Environmental Protection in Jainism and Buddhism

Religion plays a major role- as a harbinger of ethical and moral values. Defining the true nature of Religion, Late Acharya Mahapragya observed’

I believe in that religion which has moral values at its foundation. Religion has the ability to solve the problems if you believe in pure religion’

‘As key repositories of enduring civilisational values, religions can have an important role to play in preaching about environmental ethics and projecting persuasive visions of a more sustainable future, as it has been rightly said by Prof Hasn ‘environmental crisis is fundamentally a crises of values’.

Every major religion contains values and beliefs that support a conservation ethics for example ‘Ahimsa’ and ‘Karma’ in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Many religions denounce materialistic or selfish attitudes, emphasizing simple living and or modest consumption of material goods. Religious principle that deals with the use and distribution of resources may have implications for conservation. There have been various appeals from environmental groups for religious leaders to respond to the environmental crises.

The present paper is an attempt to revisit and reexamine the religious principles of Jainism and Buddhism, in context to their ecological significance, highlighting also those the tireless efforts of leaders who are treading towards the path of bringing Religion for the rescue of Nature