Pristine Jainism : Mature and Stable Systems

All mature and stable systems are symbiotic. Predation, parasitism, amensalism, competition, neutralism, commensalisms, proto-cooperation are transitory, unstable stages in the ascending and descending process of succession and retrogression. As eco-systems evolve to maturity and stability, the negative interactions predation, parasitism etc. are replaced by neutralism, commensalisms and ultimately by mutualism or symbiosis. It is unfortunate that positive interactions and associations between species have been underestimated. The acceptance of Darwin's theory of the survival of the fittest has directed attention to competitive aspects of nature and positive interactions have not been subjected to as much quantitative study as the negative interaction. The Darwinian concepts need scrutiny and more objective study with fair share of emphasis on positive and cooperative aspects. Eminent Scientist William Thompson Kelvin opposed the views expounded by Charles Darwin. Even at present when predatory trends are on the increase, there are numerous examples of cooperation and mutualism viz., plants and nitrogen fixing bacteria (bacteria feed on plants but make it capable of fixing nitrogen directly from air), micorrhiza (behaviour of fungus same as bacteria), plants and insects (such as honey bee and other insects helping the plants in pollination), lichens (algae and fungi live in perfect mutualism), crabs and coalantrates (harmonious relationship), ungulates and ruman bacteria (bacteria help animals in their digestive process), bacteria in human colon (digestion of food is not possible without the help of these bacteria in human colon), termites and intestinal flagellate, ants and fungi, remora fish and sharks (small remora fish enter the mouth, feed and clean teeth of ferocious sharks), crocodile and crocodile bird, animals and birds, plants and birds and many other associations in different eco-systems. Predation, parasitism is annihilating for both the predator and its prey. Man as predator hunter realised this and took up domesticating the animals instead of hunting, which would have first annihilated the prey (animals) and then man also. During Sukhma-Sukhma (Happy-Happy) era of Kalpavrikshas (Natural and mixed polyculture forests) all living organisms and inanimate constituents functioned in harmony for mutual benefit. There was nothing like harmful bacteria, fungi or insects etc. It is human interference and antagonism that has made many a life form harmful in the same may as we turn our even close friends into enemies by our behaviour. Even carnivora like tigers etc. were not killers but scavengers as there were enough naturally dead bodies. With the advent of agriculture man considered trees, wild animals, birds, rodents, insects etc. adverse and went on destroying them, thus turning many life-forms antagonistic. The process is continuing and rather accentuating with increasing use of poisonous pesticides, which kill not so-called harmful pests but even those, which are beneficial.