Vedic teachings: conservation parables

During the last few years I have been learning about the Vedas — ancient Sanskrit scriptures at the heart of Indian philosophy. My interest has been kindled from attending satsangs, or spiritual talks, by swamis visiting the Dallas area, and involvement with the Vedanta Center of North Texas, which hosts services, retreats and discourses with swamis from the Ramakrishna Math in India, the United States and other countries. Vedic literature underscores a reverence for nature, and my project relates these messages to contemporary conservation. In India I have interviewed swamis and scholars who draw upon the Upanishads, Puranas, Mahabharata and other texts to expound this connection. Luminaries include Swami Muktidanandaji, Adhyaksha (president) of the Ramakrishna Ashram, Mysore, Swami Atmashraddhanandaji, chief editor of The Vedanta Kesari, Ramakrishna Ashram, Chennai, and Dr. Gauri Mahulikar, awarded Vedic scholar and head of the Department of Sanskrit, University of Mumbai.

In Sanskrit literature, concepts of “ecosystem” and “apex predator” are not expressed in the vernacular of science but through animistic parables in which nature in all its forms is glorified as divine and expressing a harmonic balance essential to the cosmic order. Attributes of animals, rivers, rocks and trees are inextricably woven with those of humans, gods and goddesses in interdependent narratives where the wellbeing of one affects the other. The teachings emphasize the importance of humans’ role in protecting and respecting all life forms and using earth’s resources wisely. The tiger figures prominently as a symbol of grace, grandeur and power and is among those animals recognized for maintaining this balance.

“Do not cut down the forest with its tigers and do not banish the tigers from the forest; the tiger perishes without the forest and the forest perishes without its tigers. Therefore the tiger should stand guard over the forest and the forest should protect all its tigers.” — Mahabharata, Udyogaparvan, 29, 47-48 (circa 400 B.C.E.)