{"id":17032,"date":"2018-06-09T09:27:48","date_gmt":"2018-06-09T03:57:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hindupost.in\/?p=17032"},"modified":"2018-06-11T18:42:43","modified_gmt":"2018-06-11T13:12:43","slug":"ancient-hindu-wisdom-and-the-environment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hindupost.in\/society-culture\/ancient-hindu-wisdom-and-the-environment\/","title":{"rendered":"Ancient Hindu Wisdom and the Environment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vedas, Yogic Sciences and Nature<\/h3>\n

\u2018Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam\u2019\u00a0<\/i><\/b>is a phrase repeated in the ancient Bharatiya texts like the Maha Upanishad.<\/em> It expresses one of the fundamental underpinnings of Bharatiya culture. Translating this Sanskrit phrase:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cVasudha<\/em>\u201d<\/strong>: Earth
\n\u201civa<\/em>\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0\u201ceva<\/em>\u201d<\/strong>: \u2018indeed\u2019 or \u2018only\u2019
\n\u201cKutumbakam<\/i>\u201d<\/i><\/strong>: family\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Thus the phrase means\u00a0\u2018the Earth is one family\u2019<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Generally, this phrase is referred to in the context of the unity of mankind i.e. to overlook barriers like race, religion and nationality. But if we look closely at the meaning of the phrase, it says the \u2018Earth<\/b>\u2019 is one family, not only\u00a0mankind<\/b>. The\u00a0commonplace limited interpretation of the phrase generally arises from our human-centric, exclusivist view of man as the most important creature on the planet.<\/p>\n

Other similar popular Sanskrit phrases include\u00a0\u201cLokah samasthat sukhinoh bhavantu\u201d<\/strong>which means,\u00a0\u201cmay the whole world be happy\u201d<\/em>. Again, the reference is to\u00a0all\u00a0<\/i>life, not only human.<\/p>\n

Being rooted in such a deeply inclusive understanding, Bharatiya culture thrived in harmony with nature for millennia. All of Creation was looked upon as the manifestation of the Divine \u2013 the many diverse forms, being but a small expression of the Creator\u2019s infinite potential and magnificence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Scientifically speaking<\/h3>\n

From a scientific perspective, the yogic sciences understood the entire creation as a play of the five elements or\u00a0panchamahabhutas \u2013<\/em>\u00a0air, water, fire, earth and space (or ether) \u2013 which were\u00a0profoundly studied.\u00a0Thus even from a scientific perspective, it was concluded that everything is made of the same stuff.<\/strong>\u00a0Further, that it also moves by the same force,\u00a0S<\/em><\/span>hakti.<\/i><\/p>\n

Based on the\u00a0rishis\u2019\u00a0<\/i>realisation that the same\u00a0prana\u00a0<\/i>or life energy that moves through humans, also moves in all of nature, Ayurveda was developed as the science of understanding and using the properties of nature at a gross and subtle level. The world today is very interested in natural medicinal cures and skin and hair treatments but traditionally in Bharat, everyone used herbs and organic substances for everything from brushing their teeth to curing infections and diseases.<\/p>\n

Nature in the Bharatiya Way of Life<\/h3>\n

Plants<\/strong><\/p>\n

The plant kingdom has traditionally been an integral part of our everyday life. Even today, in Bharat’s temples and rituals, there is a liberal use of flowers, fruits and other organic substances like sandalwood, turmeric, camphor and incense. Certain plants and herbs like neem and \u2018tulsi<\/em>\u2019 (holy basil) are even considered \u2018sacred\u2019.\u00a0This \u2018sacred\u2019 status is not to create a spirit of fear for anyone who does harm to the plant, but actually to preserve the knowledge that these plants are very valuable for human life because of their many medicinal benefits.<\/strong>\u00a0The\u00a0wonders of neem<\/a>\u00a0for example as anti-cancer among other things, are now being realised in Western laboratories.<\/p>\n

When people visiting temples search for the\u00a0bel\u00a0<\/i>fruit and leaves to offer to the deity Shiva, the lotus to offer to Lakshmi ,\u00a0tulsi<\/em>\u00a0for Krishna or the hibiscus and\u00a0dhruva\u00a0<\/i>grass to offer to Ganesha, they are consciously or unconsciously connecting with nature. It may seem a small gesture but one that leaves a strong imprint on the mind of one who makes such an offering. It is a small but important reminder of living with an inclusive consciousness, in a world where most people can go by days, weeks and even years, not meaningfully being in touch with nature at all. Not to mention, this practice provides economic sustenance to the growing of various flowers and herbs which would otherwise have likely vanished.<\/p>\n

Animals<\/strong><\/p>\n

Animals have also held an important place in Hindu culture, from the reverence of the cow as a \u2018mother\u2019, to the Panchataantra fables, the oldest animal fables on the planet, dating back to before 300 BCE. Many of us recall our grandmothers putting a bit of food out for the birds or ants before taking their own meals \u2013 a gesture of compassion for other creatures.<\/p>\n

Almost all Hindu deities are associated with an animal that helps to express a quality of the deity \u2013 Ganesha and the mouse which represents the restless mind that Ganesha controls and directs; Shiva and the cobra which represents intense alertness; Saraswati and the swan which represents the discriminating intellect (a swan was believed to be able to separate milk from water); Durga and the tiger which represents ferocity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Land & rivers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Similarly, the land itself has been considered sacred.\u00a0<\/span>In almost every state of Bharat is a sacred mountain or range, the most important (spiritually) being the Himalayas. The main rivers like the Ganga and Narmada are looked upon as \u2018mothers\u2019 that have given life to our civilisation. Prayers are offered to these mountains and rivers out of love and gratitude for nourishing our lives. Often these sites contain great spiritual power, reverberating with the energies of great yogis since ancient times.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Such a traditionally holistic and wholesome way of life is unparalleled across cultures on the planet.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The exposition above restricts the discussion to man\u2019s relationship with planet Earth. Bharat’s sages and yogis in fact recognised man\u2019s cosmic identity and prayers for the different planets and the universe as a whole are recited even to this day.\u00a0Bharatiya festivals celebrate many important times for the planet in relation to the movement of the sun and moon as well as planetary constellations (the most famous example being the\u00a0Kumbh Mela<\/a>)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Man in Harmony with Nature in Ancient Cultures<\/h3>\n

Ancient<\/strong>\u00a0cultures all over the world not only shared a deep respect for the environment but saw their lives intertwined with nature<\/strong>. I recently spent some time in Australia and was fascinated to note the deep bond the indigenous Aboriginal people share with their land, reminiscent of ancient Bharat’s cultures. Their songs and dances express their observations of nature and their lores about the creation of the world are not human-centric but include other creatures, rivers and the land. For instance, just like we have a lore in Bharat about how the Ganga descended on the Earth, the river Maiwah (Brisbane river) also has an interesting creation story describing its descent on Earth.<\/p>\n

Similarly native American cultures lived in deep harmony with the land, every part of which was considered to be living and imbued with spirit. The old cultures of South America shared this way of looking at nature (check out\u00a0this very interesting documentary<\/a>\u00a0on YouTube about the Kogi people, one of the last survivors of the Spanish Conquistadors in South America who express their concern at how modern humans are tearing the planet apart). East Asian cultures like the Chinese and Japanese still carry on many of their ancient traditions associated with nature.\u00a0Pre-Christian Europe too had a culture that honoured the rhythms of nature \u2013 what was branded \u2018paganism\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So where did we go wrong?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

How did we Come to Destroy our Environment?<\/h3>\n

Modern economic and social systems and institutions have mostly evolved out of the ideologies, philosophies and thinking that sprouted around the time of the Renaissance in Europe. Free thinking and rationalism began to gain ground as a reaction against the dogma and orthodoxy of the Church. Questioning the heretofore unquestionable Church relied on encouraging the masses to prize their reasoning and intellect. The human being and his intellect then appeared to become the highest thing in the world.<\/p>\n

While this no doubt benefitted mankind in that it gave us the technological and economic development we enjoy today, it is still a limited way of operating as human beings. Because we have a sharp intellect and animals and plants don\u2019t, we think we\u2019re superior and more important than them.<\/p>\n

We \u00a0miss the fact that there are other dimensions of intelligence aside from the intellect.<\/strong>\u00a0As a practical example, it may be pointed out how animals and fish manage to survive tsunamis while human beings perish. We may have tremendous confidence in our reasoning and intellect, but we have lost touch with life intelligence which other creatures still have.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Further, with economics becoming the most important perceived goal of humanity, modern cultures are deeply materialistic and our greed for things seems almost never-ending.\u00a0Our consciousness is not inclusive because we\u2019ve not taken the time to turn within and explore the basis of our own existence.<\/strong>\u00a0It is no wonder the planet is taking a toll.<\/p>\n

Living Consciously<\/h3>\n

True respect for nature comes from a deep understanding within ourselves of how all life is connected and intertwined.\u00a0At one time, when Bharat’s culture was led by the light of enlightened beings, the sacredness of everything from a human to a stone was recognised.<\/strong>\u00a0Every part of nature was deemed worthy of respect, if not devotion.<\/strong>When such a deep reverence for all life runs in the veins, human beings will naturally not wantonly destroy forests or kill animals, waste water and litter the planet.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re now in a situation where one in three leatherback sea turtles on the planet have plastic in their stomachs. Further,\u00a0it is now predicted that by 2050, we\u2019ll have more plastic in our oceans than fish!<\/strong>\u00a0Having lost touch with the wisdom of our past, Bharat too has let its environment deteriorate. Its sacred rivers like the Ganga and Yamuna have become filthy and depleted.<\/p>\n

What is needed is a more conscious approach towards our environment whatever our present capacity.<\/p>\n

Some simple steps we can all take:\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n