NITAAI Yoga The Pure Love of the Soul

Global warming – A spiritual perspective

Nityaananda! Gauraanga! Hare Krishna!

At Copenhagen, world top leaders are meeting to arrive at consensus to quantify the level of carbon emissions. Negotiations are still going on. On this very important issue of global warming there seems to be vertical split between developed and developing countries. The developing countries are defending their case and according to them in their path to economic progress they cannot promise any specific targets (Carbon emission levels). To put a cap on production means break on economic growth. Slow economic growth means less consumption. Less consumption will lead to other problems like unemployment etc. The only solution left is investing in green technology. This requires huge investment.

Given this background, I was contemplating what solution does our scriptures like Bhagwat Gita, SB, CC, CB offer to us on this issue. Is the problem so simple to leave it to leaders and the bureaucrats? I was thinking, what solution Swamiji has to offer to the world. Then on Sunday, while browsing “Nitaaiyoga”, I found the announcement “Today’s live Sanga’s topic is Sri Ishopanishad. I attended the session. To my surprise the very first verse (mantra) of Ishopanishad strikes at the root cause of all the problems the world is facing.

isavasyam idam sarvam

yat kinca jagatyam jagat

tena tyaktena bhunjitha

ma grdhah kasya svid dhanam

Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.

But Swamiji, I have a doubt.

Does this verse imply that a country (countrymen) should not strive hard for economic progress? People say this idea of accepting only things set aside as one’s quota is utopian and cannot be implemented. So what is the acceptable, practical, spiritual solution accepted to all? Swamiji, We who are interested in the non material activities (spiritual) are always accused of not being practical. This problem of global warming is going to affect all of us. It is not going to discriminate between and devotee and non-devotees. So why can’t we proactively offer a very practical solution accepted to all.

We are all spiritual beings but on our behalf leaders are offering materialistic solution.

To sum it up, if the league of devotees are asked to present their case on world forum about the solution to the burning issues, how and what would be that solution.

Aspiring to serve your lotus feet

Chhotoo & family

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2 Responses to “Global warming – A spiritual perspective” Reply Top

ghadgech says:

2009-12-12 18:47:38. Replies | Top | End | Reply

Swamiji, just by attending your live session yesterday I got the answer to the questions I posed in my earlier post.

In the live sanga you have given the example of Srila Haridas Thakura: - “Who says Haridas Thakura was not preaching, while He was chanting it is as good as preaching”.
I was trying to relate this to what is happening at the climate change summit at Copenhagen. I posed a question that the leaders are taking important decisions on our behalf but the devotees like Swamiji are being left out. Why aren’t the devotees proactive?

Swamiji, my apologies for having said so. The truth is that because of the untiring, uncompromising, sincere service offered by the devotees at the lotus feet of the Lord we can see some sort of order in this world. Their chanting the Holy names, performing sankirtana yagya is the reason why even the non-devotees are reaping the fruits. Had it not been for the merciful devotees, the Lord would have annihilated this world.
This reminds me of Srila Haridas Thakura when He was beaten in 21 markets. Srila Haridas was constantly begging Lord to forgive the offenders.
Lord would have killed the offenders but the petition of Haridas Thakura to forgive the offenders made the Sudarshan Chakra of the Lord impotent.

Swamiji, the very existence of this creation is because of the pure devotees. They may not physically present at the negotiating table at the Copenhagen summit. They may not be present at the numerous peace conferences at the United Nations. But the truth is that all of us owe our existence to the devotees only.
In fact it is the devotees and no one else who are providing practical, acceptable, implementable solutions. They are the present Haridas Thakurs who are constantly begging forgiveness for the worldly people.
The Lord is as if ready to annihilate this world but for the devotees.

Aspiring to serve the lotus feet of all the devotees

Chhotoo & family

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Srinath says:

2009-12-12 20:17:12. Replies | Top | End | Reply

Dear chhotoo ji,

Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna! Beautiful beautiful realization. All glories to you, I am ecstatic.

You know, just the very fact that the devotees are here on the planet itself is so powerful and purifying across the entire global atmosphere. Actually they don't have to actively preach, simply being here keeps this planet from going into disaster.

We don't understand the invisible ways in which devotees preach. Some of them are so incredible they can never even be believed. They can even preach from the spiritual world without even coming here, but since we can't realize they mercifully come down to this level.

The whole global warming and problem of food and population is not because the earth cannot adjust the situation, but because the people are becoming more and more spiritually degraded as said in Srimad Bhagavatam during the pastime of King Prthu. Consequently Bhoomi Devi isn't willing to share her wealth on them. This is the result of all the accumulation of sinful karma. And people can deny this for as long as they want and make various talks, conferences and etc...but they are not going to achieve anything because if people are not willing to change and take the spiritual lifestyle, it is all a waste of time.

At the end of 10000 Gaura Era (after Mahaprabhu's appearance), all the rivers will be gone and the land would have degraded so much that no more vegetarian food (no agriculture!) will be possible. The devotees will all be gone as the environment becomes too hostile for devotional service. There won't be any proper rain...the sky will be forever cloudy with lightning -- Nitaai Nitaai, this Kali Yuga is a horrible time on this planet. Everyone chant the Holy Names and take the Lord's special invite to the spiritual world!

Daaso'smi,
Srinath