study of world religions snippet view 2002. Read jainism and ecology nonviolence in the web of life religions of the world and ecology ebooks online. Jun 23, 2012 although the ideal of nonviolence is universal, indian religions, in general, and jainism, in particular, consider it to be the foundation of the entire code of ethics. Bibliography jainism the forum on religion and ecology.
Moore argues that the sources of todays global turbulence have a common cause. For instance, life particles jiva in earth, water, fire, air, microorganisms, and plants each experience the world through the sense of touch. The goal of life in jainism is to reach liberation by a life of purification, discipline, and nonviolence as taught by the tirthankaras. Thermodynamic principles of environmental building design, in three parts jainism and ecology. Ecology and jainism the physical environment plays a key role in the jaina worldview, which makes a direct connection between its cosmology and its ethical system. What science and religion tell us about the story of the universe and our place in it, eds. According to jainism, protection of life, also known as abhayadanam, is the supreme charity that a person can make. Landscape ecology principles in landscape architecture and. Theantiquity of jainism jaina religion is the oldest religion of india, it began as a spiritual discipline for samanas, arhatas, tirthankaras, nigganthas, and jainas. Jainism is commonly known for its agenda of selfpurification and its asceticism with a view to attaining ultimate freedom kaivalya. The twentyfivehundredyearold tradition of jainism, which emphasizes nonviolence as the only true path leading to liberation, offers a worldview seemingly compatible with the goals of environmental activism. The implementation of the principle of nonviolence is more comprehensive in jainism than in any other religion.
1541 742 1163 1567 648 1315 33 770 733 619 1542 1182 428 1464 1327 970 194 733 93 753 234 25 1307 328 129 1100 1449 1426 1348 1249 439 260 1319 99 1306 1331 630 90