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Vedic Ecology: Practical Wisdom for Surviving the 21st Century
Drawing on India's ancient roots, Prime explores the possibility of applying old-world knowledge to new-world problems. Discover the environmental perspective put forth by the Vedas and how environmental activists and thinkers are applying it today. The author presents his own conclusions about high thinking and simple living, as well as interviewing prominent activists including scientist Vandana Shiva, Satish Kumar, Banwari (editor of Jansata, a Hindi daily newspaper) and prominent environmentalist Sevak Saran. Includes over 45 illustrations.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 17, 2019
A must for any Vedic scholars who strive to live eco-friendly lives.
August 9, 2020
A very gentle and informative book about the ancient ways of Hinduism and a primer on how to live simply,mindful of our place in the world.
September 11, 2024
Really good book I think everyone should read, love the mix between Hindu story’s and how they are relevant for the society we live in today!
November 30, 2018
"... from a timeless period the Vedas have taught us not to take more than we need."
"In the West, we have developed a lifestyle which humanity, and the earth, cannot afford - which consumes without thought for the future - a society of high living but simple thinking."
I was looking for a modern-day intro to Hinduism, and yes, while that is interspersed through the book, I also found a life philosophy, a strong call for enviromentalism, and ideas for creating a more equal society. Ranchor Prime combines Vedic mythology and modern day Hindu activists (including an entire chapter on Gandhi's ideas) into arguments for how we could be better for the future. This is a peaceful exploration away from the fast-paced development-focused consumerist society of today, into a meditation on what life once was and what it could be, focused on improving society and spirituality, and living simply.
"Let us take advantage of the fact that we are now a global community no longer confined to our separate traditions. The West has taught much to the rest of the world - now is the time for the West to learn some lessons in return."
"... it values all life forms as expressions of the spirit and stresses qualities such as patience and compassion. It looks beyond the transience of material pleasures to lasting happiness and fulfilment arising from inner peace and tranquility."
"In this world there is always a struggle between the forces of order and disorder. ...Those who are against Vishnu and the natural order, who work only for themselves, in the end unleash disappointment and poison as a result of their hard work, and this poison threatens the world. By churning the elements of matter in search of greater power, science releases forces both good and bad, and if these forces fall into the wrong hands they cast a shadow over the future of life on earth. This is the fate of a materialistic society - to work hard for material success and comforts, only to see their good works turn to poison and pollution that creates oppression and injustice."
"Every beginning comes to an end, and every end brings with it a new beginning. ... Even though we are living in this difficult age in which we are liable to make so many mistakes, still we get the chance amidst its complexities to acquire deeper wisdom."
"[Gandhi's] code of chivalry, which demanded that no one should ever have to suffer on his behalf. It meant that he could only take from the world what he absolutely needed, because if he took more he would be depriving others." <-- this world... so many people are not raised to think of others first, always themselves first.
"[Gandhi:] Swaraj is a sacred word ... meaning self-rule and self-restraint, not freedom from all restraint which 'independence' often means."
"Next comes dana, giving. This is the replenishment of society. Just as we take from nature and therefore must make sacrifice, so we take from society. ... Give your money, your labor, your intelligence, your time - whatever you have. This maintains the ecology of society. If society is based on dana there will never be poverty or exploitation or deprivation."
"In the typical Indian village, everything is deliberately kept simple. ... they valued rest and what we call leisure. They didn't call it leisure. In HIndu philosophy it would be called inaction or meditation, or just silence, and it plays a very important part in Hindu life - the opportunity to understand."
"But nowadays we are interested in materialism, which means that you are judged by what you have rather than what you are."
"[W]e have said sarve bhavantu sukhinah - 'Let all beings be happy.' ... if you accept the whole earth as your family, you have to think about every species whose life you impact. ... From this philosophy of inclusive well-being for all comes a globalization of compassion, rather than the globalization of greed we see today."
"A society that upholds the value of the inner life does not crave the pursuit of material wealth as a means of achieving happiness."
"In the West, we have developed a lifestyle which humanity, and the earth, cannot afford - which consumes without thought for the future - a society of high living but simple thinking."
I was looking for a modern-day intro to Hinduism, and yes, while that is interspersed through the book, I also found a life philosophy, a strong call for enviromentalism, and ideas for creating a more equal society. Ranchor Prime combines Vedic mythology and modern day Hindu activists (including an entire chapter on Gandhi's ideas) into arguments for how we could be better for the future. This is a peaceful exploration away from the fast-paced development-focused consumerist society of today, into a meditation on what life once was and what it could be, focused on improving society and spirituality, and living simply.
"Let us take advantage of the fact that we are now a global community no longer confined to our separate traditions. The West has taught much to the rest of the world - now is the time for the West to learn some lessons in return."
"... it values all life forms as expressions of the spirit and stresses qualities such as patience and compassion. It looks beyond the transience of material pleasures to lasting happiness and fulfilment arising from inner peace and tranquility."
"In this world there is always a struggle between the forces of order and disorder. ...Those who are against Vishnu and the natural order, who work only for themselves, in the end unleash disappointment and poison as a result of their hard work, and this poison threatens the world. By churning the elements of matter in search of greater power, science releases forces both good and bad, and if these forces fall into the wrong hands they cast a shadow over the future of life on earth. This is the fate of a materialistic society - to work hard for material success and comforts, only to see their good works turn to poison and pollution that creates oppression and injustice."
"Every beginning comes to an end, and every end brings with it a new beginning. ... Even though we are living in this difficult age in which we are liable to make so many mistakes, still we get the chance amidst its complexities to acquire deeper wisdom."
"[Gandhi's] code of chivalry, which demanded that no one should ever have to suffer on his behalf. It meant that he could only take from the world what he absolutely needed, because if he took more he would be depriving others." <-- this world... so many people are not raised to think of others first, always themselves first.
"[Gandhi:] Swaraj is a sacred word ... meaning self-rule and self-restraint, not freedom from all restraint which 'independence' often means."
"Next comes dana, giving. This is the replenishment of society. Just as we take from nature and therefore must make sacrifice, so we take from society. ... Give your money, your labor, your intelligence, your time - whatever you have. This maintains the ecology of society. If society is based on dana there will never be poverty or exploitation or deprivation."
"In the typical Indian village, everything is deliberately kept simple. ... they valued rest and what we call leisure. They didn't call it leisure. In HIndu philosophy it would be called inaction or meditation, or just silence, and it plays a very important part in Hindu life - the opportunity to understand."
"But nowadays we are interested in materialism, which means that you are judged by what you have rather than what you are."
"[W]e have said sarve bhavantu sukhinah - 'Let all beings be happy.' ... if you accept the whole earth as your family, you have to think about every species whose life you impact. ... From this philosophy of inclusive well-being for all comes a globalization of compassion, rather than the globalization of greed we see today."
"A society that upholds the value of the inner life does not crave the pursuit of material wealth as a means of achieving happiness."
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews