Abstract

The conventional concept of sustainability is commonly limited to the realm of diplomacy, emphasizing the need to protect the environment while also addressing human needs and desires. However, upon closer examination, this definition and practice reveals a deeply ingrained anthropocentric perspective in which human beings occupy the dominant position within the value systems. This perspective raises the crucial question of whether it provides a comprehensive, unbiased and cohesive framework for understanding and practicing sustainability and demanding justice. Following this issue, when we investigate into the predominant anthropocentric viewpoints on sustainability through the holistic lens of ancient Indian philosophical traditions such as Vedanta, Buddhism and Jainism, we encounter challenges in adequately addressing fundamental questions concerning nature, preservation, justice and human well-being. In this article, we focus on Jainism, one of these ancient Indian schools of thought, which offers a distinctive and holistic philosophy for understanding sustainable thinking and practice. To restate, it not only encourages care and reverence for the natural world but also strives to rectify existing injustices, whether humanistic or ecological. With this, we aim to convey that Jainism’s unique philosophy offers a holistic framework for sustainability.