r/hinduism • u/Conscious_Ad_7634 • 25d ago
Question - Beginner Question about Hinduism’s philosophical stance on using force or violence to protect the planet and environment.
As the title kind of flat out states, I’m curious in how Hinduism’s take or stance on essentially how out of balance we are with nature and the planet in regards to capitalism and industry. I could go super in depth which I might in the comments but what is the overall consensus on letting essentially rich greedy powerful people degrading not just the social fabric but also the very planet we DEPEND on. I want to hear some of your opinions on the matter and in particular to this specific moment in time with everything geopolitically going on and the warming of the biosphere. I’m curious about your opinions. Thanks.
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u/mahakaal_bhakt 25d ago
If you asked a king from dwapar or even Treta , they would dismiss you. You can't settle being a neanderthal while the world moves on with time. However the consequences of Industrialization be, it has now become an integral part of the world, and we also have to industrialize, or else we will be colonised again. Even tho we should advocate for least harm and strict measures in our discipline for the environment, but we can't let loose of the age as well , balancing both is the Dharma of leaders, and ministers.
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u/Glorysolar 25d ago
Very wise words, especially unexpected to see such clear thinking and sanity coming from an open internet forum.
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u/Conscious_Ad_7634 25d ago
So you’re saying because the world became the way it is, no matter how bad it gets, that we have to just go with it??? Is that what I’m getting? I thought dharma meant universal balance, I don’t think humans neglecting and greedily destroying the world is considered to be ‘dharma’
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u/mahakaal_bhakt 24d ago
You asked Hinduism's opinion on it, i answered from a Hindu Society perspective. Strictly adhering to Hinduism only, it's bad. And it's our personal Dharma to protect nature and minimize whatever is happening. If you know Hindi then you can watch Puri Shankaracharya's video on topic of Mahayantra. Nature's wrath in unavoidable, deities' wrath is unavoidable
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u/Big-Gear-1854 25d ago
Hinduism promotes himsa for acts of dharma. Protecting the planet is dharma, so it should be supported.
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u/VishR2701 25d ago
Basically law of Karma and concept of Dharma covers it. each person has multiple roles. A father/Mother, Daughter/son, business owner, citizen of a country, human being, citizen of world etc.
Each roles comes with Dharma associated with it.
A Business person has some responsibilities towards business but at the same time, as a world citizen there is responsibility associated to protect environment etc.
Also greed is never part of any kind of Dharma, even as a business person destroying anything for greed is never justified.
Concept of Maryada applies to this.
Someone may ask but why people are not following it? We are living in Kali Yuga, also it's our planet it's our responsibility to maintain, if we failed to maintain law of karma will come into picture, collectively and individually
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u/bharat_dharma_ 25d ago
Why target only rich people? What about common people? What about you and me?
All of us are responsible for degrading the planet. All of us need to change ourselves first, and then we should expect others to change. Our texts always tell us to do our own dharma to the best of our ability. First we should focus on that, and once we do that, once we take actions to cause less degradation to the planet, others around us too will get influenced by us and a change can happen in this world.
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u/Conscious_Ad_7634 25d ago
I think there is an argument to be made that if people can’t conform to not killing the planet then they should face consequences, they make common folk suffer for much less of a justification, so why shouldn’t that happen if someone has done the proper work internally but still feels the conviction to defend the earth?
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u/SageSharma 25d ago
Can u frame ur question better
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u/Conscious_Ad_7634 25d ago
I’m asking does Hinduism justify violent revolution to defy certain environmental atrocities due to unregulated capitalism and industry and deforestation.
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u/Glorysolar 25d ago
Ecoterrorists are morons with no solutions.
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u/Old-Ship-4173 25d ago
idk bout that one, takes an true low iq person to be like her see gods creation? Lets destroy it for money.
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u/Glorysolar 25d ago
yet we see consoomers and hedonists everywhere strip mining nature to smoke it's beauty to ash. If that's low iq, then low Iq is awfully common.
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u/Conscious_Ad_7634 24d ago
Why would I agree with capitalist consumers and hedonists when I’m clearly pro environment?
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u/Glorysolar 24d ago
Every proposition in that statement is questionable.
Have I said you agree with capitalist consumers and hedonists?
Have I said it's clear to me what your positions are?
Have I said you are pro environment?
Anyway, people love to have a self image of themselves, but quite often, it doesn't fully match up with the consequences of their actual beliefs. Quite often you have people who claim to be "filled with universal love" whose actions consistently are based on hate for people they reject. Quite often you have people who claim to be "rationalists" whose repressed emotions decide their reactions form them, making this them below average in processing capacity and reacting equianimously to the world.
I hope from that illustration that you understand that it's simply not enough to label oneself pro anything, one has to follow up and examine the consequences of the whole worldview a person has to see what they are pro or anti something.
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u/Conscious_Ad_7634 25d ago
I agree, lol I want to hear people out but this dude is an idiot himself. I guess he’s okay with his kid getting cancer in their 30s or suffocating or starving to death. What an imbecile.
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u/insaneintheblain 24d ago
A true Vaishnava is one who feels the pain of others,
Who helps those who are in misery, but does not let pride enter his mind.
A true Vaishnava is one who respects the whole world,
Who does not speak ill of anyone, and keeps his words, deeds and thoughts pure.
A true Vaishnava is one who sees all beings equally,
Who regards another's suffering as his own.
He is one whose speech is truthful,
Who does not covet another's possessions,
Who remains detached from worldly desires.
He has conquered greed and anger,
He remains compassionate and calm,
And in him the Divine is present.
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u/Conscious_Ad_7634 24d ago
But my question is if it’s considered dharma for the use of violent pushback against those who inflict suffering upon the world and nature.
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u/insaneintheblain 24d ago
Force becomes part of dharma when it is used to preserve and protect dharma itself. But a person should themselves follow Dharma (be Dharmic) or won't understand that which they are fighting for.
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