Baha'i
Buddhist worldview traditions
Christian worldview traditions
Contextualising the diversity of worldviews
Hindu worldview traditions
Humanist worldview traditions
Jain
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jewish worldview traditions
Muslim worldview traditions
Pagan
Rastafari
Sikhi worldview traditions
Soka Gakkai
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Zoroastrian
Research

Do Jain teachings solve the ecological crisis?

Michael Reading

Research Summary

From proclaiming the equality of all life forms to the stringent emphasis placed upon nonviolent behavior (ahimsa), and once more to the pronounced intention for limiting one’s possessions (aparigraha), Jainism has often been pointed to for its admirably eco-friendly example. The Jain-inspired Anuvrat Movement, founded in 1949 by Acharya Sri Tulsi, is relevant today. Anuvrat’s final vow (vow eleven) calls for practitioners to “refrain from such acts as are likely to cause pollution and harm the environment,” and to avoid the “cutting down of trees” and the “wasting of water”. When it comes to the modern eco-conscious imperative to “live simply so that others may simply live”, this research argues, there is indeed much that Anuvrat has to offer.

Researcher

Michael Reading

Research Institution

Mt. St. Mary’s University, Los Angeles

What is this about?

  • Jainism.
  • The Anuvrat Movement.
  • Eco-conscious living.
  • Ecology.
  • Ecological vow-taking.

What was done?

This is a critical, scholarly study of Jainism, the Anuvrat Movement and their relevance to contemporary ecological problems.

Main findings and outputs

  • Jain beliefs and practices, e.g. ahimsa (non-violence to all beings) are highly relevant to ecological problems.
  • A further ideal, aparigraha, refers both to the physical limiting of one’s possessions, as well as one’s achieving a general state of spiritual detachment, also a highly eco-friendly stance.
  • The Anuvrat Movement, launched in 1949 by Acharya Sri Tulsi, revolved around what he perceived to be a moral deterioration within Indian society. To remedy the situation he encouraged all people to take a set of vows (not only Jains but also Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs have participated).
  • The vows are based on traditional Jain and Yoga vows, and also include one (the eleventh) of particular ecological relevance:
    I will do my best to refrain from such acts as are likely to cause pollution and harm the environment.
    I will not cut down trees.
    I will not waste water.
  • There are others of relevance, e.g. the seventh enjoins limiting one’s acquisitions – and 42% of greenhouse gas emissions is caused by consumer goods production.

Relevance to RE

This research has clear relevance to RE. Teachers can use it to develop their knowledge of Jainism. It also has clear applications to ethics courses and units of study. As reported, Tulsi placed emphasis on individual conduct. His teachings can frame questions such as: to what extent are we responsible? How important or difficult are lifestyle changes? How effective can vows be, and to whom or what might a non-religious person vow? Teachers are encouraged to read the whole article, which also contains interesting points not summarised above, concerning psychology, addiction and self-examination.

Generalisability and potential limitations

Rather than generalisable, the research is a scholarly account of one influential religious tradition and its possible contemporary relevance. People will have different views about Jainism and ecology, pointing out, for instance, that it originated as a soteriological not ecological movement, but the author explicitly recognises this.

Find out more

The original article is Michael Reading, The Anuvrat Movement: A Case Study of Jain-inspired Ethical and Eco-conscious Living, Religions 2019: 10 (11), 636

https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/10/11/636

 

Back to top