Asian Religions

I was intrigued in seeing the reasoning of others about the environments constant harm due to the human race- the idea that money is a primary reason behind this big mess is an obvious answer to the problem, however I would’ve never thought of religion as a secondary problem. It blew me away that this could be seen as the answer. While the idea was making my head spin, I continued to read and came upon a comment that stated “landscapes that appear to be most free of human culture turn out, on closer inspection, to be its product” (810). After much thought, I understand and believe that this is true. Even the most natural setting have all been in the hands of man for several years and have been used as sources of income for one thing or another, take for example the Grand Canyon and any National Park the beauty of these places remains only in an effort to preserve what once was for profit.



As I continued to read I began to wonder more about our ideas about the things we do daily and how they affect our planet. I realized how so much has changed even in cultures religious practices stem back centuries ago. For example, Indigenous people once had “respect for the sources of food, clothing, and shelter that nature provides” (812). Appreciation of the creator and the natural spiritual forces were at the heart of every tradition and now it’s the greed for money that seems to support a lifestyle different from what it once was. Getting an inside perspective into the Jainism religion really made me think.

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Being raised in the American culture, I know that the teachings apart of Jainism are far from anything I learned as a child. What is portrayed as the essential rule of the religion goes against what we are taught about standing up for ourselves, killing the bugs that land on you during little league games instead of just running away. It makes it almost seem impossible for Americans to practice Jainism, come to think about it I find it hard to see how anyone could around the world especially in Asian societies could practice this religion. Asian countries are known for their pollution problems due to their mass production in which so many people are not necessarily being cared for. The articles talk about Ahimsa as if a person could truly exists never harming anything, putting others before themselves, and turning the other cheek. I honestly think that in this day and age, its almost impossible with all the chaos its hard to be upset even when its at something insignificant. “In the regeneration and divinization of man, the first step is to eliminate his beastly nature. The predominant trait in beast is cruelty. Therefore, wise sages prescribe Ahimsa (non- injury). This is the most effective master- method to counteract and eradicate completely the brutal, cruel Pasu- Svabhava (bestial nature) in man. Practice of Ahimsa develops love” (815). The practice in Jainism reflects an idea of a hopeful future without any further pain inflicted on any living thing. The article finally stated what I believed all along “you cannot find a single non-injurer in the world. You have to destroy life in order to live. It is physically impossible for you to obey the law of non destruction of life, because the phagocytes of your blood also are destroying millions of dangerous intrusive spirilla, bacteria and germs” (818).



While the practice of Jainism is very influential, its also really idealistic. Religion and money are two extreme factors on the environmental problems; I don’t feel that they are the only ones however. “In addition to their knowledge, technology, ideals, and God, they must above all search deeper for the source of life, the depth of personality and the common origin of human culture in order to arrive at a true unity with mankind” (833).