The Editor's Page

Environment, Religion
& Culture

The bounty of nature is a source of wealth and provides for the needs of all creatures on the earth. Animals by instinct adhere to natural requirements. We humans, however, have a tendency to indulge excessively and accumulate things beyond our needs; we also waste valuable resources. We squander this bounty through the multiplying of our superfluous desires and wants. This dichotomy between basic needs and excessive desires is crucial to the understanding of our ecological problem. The wealth of the world is based on the five elements:
earth, water, fire, air and space. All peoples must share these gifts among themselves and with other creatures.

Consumerism and advertising mislead people into thinking that they need more and more. They obscure basic human needs. This leads to a more violent society, with exploitation as one of the most basic causes. By plundering and destroying the natural world, technology exacerbates human conflict with nature. Ruthless exploitation of nature results in disaster. Exploding consumption in industrialized countries and population explosion in developing countries are ruining the resources, health, and balance of the natural elements. Unless we place limits on our extravagant consumption and throw-away mentality, we will face natural shortages and far worse.

What is needed is an optimally viable economic and social organization in relation to the entire planet and the good life of all humankind. Growth must be sustainable on a worldwide basis. It is unfortunate that we have chosen to trade the good life for a life of goods. We have lost our perspective on true wealth. A good life is gained through knowledge, love and compassion. It is foolish to think that merely by multiplying one’s wants, one achieves happiness. The more our desires are satisfied, the greater our desires grow. A major Hindu text declares: “Happiness is
rooted in contentment; its opposite is rooted in misery.” (Manusmriti 4.2)

Wars and violence lead us to enormous waste of human and material resources. They create barriers and inequalities in human society. They result in unequal distribution of wealth and prevent the emergence of a society based on love. Ideological, religious and national wars as well as acts of terrorism are exploitative. Consequently, millions of people, especially in Asia and Africa, are condemned to poverty, without hope of escape from filth and destitution. The primary role of religions must be to work for the eradication of poverty and the reversal of the policy and programs that engender war. Our life style must become less and less violent.

The global ecological crisis is the result of a materialist worldview. Though nominally religious, many of us fail to attend to the basic teachings of our respective religions. They teach peace, brotherhood and reverence for life. They emphasize the moral development of humankind and the journey to spiritual fulfillment. If technological and material development overlooks the needs of the spirit, is it really advancement? In fact, violence against nature and against one another leads to the decline of civilization and culture. The time has come to reach for an optimum standard of living, rich in spiritual qualities and values. Humans are essentially spiritual beings. Spiritual values uplift life and bring all peoples together.

The earth is our common home; humanity is our family. We must manage our household properly. Accordingly, we need to plan and work for short-term and long-term goals simultaneously. We need to adhere to environmentally friendly procedures and learn to utilize all resources efficiently. Conservation is grounded in care for the future. We need to promote life-styles that will improve and protect the life-sustaining characteristics of our earth, water, fire, air and sky for posterity. Culture, in its widest sense, includes spirituality, religion, philosophy, socio-political systems as well as literature and the arts. Human beings make or unmake a society on the basis of the education they receive. Inculcation of values through education plays an important role. Education in general and cultural and religious education in particular should emphasize proper use of natural resources. Consider the life of a tree, as described by an anonymous author:

It gives its leaves to animals; it shares its flowers with bees. It gives its fruits to peoples. It provides shelter to birds and insects. It takes carbon dioxide and gives oxygen to the living world. Finally, it sacrifices itself to be used as construction material or fuel. It lives and dies for the service of others. However, it never asks anything in return. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could appreciate and express our good will for it?

Seshagiri Rao, Alan Race, Jim Kenney