Jun 24, 2021

Jain View on Activism


Q25. As a Jain, should we get involved in issues related to social, humanitarian, political, economic, or environmental reform? How should we approach activism for such issues?

This is an overarching question and so relevant for the current times. There are so many issues we are facing as a society and we clearly see a need for all of us to do our part to lessen any negative impact, relieve suffering and contribute in whatever positive ways we can. At times there is passivity about getting involved when a particular issue doesn’t directly impact one’s own self, and we miss out on opportunities to practice and promote compassion for our interconnected wholeness.  

The purpose of addressing this question is to create awareness and provide a logical thought process that might help us decide on various aspects of activism like – does being a Jain allow us to be an activist on any issue? Which causes should we get involved with? and how can we go about bringing the change?

What is Activism?

First, let’s define the word "activism” since it has many connotations associated with it. Wikipedia defines activism as follows:

Activism consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct, or intervene in social, political, economic, or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived greater good.

So, when we think about it, activism is born from compassion and the desire to end suffering of other living beings. Activism is a form of service. However, Activism gets negative connotation when it is carried out in a brute force way, extremist view, or imposing approach.

For this conversation, we are talking about activism where the perceived changes and approach are aligned with the core Jain values and principles. 

When we reflect on Mahavir Swami’s life, we can see that he was very progressive in his thinking, a reformist, and an activist for spiritual progress of mankind. There are also examples of activists in recent history like Gandhiji, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela whose approach to make changes in society were aligned with core values like non-violence, compassion, and equality.

First, let’s talk about should we get involved in activism as a Jain?

Should we get involved in activism as a Jain?

That’s like asking – I’m seeing suffering around me and should I have compassion for other living beings? Should I have a desire to relieve other living beings from suffering?

It would be a dire misrepresentation of Jain religion to say that we shouldn't get involved. The core Jain values such as Ahimsa and Compassion urges us to do whatever we can for other living beings.

We can see compassion and ahimsa at the forefront in Mahavir Swami’s life stories beginning with while he was in his mother’s womb. While in mother’s womb he felt that his movements are causing discomfort to his mother and so he stopped moving in the womb to comfort her. However, when he realized that lack of movements caused even more concerns for his mother, he started moving. This story emphasis the importance of understanding pain of other living beings and doing whatever we can at that point to relieve the pain.

As he delved deep into the field of spirituality, he wished to live the life of a monk. His parents were saddened and asked him to renunciate the world only after their death. Mahavir started his journey to monkhood only after their death. For about a year before starting the monkhood journey, he gave away all his possessions, gold, and money to the needy people his kingdom. These life events stories underscore the importance of serving others with whatever we have.

Mahavir Swami did a lot of donation as a Prince, but he did donation even after taking Diksha. Mahavir Swami was meditating in the forest and a poor beggar came to him and told him his painful story. After listening to his story, Mahavir Swami gave him a half piece of the only cloth that he had. This teaches us that we should never miss an opportunity to help others with whatever little we have.

After he realized Keval Gyan he traveled from city to city all over India to promote the Jain way of life. He gave sermons two or three times a day for 30 years out of compassion. So that people can live a spiritual and satisfied life.

When we reflect on all the events from Mahavir Swami’s life, we realize that he was guided by selfless altruism. He teaches us that we are not separate from others. With our sense of interconnectedness, our inner peace and happiness are found in state when we evolve to serve other living beings. We don't have to wait to realize keval gyan to serve others and we can serve from where we are and in whatever capacity we can.

In many situations, inactivity or neutrality is an endorsement of the status quo, which could mean continued harm, injustice, or inequality. In such situations, we need to have a position or organize efforts in a non-violent, peaceful, and constructive way to engage the opposite viewpoint. And this is also entirely in line with the spirit of Anekantvad.

There are many forms of suffering in the world like social inequalities, economic inequalities, racism, human rights, animal rights, environmental issues and the list goes on.

So, the next question is what should we get involved in?

What should we get involved in?

It depends on each individual, their personality, their interests, their calling, their knowledge and what motivates them. There are various forms of suffering around us, and we need to determine where we can be of service.

As we can see from Mahavir Swami and other tirthankaras stories, there was a lot of suffering during that time such as violence towards animals, women were treated unfairly, many other forms of inequalities. And Mahavir Swami chose spiritual activism through the spreading of religion.

Activism doesn’t necessarily mean that it has to be something major or drastic. It can also be small and meaningful activities in our daily life. For example, there are situations when violence or suffering might not be very apparent in the food items we eat, products we use, what we buy, where we buy from, environmental footprint or things we accumulate. And in such situations doing the required research to consciously avoid or limit actions that causes harm is a form of activism. Please see “Is Ignorance Acceptable / Justifiable in Jainism?” article that talks in more detail about how all the choices we make have an impact and remaining ignorant is not an option.

 

 

As we think about activism, there are key perspectives about activism and politics that we need to take into consideration. Activism and politics are different, and they serve different purposes. Let’s talk about the differences between the two as we need them both to affect any real changes. 

How is activism separate from politics?

This is an extremely important, nuanced question - and must be clearly understood or else it will be conflated. Activism necessarily includes a mission-driven approach towards upliftment of the downtrodden or the disadvantaged, speaking up for the marginalized, but doesn’t necessarily involve politics or public policy. Of course, to enact policy, one has to consider political considerations, and it can often get difficult to untangle the two when it gets misunderstood for activism. 

Perhaps an example will help illustrate. In the summer of 2020, there were widespread protests and marches -- “activism” -- surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd. These conversations were essentially about offering basic rights and equality to the African American community - and encompassed a myriad of issues, like educational access, healthcare disparities, income inequality, representation in corporate and civic governance, and criminal justice reform. Public policy (and politics) are the tools to achieve reforms. It will be the Mayors of cities for example that will have control over how much budget to allocate towards public safety.

But essentially, the “act” of activism is rooted in a movement of equality and representation, or speaking up in solidarity with the Black community, not in political considerations. 

As we learn about various causes, we need to do our due diligence to ensure that whatever we decide to get involved with is aligned with core Jain values and principles. So, now the next question is what our approach to activism should be when we see injustice or suffering around us, whether it is directed towards us or others.

 

How should we approach activism?

Activism can be performed in many ways like campaigns, rallies, protests, hunger strikes, boycotts, petitions, street marches, sit-ins to name a few. 

 

Whatever action we choose to take in support of a cause we must always stay within the boundaries of the law.

 

In addition, from spiritual perspective all our actions should be aligned with the core Jain principles: Ahimsa, Anekantvad, Compassion, Aparigraha, Satya, Asteya.


Activism can also lead to chaos or conflict, which could be a side effect of the undertaking. We need to look at conflict resolution as well as facing and handling the hardship by adopting Jain values and few guidelines like:

·        We should aim to influence, not impose.

·        We must be the change.

·        We must not let kashayas (anger, ego, greed, deceit) in any form arise within us.

·        None of our actions should be carried from an egocentric perspective, for fame, power, or any personal gains. 

·        Our actions should cause no harm. None of our actions should hurt us, others, or property.

·        We must maintain our madhyastha bhav (equanimity) as we are carrying out our actions and in all outcomes.

 

 

We must have spiritual practices and inner work discipline within us before we engage our time and energy in service to others, such that all our outward actions lead to inner transformation.

 

Few recent examples of activism by Jains:

·        Jainism: Know It, Understand It & Internalize It - This blog is a form of activism that was launched in May 2019. The purpose of this blog to deepen individuals’ understanding about Jain values/principles, create a positive and enriching experience about the religion and enhance spiritual growth. The committee has released 26 articles addressing contemporary questions faced in today’s world.

·        Jains for Justice – Jains for Justice aims to build grassroots ally ship and advance justice through a contemporary South Asian lens grounded in Jain values. The organization was founded in June 2020 by young Jains in the weeks following the heinous murder of George Floyd. Currently, Jains for Justice is organized into four workgroups: animal & environmental justice; race, caste & religion; civic engagement; and gender & sexuality.

In the past year, Jains for Justice has led nationwide drives for voter registration working in tandem with the Joe Biden for President campaign, organized awareness campaigns for plant-based foods and ethical consumption, released an open letter to the Jain community on the Black Lives Matter movement, and opened safe spaces for discussions on gender & sexuality within online spaces such as Clubhouse. You can learn more and subscribe to the monthly Jains for Justice newsletter here.

·        Ahimsak Eco Vegan Committee  As an expression of ahimsa, this committee supports, educates, and promotes vegan lifestyle - not eating, wearing, or using animal products, reduction, and elimination of activities such as material and energy overconsumption contributing to harm of all life, global climate change, and destruction of the planet.

·        VeganJains – This activity focus on the compassion and health aspects of Veganism from a Jain perspective.

 

 

In Summary…

Activism is born from compassion, desire to end suffering of other living beings and the desire to serve others. We need to do our due diligence to ensure any change and our approach to bring about that changes are aligned with the Jain values and principles. What we choose to get involved depends on our personality, interest, knowledge and what motivates us.

For all the actions we choose to take in support of a cause, we must ensure that we remain within the boundaries of the law, our activities should be aligned with core Jain principles such that it doesn't cause any harm to self or other, respect everyone, not let any kashayas arise within and we maintain our stillness. This kind of activism enhance our spiritual growth and results in inner transformation.

 

19 comments:

  1. WOW,it is enlightening and more progressive thinking based upon Jain Core Values 7 teachings;
    Jain Education comm. and Blogs are providing awesome services to Jain Youths and new generation.

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  2. well written.."..all our actions should be aligned with the core Jain principles: Ahimsa, Anekantvad, Compassion, Aparigraha, Satya, Asteya.." -- If we keep these principle in center of all what we do to support who are/is (people, Jiv, Ajiv) suffering, is all legit and that is dharma.

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  3. I don't think about being a Jain and whether Lord Mahavir would do this or that. I do what i believe it to the best of my ability and go beyond thinking like a Jain. I think as a human, me.

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    1. exactly, we shouldn't be missionaries and ask people to convert. Rather everyone should have a free will. God only preaches peace. By constantly influencing people and this goes for all faiths, we are just creating divide. Rather we should stand united as humans and progress with the race. As there is only 1 ultimate god and he would want us humans to be united.

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  4. I think this is tremendous.Makes me proud to be a Jain.Please keep up the good work.
    www.LinkedIn.com/in/nitakapadia

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  5. For the first time, someone has given an enlightened views. So far, our Acharyas has been concentrating on "Self Purification" devoid of society at large, surrounding, fain this world, in this society and family and people around us. I always considered this as a very narrow approach of Jain Religion. Jains do exist and they do have responsibility towards them. Jains must work for narrowing down Inequalities, eradication for poverty, fight against injustice etc.

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  6. Dinesh S. Parakh6/28/2021 9:48 PM

    I find this to blog to be a valuable initiative, with suitably nuanced discussions. Unfortunately, I feel that the opinions expressed on this particular topic are fundamentally misguided. There is insufficient space to publish a very lengthy response, so I will try to summarize some of my points of disagreement:

    1. First of all, not everyone is an activist by temperament. It cannot be forced. I tried to be an activist at multiple times in my life. It was simply not suited to my personality. Because I still have a desire to affect positive change, I support what I deem to be worthy causes primarily through whatever monetary donations are within my means.

    2. It is fine for householders to engage in activism if they wish to. But sādhus and sādhvis should unequivocally not be engaged in such things. Once they take dikṣa, they are dead to the world. At that point, they should only have two aims in life – sādhana for their own soul, and teaching others the truths of Jainism based on their own knowledge and experience, thus indirectly helping to propagate our religion (but not through any desire to propagate the religion).

    3. However, all activism (whether through actions, through funds, etc.) is still fundamentally flawed as it is not grounded in knowledge and wisdom. Activism is fine if it is truly dispassionate. Arjuna’s action in the context of the Bhagavad Gita is an example. Once one no-longer identifies with the small “self”, action and activism does not create karmic bondage. But if one is still identified with the small “self”, any activity, no matter how seemingly wholesome, creates additional karmic bondage and shackles. The vast majority of activists identify with the small “self” and the infinitesimal number who identify with the larger “Self” tend to become very quiet and engage in minimal activity.

    Dispassionate compassion is the ideal. Many activists get burned-out and depressed because they are attached to the results of their efforts. This is not sustainable over the long run. And activists who are not spiritually advanced (i.e., almost everyone!) are often motivated by the same base desires as others – ego, lust, desire for prominence/power, desire to impose one’s will upon others, etc. No matter the wholesome veneer it is cloaked in, the underlying actions are still motivated by desire. The article states, “This kind of activism enhance our spiritual growth and results in inner transformation.” No – without knowledge and wisdom on board, such activism can very well mire you further in saṁsāra.

    4. To paraphrase an old American folk song, “what are we fighting for?” Leaving aside a critically important cosmological dimension to this argument, we have no idea what the short-medium-long term consequences of our actions are. Jainism says that ignorance is no excuse (unlike Buddhism, which is a bit more forgiving) – if you inadvertently achieve negative results while trying to “do good”, you will still bear the consequences. The article states that “ignorance” is not an option in Jainism – on this, I definitely agree! Because we cannot foresee the consequence of our actions and bear the karmic consequences of any actions we engage in, there is a powerful impetus in Jainism towards non-action. And sallekhana/santhāra is the ultimate expression of that impetus towards non-action.

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  7. Dinesh S. Parakh6/28/2021 9:49 PM

    Here is a practical example: many years back, UNICEF decided to build thousands of wells to provide fresh drinking water in Bangladesh. Unbeknownst to them, much of the sub-surface water in Bangladesh is contaminated by arsenic. The inadvertent result of their good intentions was that 1/3 of the country suffered from various degrees of arsenic poisoning. A classic example of an intention to do good that inadvertently caused great harm. The ignorance that caused it must attract karmic consequences. I worked in international development for many years, so know of a thousand stories like this. The road to hell is indeed paved with good intentions. Do we really know what the “greater good” is? The only way to truly know what the greater good is, is to go within and let one’s actions be guided by silence and wisdom. Without interiority and inner silence, your actions cannot be guided by wisdom.

    5. Sorry, but “compassion” is not a core Jain value. Compassion is not something that you can decide to do. It is something that develops naturally through the proper, sincere & sustained practice of religion. Through the practice of the pañca mahāvrata, through the practice of anekantavāda, syadvāda, and above all dhyāna – compassion develops. But it is not an empathetic or sympathetic compassion. It is a dispassionate compassion, which is the ideal in all eastern religious traditions.

    6. As relates to the examples given of Bhagavān Mahavīra, I do not believe that this is a valid comparison. First of all, Mahavira Svāmi was born spiritually ripe, destined to be a Tīrthankara, already at the penultimate spiritual state – which may be aeons in the future for most of us! That is why He could care for his mother’s well-being while still in the womb. He was already an exalted state with all of the jñānas short of kevala-jñāna! We still have far to go before we can act with dispassionate compassion.

    Mahavira did not spend 12 years in activism – he spent 12 years in dhyāna. After his kevala-jñāna, and once he full ceased identifying with the small “self”, his “activism” was limited to propagating religion. The article states, “After he realized Keval Gyan he traveled from city to city all over India to promote the Jain way of life. He gave sermons two or three times a day for 30 years out of compassion. So that people can live a spiritual and satisfied life.” No – Bhagavān Mahavira was doing what a Jain monk is supposed to do. He was not fighting for social welfare. He was propagating Jain dharma. The article further states, “And Mahavir Swami chose spiritual activism through the spreading of religion.” No – he did not choose spiritual activism. Propagation of Jain dharma was the only thing that someone in his exalted state would do! He would not and could not have chosen to be an eco-vegan warrior!

    7. Like Hinduism starting about 150 years ago, Jainism has been greatly influenced by the overwhelming influence of Westernism and a particular interpretation of Christianity. All Eastern traditions (and arguably the core of all of the Western traditions) are fundamentally interior-focused. Movements like the Arya Samaj sprung up to make Hinduism more palatable to Western audiences. Let’s not fall into the same trap. There is a fundamental ignorance of the insidious influence of the dominant cultural and

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  8. Dinesh S. Parakh6/28/2021 9:49 PM

    (Continued)

    religious discourses on the native traditions of India. We are unconsciously trying to show the Jainism is also a religion of humanitarianism and justice because there is an implicit inferiority complex with the dominant power structures of the world. The same way that Hinduism’s many gods are always being apologetically explained away as a manifestation of the One, as if monotheism is inherently better than polytheism – it is not, and there is no logical reason for it to be, except for an implicit inferiority complex with Christianity.

    There is so much more here to discuss, but I hope that these points give readers pause for thought. It is easier to fight for something because it is a worldly thing to do. It is much harder to sit in meditation for extended periods of time. The spirit of activism is understandable. But activism needs to be purified by the fire of wisdom.

    As is said unequivocally in the Daśavaikālika Sutra 4:10, “padhamam nanam taodaya” – first comes knowledge, then compassion (through right action).

    In the spirit of anekāntavāda, I fully accept that my viewpoint is only a viewpoint and is by no means absolute. And of course, at the end, I must apologize for my own ignorance or any harm caused by my words – after all, I am engaging in activism (to promote a religion I value so highly) from a place of imperfect knowledge/wisdom!

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    1. Excellent response. I largely agree with the your views on the topic. In fact, reading through it felt like a precise articulation of the thoughts that were going on in my mind. Thanks Dinesh ji for taking time to write such detailed response.
      Is it possible to share your contact detail, I may have some questions/points that we can discuss further. My email id is viraj.shah978@gmail.com.

      --
      Viraj
      https://virajshah.com/

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    2. Very good comments.

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  9. Today's activism movements are all founded on principles of justices for members of society.

    However, as these movements grew, many undesireable facets have attached themselves to the movements such as rigidity of views, intolerance of others opinion, disregards of others interest, violennt tendencies, etc.

    Rethinking of the actions one the lines of Jain principles such as Ahimsa, Anekantvad, Compassion will help the build a world, kinder, just and free of violence.

    People of the world, no matter their religion, should discuss the secular Jain values, and consider adopting them wholeheartedly in all their actions.

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  10. Activism with Samyaktwa is the catch and evolving to the highest Selfless Altruism the goal and nicely conveyed to make us aware in our Civic rights and duties.

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  11. Tirthankar's, Kevali's, Acharyas & Sadhu Sadhviji's always preach us to focus on our Aatma (Soul). Any action other than that can lead to Mithyatva (False Belief).

    Having said that all Shravak's have to do their daily function. It can be their Business, Job or anything else. It is a way of life & cannot be avoided. At the same time Shravak's have to always have to help other living beings in whatever way they can. This will also provide you Punya (better karma in the future). It may not lead to betterment of our Soul but we should do it to the best of our capacity.

    Jain Shravak's should also be activists in the positive sense.

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  12. excellent!! Thank you as always.

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  13. Activism-a Jain way-very well expressed. Activism creating chaos or conflict sometime results in to stepping back or discouragement. If done Jain way and persistence manner can lead to a way forward.

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  14. Compassion for others should born from understanding anekāntavāda (the theory of many-sidedness) while thinking of activism, not blind motivation under the influence of others, and for ourself constantly realizing our own nayavāda (the theory of partial standpoints). Unfortunately currently the US cancel culture as a type of cultural revolution misses both of these core Jain values. So try to engage but when u see that these values are substituted by intolerance, one sidedness, cancel and self-pride, be honest to yourself and choose the core Jain way instead of associating with people who increase karmic burden by ignorance.

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  15. Hi, though the overall approach suggested is acceptable, but many arguments given are very "western" infuenced mindset about India and Indic religions. If i ignore these references.. they Jains should participate and contribute to activism.. Afterall Mahaveer Swami was in princple a reformist and reformist imho are activists.

    however I fail to comprehend "contemporary South Asian lens grounded in Jain values" which part of the world is this? If this is India then it cleary shows the Audrey Truschke influence to the narrative. Someone might want to look at this blog from this lense please.

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  16. Best post ever read. Acceptable one.

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