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Our duty is not just to plant trees but also to protect them: Maneka Gandhi [ Union cabinet minister for women and child development ]
Delhi, 28 September 2014:
In the pious presence of Acharya shri Mahashraman,Anuvrat International conference took place at Adhyatma sadhna Kendra, Mehrauli, Delhi. The chief guest for the event was the Union cabinet minister for women and child development Smt.Maneka Gandhi. Eminent speakers, panelists and experts from over 22 countries gathered under one roof with the aim to raise awareness on and find solutions to the burning environmental global issues.The theme of the seminar were - sustainabilityand circular economy,ecology and conservation of environment and relevance of anuvrat in day to day life.
Addressing the huge gathering Acharya shri said that this conference was a rare combination of people from multiple disciplines and diverse cultures. Analyzing the endeavour that has gone into this three day international seminar Acharya shri asked the delegates to put a check on their desires, enforce the eleventh vow of Anuvrat that calls for water conservation and preservation of the environment through self restrain and live a life free from attachment and aversion.
Chief guest Smt.Maneka Gandhi said that she is a jain not by birth but by faith and actions. Religion according to her is ‘Empathy’ and not ‘sympathy’. Do that to others as you would want to be done to yourself. A staunch believer of ‘live and help others live’ she said our duty is not just to plant trees but also to protect them. Stressing on Lord Mahavira’s view that all living beings are equal whether big or small she claimed that we should treat animals as equal a soul as ours and this is the reason she wears only cotton since last 40 years.
Today jains all over the world are in a very influential position -they are working as bureaucrats, in media, in politics, running corporate houses, etc. They are in a position to provide services to the society using their resources in the right capacity and at right places. She raised a question - ’in Bengal the largest donation is by jain community so why can’t we ask the party to stop animal trafficking.’ It’s high time we acknowledge the fact that religion is to be lived with every breath, it is transformation of our heart and believing in equnanimity of souls. This is ‘Anuvrat’ according to Achraya Tulsi. She said ‘ Jainismis like a magic and jain saints and nuns are magicians who have the power to stop all the violence and cruelty being done all over the world to animals.
Shivani Wazir was the emcee for the event.