Let Lord Mahavira’s Teachings Combat COVID-19

How Jainism Can Help Us Fight Corona Virus

Swinging between hope and despair amidst the rampant spread of coronavirus, the entire world is trying to invent preventive measures to combat the deadly virus. But what should be taken into consideration and how such threats to human life and existence can be avoided have still remained questions for all of us. Can we really overlook the fact that a crisis never emerges all of a sudden? It has its reasons and grounds underlying and most of them are known to human race itself.

We have suffered three pandemics since 2000 viz. SARS-CoV in 2003, H1N1 (Swine flu) in 2009, and now Covid-19. SARS Coronavirus is thought to be an animal virus from an as-yet-uncertain animal reservoir, perhaps bats that spread to other animals like civet cats. It originated in Guangdong province of southern China. This global epidemic ended in July 2003 but SARS reappeared four times- three times due to laboratory accidents(Singapore and Chinese Taipei), and once in southern China where the source of infection remains undetermined although there is circumstantial evidence of animal-to-human transmission. The pandemic H1N1 or Swine flu spread from an intensive pig farm in Mexico and lasted from January 2009 to August 2010 affecting 700 million- 1.4 billion (estimated) people across the globe. The fatalities were estimated to be 284,000(Centers for Disease Control). Not just these outbreaks are a major threat to the human existence but we have been endangered by other diseases also like bird flu from poultry, the Middle East Respiratory syndrome (MERS) from camels, Ebola from monkeys and pigs, Rift Valley fever from livestock, West Nile fever from birds, Zika from monkey and Nipah from bats.

The root cause of such frequent outbreaks of viral and bacterial diseases in the 21^st century is the rapid and unhealthy changes in human life style along with man’s deteriorating relationship with Mother Nature. The gradual environmental destruction, deforestation and ludicrous cultural practices are largely responsible for such global pandemics. The latest coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China is an example of human violation of nature’s law and a lesson for the mankind to contemplate over the havoc humans are creating on the earth. After the outbreak of SARS in the year 2003, it was proven that the culture of eating exotic animals in China and some other countries is no less than a nuclear bomb. The prevailing fatal situations will be soon waiting for the impending doom if we do not change our methods of living and treating our planet.

It is crucial that we introspect on how to adapt the measures to accomplish the task of revaluing nature and bring back the harmony and peace between all living organisms on the earth. The Jain Philosophy and the tenets of Lord Mahavira present an elaborate and pragmatic analysis of how a harmonized system of living can be established between the humans and nature. The solutions and preventive measures for all the challenges and threats the man is struggling today have been incorporated in Jain Philosophy and Jainism. About 2500 years ago, Lord Mahavira had envisioned the agonizing future of mankind owing to the indiscriminate exploitation of the plant and animal kingdoms. The code of conduct suggested by Lord Mahavira has a great relevance in today’s scenario. ‘Live and Let Live’ is the basic mantra of Jainism which encourages vegetarian diets keeping numerous infections and other lifestyle diseases at bay. The research has proven that the vegetarian diets are the best of all for both the angles- physical health and spiritual upliftment. Elimination of meat from the diet reduces the dangers of animal-human transmission of virus. Increasing population of non vegetarians promotes animal farming on larger scales which causes viral diseases. Bird flu and swine flu both have their origin in intensive animal farms.

Jainism teaches non-violence which is the foundation of biodiversity existing on the planet earth. Each organism has a right to live but whatever is happening today has compelled us to ponder, have we failed to appreciate and acknowledge the importance of the smallest, invisible living beings on the earth? Have we become so cruel that we forget to understand, what environment, ecology and ecosystem is to man or vice-versa? What takes precedence- environment over man or man over environment? 

Non-violence is the basis of Jainism and to kill a living being is considered to be the greatest of sins. Practice of non-violence is not just limited to humans or animals but is extended to all forms of life. As Cesar Chavez rightly said, “Only when we have become non-violent towards all life we will have learned to live well with others.” Jain scriptures motivate people for minimal consumption and emphasize upon restricting their unlimited consumption of natural resources. Practicing a minimalistic approach to life yields abundance for each one in the community and thus develops harmony between human life and nature.

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To resolve the crisis of such global pandemic, we need to follow the practices of Jainism which are based on the principles of scientific vision, spiritual mission and religious consciousness. It preaches compassionate empathy for all forms of life particularly for all sentient species. The scientific and religious perspectives of nature are never contrary to each other, as we believe they are complementary to each other. Lord Mahavira expounded the significance of the combination of both these perspectives to lead a peaceful life. Lord Mahavira focused on this synergy, which emphasizes on man’s responsibilities towards his environment and lays down directives for the preservation of nature. The world therefore, needs to follow a universal code of conduct suggested by Lord Mahavira to prevent such pandemics and environmental destruction. Let’s worship nature and its myriad manifestations and be thankful for what we are bestowed upon.