Jain Philosophy and the Environment

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Jain Philosophy and the Environment
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Who is this guy?

• Tushar Mehta MD CCFP
• Ontario, Canada!!!!
• ER Medicine Georgetown HH
• Addictions Medicine SJHC
• Family Practice

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Who is this Gal??

• Tushar Mehta MD CCFP
• ER Medicine Georgetown HH
• Addictions Medicine SJHC
• Family Practice

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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

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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?

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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??

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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

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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

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Who Cares

• How many here are really concerned about what is
  happening to the environment?
• What is happening to the environment

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So

• Has anybody here killed an elephant?

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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

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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

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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

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WE AINT 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??

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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

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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 ones self, Having another doing it for
  you, Appreciating violence another has done

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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

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So killing an elephant

• Such violence may exceed that of eating meat.
• So has anybody here killed an elephant?
• What about seeing someones big new house, and
  then thinking/saying wow that is really great!

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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

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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

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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

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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??

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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!

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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

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Life is complex and INTERDEPENDANT

• There area a massive number of life forms on this
  level of existence
• All life is interdependent PARASPAROPAGRAHOJIVANAA
  M

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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

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Mahavira Quote

• menka

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What are Jain traditions that deal with the
environment?

• Part II

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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, Im not a monk. As long
  as I am a vegetarian, do the pujas, and go to the
  temple Im done
• what does Philosophy say about that idea?
• this is a continuum, not an all or none idea

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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Not buying or having a house

• Tushars 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

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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!!!

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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 ones 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?

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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

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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??

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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?

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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)

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As it turns out

• Almost every original Jain lifestyle tradition is
  profoundly ecological!!!!!

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Modern Environmental Movement Principles and
Problems?

• Part III

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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

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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.

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The main problem in one word

• Overconsumption
• Some other good words?? The mindset??

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• Greed
• Materialism
• Consumerism
• Modern Western Capitalism
• Lack of knowledge, selfishness, ego

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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

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MATERIAL GLOBALIZATIONWhere 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 dont realize
• Anekantevaad again

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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

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Big Bad things

• human population explosion
• resource extraction and manufacturing of all
  things (big things especially)
• animal agriculture
• Fresh water, ocean , fishing

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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

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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)

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Solutions to the Big Problems, and the modern
Jain approach?

• Part IV

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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

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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 - Livestocks 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 - Livestocks Long Shadow

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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)

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Practical Things modern day Jainism

• CONSUME LESS!!!!
• HOUSING Restrict Urban sprawl
• choose a small dwelling, high density area
• Apartmentgttown homegt Semi Detached/Small homegt
  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

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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

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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

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(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)

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(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

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GET INVOLVED (Practical Things - modern day
Jainism)

• Support Environmental Organizations
• WWF
• Sierra Club
• Rainforest Action Network
• Vegetarian Organizations / PETA
• Local stuff
• Money and volunteer

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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

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(Practical Things - modern day Jainism)

• Jainism Your Way
• The modern and relevant application of Jain
  philosphy
• Put the ENVIRONMENT into YJAs Projects and Goals

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Summary

• Jainism Philosophy is extremely ecological
• (although Modern Jains may not be)
• Ahimsa
• Aparigraha
• Anekantevaad
• Parasparopagrahojivanaam
• Greed Ego Deciet

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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

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Summary Human Behaviour

• Over-Consumption is the Key issue
• Materialism
• Consumerism
• Greed
• Current economy vs sustainable economy

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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

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Summary what to do

• Housing
• Diet
• Consumerism
• Transportation
• Your job
• Activism!!!! Get involved

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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

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Zimbabwe
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Zimbabwe
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Grassy Narrows
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Grassy Narrows Amnesty International involved
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Alberta Tar Sands
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Alberta Boreal Forest