1. Jainism &
Environment
a precursor to modern day ecology
JAINA Education Committee
Federation of Jain Associations in North America
509 Carriage Wood Circle, Raleigh NC 27607 USA
www.jaina.org
eMail – education@jaina.org

2. A profound truth for all times
“One who neglects or disregards the existence of
earth, air, fire, water and vegetation, disregards
his own existence which is entwined with them”
- Lord Mahavir (599-527 BC)
Lord Mahavir is the 24th and Last
Tirthankar (Prophet) of Jain Religion

3. The ancient Jain scriptural aphorism
• Parasparopgraho Jivänäm –
– Tattvärtha Sutra (2000 year old Scripture)
All life is bound together by mutual support and
interdependence
• Environment is imbued in every living beings
• If we harm “ONE”, we harm “ALL” living beings
– Refreshingly contemporary in its premise and in its promise.
– Forms the basis of the modern day science of ecology.

4. Mahavir
• Lord Mahavir’s entire life was an example of how
to live in perfect harmony with the nature.
• His entire preaching is based on respecting the
environment and ecology
• The main theme of His teaching:
– Ahimsä (Non-violence)
– Aparigrah (Non-possession / Non-possessiveness)
– Anekäntväd (Pluralism view points / Open
Mindedness)

5. Non-violence and Compassion
Jainism recognizes sanctity in all life forms.
• Ahimsä is disciplined behavior towards every living
being - Dashvaikalika Sutra (6/9)
• Absence of violence of any sort towards all beings at all
times is Ahimsä. - Yogasutra
• In its absolute definition:
– ‘Ahimsä is the absence of destructive thoughts,
feelings or attitude’

6. Environment Possesses Life
• Jainism believes that all Five basic Elements of the Universe
which makes our environment possess life
– Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Vegetation
• It also believes that every living being possesses one to five
senses
– Touch, Taste, Smell, Sight, and Hearing
• Vegetation, Earth, Air, Water etc. possesses one sense (touch)
while Animals and Humans possess all five senses.
• Also human beings alone are blessed with the sixth sense of
advanced developed thinking. Therefore,
– Humanity is responsible for achieving oneness and harmony with all
life by being careful, compassionate, loving and nonviolent.

7. What does Jainism teach about ecology?
• Survival of Life is not possible with absolute non-
violence. Hence the destruction of one or the other
form of life is essential for our survival.
• However destruction of higher sense living being is
more cruel act because of higher development of
their senses, which inflicts more pain in them.
• It also has a greater impact on Environment
• Hence Jainism advocates Vegetarianism against
Raising Animals for Food.

8. Compassionate Living
Ahimsä (non-violence):
• Not to cause pain to any living beings in words, in
thoughts, and in actions. We do not have right to
harm, abuse, or exploit animals, birds, fish etc.
• It is a compassionate living in harmony with
nature.
• Vegetarianism – To live a life with minimum
violence and avoid animal base products.

9. What does Jainism teach about ecology?
Non-vegetarian Living - Cruelty to Animals:
• Raising animals for Food involves significantly higher use
of natural resources than vegetarian food
• It creates significant environmental unbalance
• Animals Killed per Day in USA
Cows - 130,000
Calves - 7,000
Hogs - 360,000
Chickens - 24,000,000

10. What does Jainism teach about ecology?
Cruelty in Dairy Industry
• Cows are kept pregnant continually
• Slaughtering 70% to 80% of baby calves within six
months by Veal industry or within five years by
beef industry
• Slaughtering the mother cows after five years of
their fertile life (life expectancy is 15 years)
• Everyday hormones or drugs are injected to
increase milk yield.

11. Non-vegetarianism Impacts Ecology
Non-vegetarian Living - Impact on Ecology
• Greenhouse effect
– World's 1.3 billion cows annually produce 100 million
tons of methane
– Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas which traps 25
times as much solar heat as CO2
• Water Consumption
– Livestock (Cattle, Calves, Hogs, Pigs) production
accounts for more than half of all the water consumed
in USA.

12. Non-vegetarianism Impacts Ecology
Non-vegetarian Living - Impact on Ecology
• Land Usage
– A third of the surface of North America is devoted to
grazing
– Half of American croplands grow livestock feed for
meat and dairy products
– 220 million acres of land in the USA have been
deforested for livestock production
– 25 million acres in Brazil, and half the forests in
Central America

13. Non-vegetarianism Impacts Ecology
• To produce 1 lb. of meat, an average of 40 lb
of vegetation is used.
(This calculation takes in to consideration, the land clearing, as well as food for the
live-stock till slaughter - food cattle are generally slaughtered prior to 2-years-old,
dairy cattle may live 4 years before being turned into burgers).
• To produce 1 lb. of meat, an average of 2500
gallons of water is used.
(1 lb. of wheat requires 108 gallons of water, 1 lb. of rice needs 229 gallons of
water, 1 lb. of potatoes require just 60 gallons of water).
*Source: USDA 2001.

14. Non-vegetarianism Impacts Health
Non-vegetarian Living - Impact on Health
• High Cholesterol
• High Saturated Fats
• High incidence of Prostate Cancer
• Calcium Deficiency (recent study)
• Less Hygienic

15. Practice compassionate living
In Summary Ahimsä means:
– Respect for the lives of others and for
the environment we live in.
– Service to lift someone who is down
trodden.
– Avoidance of Animal based foods and
products (Be Vegetarian / Vegan).

16. What does Jainism teach about ecology?
• Non-Possessiveness / Self-restraint is the second
most important Jain principle
– Minimizing consumption provides respect for other’s
life and Environment
– Reduce needs and wants as far as possible.
– Reuse / Recycle Products - Not to waste the gifts of
nature
– Share resources
– Nature provides enough for our NEED not enough for
our GREED

17. The ancient Jain scriptural aphorism
• “Aparigraha seve attai karanti prananam
behanam”
– Lord Mahavir
• We kill other lives because of our greed
and possessiveness.
• This is the primary cause of all violence
as well as imbalance in the environment.

18. Jainism in Action – Eco friendly
Caring for the Earth and Environment is the way of Life for
the Jain Community by following the two key principles
of Jainism in every day life
• Ahimsä
– Be Compassionate
– Minimize injury to all forms of life including Air, Water, Earth,
Plants and Animals
– Be Vegetarian / Vegan and avoid the use of Animal based
products
• Non-possessiveness / Self-restraint
– Reduce our needs and wants as far as possible
– Reuse / Recycle products, Eliminate Waste
– Share Resources