6th November 2005
The bigger picture
Development is imperative, but a short-sighted approach is often the cause of great harm.
Sustainable development is that which keeps in mind the long-term effects and benefits of any
programme.
What you develop today should not become a noose around your neck tomorrow. For
instance, concrete jungles mushrooming in cramped spaces with no regard for civic
infrastructure inevitably give rise to negative consequences — air pollution, water shortages,
housing and labour problems, and escalating costs of living.
Short-sighted development is a disaster. Ravaging natural resources without a long-term vision
will destroy the ecology, which is the very source of life. The purpose of development should
be to support and sustain life. With the bigger picture in mind, all development plans will factor
in the ecology, sociology and psychology. Then the very process of development becomes a
conscious endeavour to preserve the planet and its resources. The health of our planet is of
utmost importance.
Environment consciousness is inbuilt in the human system. Throughout history, Nature (or
prakriti) has always been adored in India; mountains, rivers, the sun, the moon, the trees have
been revered. In fact, ancient cultures all over the world have exhibited a deep reverence for
Nature. For them, God was not in temples or churches, but was inherent in Nature, in the five
elements (earth, water, fire, air and space), the directions, the sun, the moon. Hinduism, the
most ancient religion, adores Nature through the five elements and has even defined
spirituality as tatvabodha or understanding the principles of Nature. It's only when we start
moving away from Nature that we start polluting Nature. Today there is a pressing need to
revive the ancient practice of honouring and conserving Nature.
Many are of the view that damage to ecology is an inevitable by-product of technological
progress. But that is not necessarily so; actually, a sustainable growth is assured only if the
ecology is protected. Science and technology should not be regarded as anti-environment;
rather, we need to find ways of maintaining harmony in environment while progressing in
science and technology. This is the biggest challenge of this century.
Just observe Nature; the five elements of Nature are opposed to each other. Water destroys
fire, fire destroys air… Then there are so many species in Nature — the birds, reptiles, mammals;
all these different species are hostile towards each other and yet Nature balances them out.
Never in a forest does one species of birds get wiped out. Neither will you find pollution in any
forest despite so many animals living there together. We need to learn from Nature; how
Nature digests waste material and produces something more beautiful. Similarly, it is not
technology and science that pose a hazard, but the waste material generated by
technological and scientific processes.
We need to find methods to consume the waste and develop non-polluting processes, such
as harnessing of solar energy. There are several other areas of work where there are no
contradictions between nature and progress. For instance, a return to traditional methods
such as organic and chemical-free farming will go a long way in preparing the ground for
healthy development. Tradition, technology, trade and truth are the four key factors, which
need to be revived time and again. Unless they are revived, the whole meaning for which
they were initiated will be lost; ancient and modern methods should be synergised. Despite
advances in the field of chemicals and fertilisers, the ancient Vedic technology of using cow
urine and cow dung continue to be one of the best ways to cultivate crops. Several studies
have shown that natural farming (without fertilisers and pesticides) leads to enhanced yield.
The latest technology needn't always be the most economically viable or efficient technology.
We need to look into the merits; just because something is new, it is not necessarily good and
just because some thing is old, it need not be discarded. Processes and objects that are
detrimental to Nature and environment are also health hazards. We need to explore means to
evolve and sustain healthy lifestyles.
The goal of sustainable development is to build a healthy and happy society. Suppose you
have built good infrastructure and have in abundance all the material things you aspire for,
but the human psychology is destroyed. In such a scenario, the dream of sustainable
development will remain a far-fetched goal. There can be no sustainable development in a
society full of stress and violence. A disease-free body, a stress-free mind, a violence-free
society and a toxin-free environment are vital elements of sustainable development. If we
have to keep opening more and more hospitals and prisons as society develops, it does not
augur well. Good infrastructure and prosperity become meaningless if every household has to
employ a security guard. Access to more hospitals beds and availability of more prisons are
not signs of development.
Sustainable development also means freedom from all types of crimes. There are many types
of crime. Destroying the environment is also a crime; cutting down trees is also a crime;
dumping toxic waste is also a crime; using non-recyclable materials is also a crime.
Environmental pollution is a major crime. Environment is our first body, then come the physical
body and the mind, the mental sheath. You have to cater to all the three levels.
In reality, man's greed is the greatest pollutant. Greed stops man from sharing with others.
Greed also obstructs the preservation of ecology; man is so greedy, he wants to make quick
profits and achieve quick results. Whilst being aware of methods to prevent pollution, he may
not act upon them because they cost in some manner.
This greed not only pollutes the gross, physical environment but also contaminates the subtle
atmosphere; it stimulates negative emotions in the subtle mind. These negative emotions
impact the minds of all the people around; if one person is angry and agitated, the anger and
agitation does not stay limited to that one person but rubs off onto all those whom he comes
in contact with. These negative vibrations, once compounded, give rise to unrest in society.
Negative feelings of hatred, anger, jealousy are the root cause of all disasters and misery in
the world, whether they are economical, political or social in nature. Most of the wars are
triggered off by such feelings; and war is always accompanied by waste and natural disasters
that take ages to balance out.
We need to attend to the human psyche that causes pollution, whether physical or emotional.
If compassion and care are kindled within the Self, they reflect in the environment; a sense of
sacredness follows. People should be encouraged to treat the planet as sacred, to treat trees
and rivers as sacred, to treat people as sacred, and to see God in nature and in people. This
will foster sensitivity; and a sensitive person can't but care for nature. It is basically insensitivity
that makes a person act callously towards environment. If a person is sensitive, he will nurture
environment, thereby eradicating pollution.
Three Cs — cosmology, commitment, and compassion — are vital for development.
Cosmology is understanding the universe and your life in the context of the vastness of the
universe. Seeing the life in the infinite context of space and time will deepen one's perception
of life. A bigger vision of life can kindle human values and compassion for the ecology and
commitment to preserve this planet.
When development plans are aligned with the basic purpose of bringing happiness to people
and preventing the planet earth from depletion, what comes out will be sustainable
development. It has to be noted that the ultimate aim of sustainable development is to
preserve the planet Earth, replenish, not deplete, its resources and make life a celebration.
Jai Gurudev.
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