S.M. Jain
In Tiloypannati, the ancient Jain treatise on cosmology, it is interesting to note that certain areas or planets viz., Harivarsa, Hemvata, Hairanyavata, Kachcha Videha etc. have been described as immune from retrogression. This means that people there have controlled their numbers and wants (which is possible by following Jainism, its prescribed code of conduct) to the carrying capacity of land and natural resources and thus arrested and stopped degradation by judicious management. This is what is advocated in modern forestry and the recent doctrine of sustainability. The conditions described in some such cases and areas are briefly given below:
अवसेस वण्णणाओ सुसमस्स व हॉति तस्य खेत्तस्य।
णवीर अवट्ठिद रुवं परिहीणं हाणि वड्ढीहिं॥1767॥
[ Tiloypannati 2nd Part, 4th Chapter]
(i.e. In Harivar area the conditions always remain as in Sukhma period)
अवसेस वण्णणाओ सरिसाओ सुसमदुस्समेणं।
णवीर अवट्ठिद-रुवं परिहीणं हाणि वड्ढीहिं॥1726॥
[ Tiloypannati, 2nd Part, 4th Chapter ]
(i.e. In Hemvata area the conditions remain same as in Sukhma-Dukhma period)
परवक्क-भीदि रहिदो, अण्णाय पसट्ठणेहि परिहीणो।
अइवट्ठि-अणावट्ठि-परिचत्तो सव्व काले सुं॥2227॥
[Tiloypannati, 2nd Part, 4th Chapter]
(i.e. in Kachcha Videha area there is never lawlessness, use of unfair means and never shortage or excess of rainfall and the area is immune from retrogression)
The above suggests prescription for the present generation. If we can control our numbers and wants to carrying capacity and renewability of natural resources then the retrogression and degradation will stop and process of progression will start to the stage of Sukhma and even Sukhma-Sukhma. Time will stop. Human efforts in right direction as ordained in Jainism can achieve this.
