Ecosophy: An Indian Paradigm of Eco-Spirituality

The global threat to eco-system is intrinsically connected
to a universal crisis in spirituality. There are basically two ways of 
dealing with the things of nature: (i) taking them as objects for
humans to possess, develop and consume; (ii) to respect them as
the matrix, the subject, in and through which humans attain inte­-
gral well-being. The effective antidote to the malaise facing us 
today is to develop the second perspective: to look at earth as
the mother-base out of which we are born, through which we
grow and unto which we return; to relate with plants and animals
as members of the one family (pikia=home) loved and fed by the
mother-earth. Then the author traces the move from ecology and
ecosophy, deriving insights from various Indian traditions. Finally
the author advocates a critical and creative dialogue between
Indian spiritual heritage and modern scientific perceptions. He
affirms that science without spirituality can be oppressive, spiri­-
tuality without science can be elusive.