Environmental Consciousness and the Nine Schools of Indian Philosophy

Book excerpt: This book presents an analytical exposition of the ‘Nine Schools’ of Indian philosophy, extrapolating ‘Environmental Ethics’ from the profound metaphysics of these Nine Schools, which serve as the cornerstone of a life lived in wisdom. This book uses the popular contemporary word ‘Environment,’ with the meaning expounded by the Vedic texts. Therefore, it includes the internal, external and cosmic states of all the creatures of the world, and relates them to the universal laws of creation, preservation, and annihilation of every existence following the path of the cosmic order (Ṛta). It argues that realization of the fact that all entities in the world are illuminated by the same Universal Spirit is also necessary. While the book emphasizes the external environmental woes of the world, such as deforestation, animal cruelty, pollution, climate change, and more, it also underscores that these are merely manifestations of humans’ internal perverted environmental states. Thus, humankind should not look at external issues that are limited and temporary, but should focus on the longer-lasting internal transformation.