Achieving Heartful Coexistence through the Principles of Bhagavad Gita and Heartfulness Practices

Abstract

Indian philosophy holds that, despite their karmically affected manifestation as plants and animals, nature is filled with other entities apart from humans which are fundamentally no different from human beings. Given this basic unifying truth, the fact that the desires and greediness of humans are harming more and more other species and their habitats is the most alarming challenge. This paper highlights the concepts of Niṣkāma karma and Yajña from the famous Indian scripture Bhagavad Gita along with Heartfulness practices to address the current environmental problem. In the modern world, living standards have improved from a very basic level to one that is highly sophisticated and complex. All of this has been made possible by science and the different fields that have been produced through the diligent labour of the world's thinkers. Even though all this progress is supposed to make people's lives better, issues still seem to be worsening. As a result of our desire to become better, we have caused more damage to the ecosystem. Our increasing number of desires and the attitude of possessing more than what is required leads to adharmic ways of living, which in turn results in the deterioration of moral and ethical values in society. To carry along with society in a more responsible way, we as humans need to put selfish agendas aside and consider larger issues. Respecting the principle of mutual dependence is another important aspect that must be taken into consideration. All living beings in this universe are mutually dependent on one another, including non-living entities. Unless this principle is thoroughly understood, there is no case for developing sustainable solutions for anything we undertake in life. The concept of Yajña from the Bhagavad Gita addresses this problem.