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Hinduism

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In this section you will read text from the Vedas that highlight the nature Hinduism's relationship to the environment and learn about two Hindu initiatives to protect the Earth and promote ecological living.

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Introduction: The Hindu Declaration on Nature

"Not only in the Vedas, but in later scriptures such as the Upanishads, the Puranas, and subsequent texts, the Hindu viewpoint on nature has been clearly enunciated. It is permeated by a reverence for life, and..." Read & Listen to More

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The Jain Religion

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In this section you will learn about the importance of universal interdependence, known as anekāntavāda, in Jain philosophy and the relationship between nonviolence, "Ahimsā," and the environment.

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Introduction: The Jain Declaration on Nature

"The Jain ecological philosophy is virtually synonymous with the principle of ahimsa (nonviolence) which runs through the tradition like a golden thread. Ahimsa is a principle that Jains teach and practice not only towards..." Read More & Listen to Nitin Ajmera

Buddhism

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In this section you will learn about the Khoryug eco-monastic movement and "ecology monks" in Thailand, and read sections from Buddhist Sutras that emphasize having an attitude of compassion and lovingkindness towards nature and all sentient beings.

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Introduction: The Buddhist Declaration on Nature

"In the words of the Buddha Himself: “Because the cause was there, the consequences followed; because the cause is there, the effects will follow.” These few words present the interrelationship between cause (karma) and..." Read More & Listen to John Malcomson

Getting A Sounding: Voices from Around the World

Podcast: Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati - Water is the Canary in the Coal Mine

Gopal Patel - A Minimalistic Mindset, Hinduism And Ecology, And Persuading On A Nation Scale

Podcast: Pomnyun Sunim - Eco Buddha: Leave No Food Behind

Questions for Classroom & Community

Hinduism strongly emphasizes the Earth as our Mother. How might this view of the Earth change the way you relate to Her?
Are eco-villages and nonviolent resistance to logging in India counter-cultural actions? Or are these movements a sign of returning to traditional Hindu practices?
How might a Jain balance ahimsā (nonviolence) and anekanta-vada (the belief that no one has a monopoly on the truth) in how they live their life? How does one avoid acting as if they have an absolutist understanding of a given truth? (ex. that everyone must be vegetarian.)
What are some actions you could take or have taken that express a “reverence for life?”

Though the happiness of a wild animal might seem unimportant to humans, Buddhism asks us to think about animals in ways beyond their benefit to us. What are some examples of how the health or population of a species in the wild been found to benefit not only humans, but the entire ecosystem it lives in? (For example, when wolf populations are at a healthy number, it prevents species like deer from over-grazing or starving due to a lack of enough food to sustain their numbers.)
What are some examples of how a Buddhist might notice “the world is a mutual, interdependent, cooperative enterprise?” (Examples may include water, oxygen, etc.)

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Additional Resources

Interested in learning more? Explore the additional resources below:

Hinduism, The Jain Religion, Buddhism -- Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology
Hindu climate activists take lead on combating climate change Yale News
India: Development while fighting climate change Environmental Defense Fund
Human Responsibility and the Environment: A Hindu Perspective O.P. Dwivedi; Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies
Jainism and Ecology Volume Christopher Key Chapple; Religions of the World and Ecology Series
Jain Declaration on the Climate Crisis (Oct 2019) JAINA : Federation of Jain Associations in North America, and Vegan Jains
Non-Theistic Perspective on the Environment: Buddhist and Jain Ecologies Butler University
An Assessment of Climate Engineering from a Buddhist Perspective Till Markus, Bhikkhu Vivekananda, Mark Lawrence
The Time to Act is Now One Earth Sangha
A Buddhist Perspective on Climate Change The Allegheny Front

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