The Root Cause Of Environmental Crises
Climate change is a grave threat faced by humankind. Changes in the environment-reportedly gely due to greenhouse gases releainto the atmosphere by human ivity-threaten to make earth uninitable for humans. Today, man and nature seem to be aggling to survive each other. It snot always so. Earlier, people were se to nature. They studied natural nomena minutely, and watched in the creation, change and destruction sad by forces of nature, and so they -ibuted divinity to nature. Myths from nearly every part of the ld featuring gods and goddesses of ers, rivers and mountains are ressions of the value that the ients attached to nature, and their titude for the sustenance it provided. The Vedas contain hymns glorifying earth as mother, and extolling air, and water for their power and the services they render to humans. It was understood that the well-being of the planet depended on conserving each of its constituent elements, so people took from nature only what was needed, not more. This kind of harmony between man and nature is one of the characteristics of Satyug, the Age of Truth, described in Hindu texts. People in ancient societies were more in touch with spiritual truths. Consequently, spiritual values such as purity, peace and generosity found expression in their actions, and they were not beholden to material desires. Over time, material inclinations began to inform human actions, and that changed man's relationship with the natural world. The unnatural climate tree change we are experiencing is the manifestation of a change in the climate of human minds over the past several centuries, whereby reverence for nature has given way to unbridled greed. The quality of the environment is shaped by the quality of our consciousness. Industrialisation provided the motive and means for plunder of the earth for profit. While nature can replenish itself to sustain life, the mercenary appropriation of its resources and unchecked pollution of the environment have overwhelmed its capacity to do so, destroying the ecological balance that allowed countless varieties of creatures and plants to live on this planet for millennia. Man's greed lies at the root of the environmental crisis facing us today, and the solution to it is with each one of us. We can adopt lifestyles that encourage need-based consumption, sharing of resources and minimum wastage. Simple acts, such as use of public transport and recycling, can make a big difference when done by large numbers of people. Planting trees is another way we cahelp heal the wounds man has inflicteon the planet. Trees support life in maways, absorbing and storing carbon, producing oxygen and providinga habitat for a wide variety of creaturesWhen people begin to make 'green"choices, industry will follow suit. Butfor this to happen, there needs to be greater environmental and spiritualawareness. When we become mindfulthe environmental cost of our actionsand realise that taking from nature haits karmic consequences, we will makmore enlightened decisions. Only by befriending nature canweachieve lasting well-being for everyonThis friendship will yield life-giving succour and prosperity without poisoning our bodies or destroying the only home humankind has in the entire universe. (The writer is chief spokesperson,Brahma Kumaris.)
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are BK Brij Mohan personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: BK Brij Mohan and Speaking Tree,Times of India
The Root Cause Of Environmental Crises
Climate change is a grave threat faced by humankind. Changes in the environment-reportedly gely due to greenhouse gases releainto the atmosphere by human ivity-threaten to make earth uninitable for humans. Today, man and nature seem to be aggling to survive each other. It snot always so. Earlier, people were se to nature. They studied natural nomena minutely, and watched in the creation, change and destruction sad by forces of nature, and so they -ibuted divinity to nature. Myths from nearly every part of the ld featuring gods and goddesses of ers, rivers and mountains are ressions of the value that the ients attached to nature, and their titude for the sustenance it provided. The Vedas contain hymns glorifying earth as mother, and extolling air, and water for their power and the services they render to humans. It was understood that the well-being of the planet depended on conserving each of its constituent elements, so people took from nature only what was needed, not more. This kind of harmony between man and nature is one of the characteristics of Satyug, the Age of Truth, described in Hindu texts. People in ancient societies were more in touch with spiritual truths. Consequently, spiritual values such as purity, peace and generosity found expression in their actions, and they were not beholden to material desires. Over time, material inclinations began to inform human actions, and that changed man's relationship with the natural world. The unnatural climate tree change we are experiencing is the manifestation of a change in the climate of human minds over the past several centuries, whereby reverence for nature has given way to unbridled greed. The quality of the environment is shaped by the quality of our consciousness. Industrialisation provided the motive and means for plunder of the earth for profit. While nature can replenish itself to sustain life, the mercenary appropriation of its resources and unchecked pollution of the environment have overwhelmed its capacity to do so, destroying the ecological balance that allowed countless varieties of creatures and plants to live on this planet for millennia. Man's greed lies at the root of the environmental crisis facing us today, and the solution to it is with each one of us. We can adopt lifestyles that encourage need-based consumption, sharing of resources and minimum wastage. Simple acts, such as use of public transport and recycling, can make a big difference when done by large numbers of people. Planting trees is another way we cahelp heal the wounds man has inflicteon the planet. Trees support life in maways, absorbing and storing carbon, producing oxygen and providinga habitat for a wide variety of creaturesWhen people begin to make 'green"choices, industry will follow suit. Butfor this to happen, there needs to be greater environmental and spiritualawareness. When we become mindfulthe environmental cost of our actionsand realise that taking from nature haits karmic consequences, we will makmore enlightened decisions. Only by befriending nature canweachieve lasting well-being for everyonThis friendship will yield life-giving succour and prosperity without poisoning our bodies or destroying the only home humankind has in the entire universe. (The writer is chief spokesperson,Brahma Kumaris.)
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are BK Brij Mohan personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it.
Courtesy: BK Brij Mohan and Speaking Tree,Times of India