Jain Dharm Aur Paryavaran Santulan - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jain Dharm aur Paryavaran Santulan" (Jainism and Environmental Balance) by Munishri Nemichandramuni, based on the provided PDF pages:

The text fundamentally argues that Jainism, through its core principles, offers a profound and actionable framework for achieving environmental balance, a concept crucial for the well-being of all life on Earth. It posits that humanity's current environmental crisis stems from interference with nature's inherent order and a lack of reverence for all forms of life, both living and non-living.

Key Themes and Arguments:

Nature's Balanced Order: The text begins by describing the natural world as operating in a divinely orchestrated, cyclical rhythm. Day and night, and the six seasons, follow a precise order. Any disruption to this natural flow leads to chaos and suffering for all beings.
Humanity's Disruptive Role: The central argument is that humans, unlike other creatures, actively interfere with this natural order. Driven by ignorance and a lack of restraint, humanity creates imbalance through its actions, leading to natural disasters like floods, droughts, earthquakes, and storms. This is attributed to humanity's insatiable desires and unbridled pursuit of progress.
Jainism's Comprehensive Approach to Life: The text highlights that Jainism, from its first Tirthankar Rishabhdev to the last, Lord Mahavir, has consistently advocated for restraint (sanyam) not only towards living beings (jivas) but also towards non-living matter (ajivas). This is a radical departure from many other philosophies that focus solely on the preservation of animal life.
The Concept of Six Ekendriya (One-Sensed) Souls: A cornerstone of Jain philosophy presented here is the belief in the existence of souls in all categories of matter. This includes Earth (Prithvikaya), Water (Appkaya), Fire (Tejaskaya), Air (Vayukaya), and Vegetation (Vanaspati-kaya), in addition to the multi-sensed beings. The text emphasizes that these one-sensed beings also experience life, consciousness, and even pleasure and pain.
Seventeen Types of Restraint (Sanyam): Lord Mahavir's teachings are presented as providing seventeen specific types of restraint to guide human conduct towards environmental harmony. These include:
- Restraint towards Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Vegetation (Prithvikaya, Appkaya, Tejaskaya, Vayukaya, Vanaspati-kaya sanyam).
- Restraint towards beings with two, three, four, and five senses (Dvi-indriya, Tri-indriya, Chatur-indriya, Panch-indriya sanyam).
- Restraint towards non-living matter (Ajiva-kaya sanyam).
- Mental restraint (Manasanyam), Verbal restraint (Vachansanyam), and Physical restraint (Kayasanyam).
- Specific restraints like Preksha (mindful observation), Upeksha (detachment), Apahartya (not taking what is not given), and Pramarjana (cleaning) are also mentioned, emphasizing the need for thoughtful action and consideration of consequences.
Specific Environmental Pollutions and their Jain Interpretation: The text then delves into specific forms of pollution, interpreting them through the lens of Jain principles:
- Earth Pollution: Mining for coal, rampant extraction of minerals, and the resulting destruction of land are seen as forms of violence against Prithvikaya. The explosion of bombs and ammunition is also cited as a destructive act.
- Fire Pollution (Tejaskaya Violence): Burning fuel, industrial emissions, and even smoking are linked to violence against Tejaskaya, leading to air pollution and harming living beings. The burning of fossil fuels is explicitly mentioned as contributing to climate change and the destruction of the ozone layer.
- Water Pollution (Appkaya Violence): The text criticizes the dumping of waste, sewage, and industrial effluents into rivers and water bodies, which are considered sacred and life-sustaining by Jainism. This pollution harms aquatic life and human health.
- Air Pollution (Vayukaya Violence): Industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, and gas leaks are identified as major contributors to air pollution, leading to respiratory illnesses and other health problems. The text emphasizes that even the natural world relies on clean air.
- Vegetation Pollution (Vanaspati-kaya Violence): Deforestation, destructive agricultural practices (chemical fertilizers, pesticides), and the commercial exploitation of forests are seen as harming plant life and the ecosystems they support. This leads to soil erosion and impacts rainfall.
- Noise Pollution: Excessive noise from traffic, machinery, and even excessive talking is identified as a form of violence (Vayukaya violence) that harms physical and mental well-being, reducing efficiency and even causing deafness.
The Interconnectedness of Life: The text stresses that all living and non-living elements are interconnected, echoing the Jain principle "Parasparopagraho Jivanam" (all souls help each other). Disruption in one area has ripple effects across the entire system.
The Shortcomings of Material Science: While acknowledging the advancements of modern science, the text points out its spiritual and ethical deficit. It argues that science has focused heavily on material progress, neglecting the spiritual and ethical dimensions of human existence. This imbalance is seen as the root cause of humanity's current anxieties and the environmental crisis.
Science and Spirituality as Complements: The author asserts that science and spirituality are not opposing forces but complementary and essential for holistic human development. Just as a body needs both a developed brain and strong limbs, human progress requires both scientific advancement and spiritual grounding.
Internal vs. External Pollution: A crucial distinction is made between external pollution (environmental) and internal pollution (mental and emotional). While scientific tools might address some external pollution, the text argues that internal pollution – driven by ego, greed, anger, attachment, and ignorance – is far more insidious and harder to eradicate. This internal pollution is the fundamental cause of external pollution.
The Core of Internal Pollution: Ego and Attachment: The text identifies ego (ahanta) and attachment/possessiveness (mamata) as the root of all internal polluting emotions like desire, anger, greed, delusion, hatred, and envy. These emotions lead to a breakdown of ethical values, societal discord, and ultimately, a disregard for nature.
The Role of the 'Nokashayas' (Minor Vices): The text also touches upon the "Nokashayas" (minor vices) like humor, pleasure/displeasure, grief, disgust, and lust as contributing factors to internal environmental pollution.
The Need for a Lifestyle Change: The text concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for humanity to change its lifestyle and consumption patterns. It calls for adopting the principles of "Live and Let Live" (Jiyo aur Jine Do), embracing restraint, equanimity (samata), and meditation (samadhi).
Jain Principles as Solutions: Ahimsa (non-violence) and Aparigraha (non-possession) are presented as the ultimate solutions to external environmental pollution. The principles of sanyam, samata, and samadhi are essential for tackling both external and internal forms of pollution.

In essence, the book argues that Jainism's deep reverence for all forms of life, its emphasis on restraint, and its ethical teachings provide a comprehensive and timeless blueprint for achieving environmental sustainability and inner peace. The current environmental crisis is seen as a direct consequence of humanity's deviation from these ancient, life-affirming principles.