In the light of the recent buzz around Sustainable
Development Goals, its interesting to ask whether is it a new piece of wisdom
that the humanity has negotiated or does this truth about our interdependence
on nature, bears its origins to ancient theological thought. Pope Francis
talked about the concept of “Integral Ecology”, wherein the entire humanity is responsible
towards the protection of environment, for it is a common “Global good”. He
goes on to explain how humanity is interconnected and in turn as an integral
unit is related to the environment. Thus making the case for how Global
problems like combatting poverty, restoring those who are excluded and
protecting the environment, require Global solutions, for all of us are nothing
but one.
This new way of
thinking about the world and its problems, reminded me of the concept of “Integral
Humanism” as explained by Pt Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. This way of Global thinking as
I should say, draws its origins to ancient Advaita Vedantic thought. Advaita
Vedanta talks about non duality of nature and self. A simple interpretation would
be, that each one of us across gender, social class, color, religion and
borders do not only have the same spirit or the “Atman” but that we also share
the same spirit with the universe or the “Brahmand”. This comes very close to
Pope’s interpretation of how harm to the environment, or the universe is a harm
to the entire humanity, which in itself is interconnected. “Vasudhev Kutumbikam”
meaning, the entire world is my family, reiterates the ancient Vedantic thought
on how each one of us across the globe are connected in its share of problems
and responsibilities. Deriving from this is the common prayer for “Sarve
Bhavantu sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramaya” meaning let all be happy and
prosperous and let all be free from illness.
Isn’t this the same principle that the global leaders are
trying to negotiate for at the New York, UN assembly in 2015? Sustainable Development Goals lay out an
agenda for the entire humanity, to develop and prosper together but within the
limits of nature. Pope Francis in fact calls for a “right to environment”. And
of course the ancient vedantic philosophy comes to very similar conclusions, only
coming 2500 years in advance!
25/September/2015
Ananya Awasthi
Boston
