The Vedas(à) sing about oneness of man and nature. The idea expressed in ancient texts have universal value. We have always tried for preservation and prosperity of all the species including mankind on this earth.
The Atharv Veda gives us a great idea: यत्र विश्वम् भवति एकः नीडः। It means the whole world lives as one single unit like a nest. All the living beings have the same right to live and thrive. This can be achieved through co-living only. We are the birds of the same nest. We may wear different skin, different clothes, speak different languages, believe in different religions, belong to different cultures - yet we share the same home: our earth! Born on the same planet, covered with the same sky, gazing at the same stars, breathing the same air, we must learn to progress and prosper together happily or perish together miserably.
Our idea of peace does not mean just a state of no-war', neither it is limited just to men or countries and communities. But it embraces the whole nature and the whole creation. Let's try to understand this shanti mantra from the same Atharv Veda:
ॐ यो शान्तिः अंतरिक्ष शान्तिः पृथिवीः शान्तिः आपः शान्तिः औषधयः शान्तिः वनस्पतङ्गः शान्तिः । विश्वदेवाः शान्तिः ब्रह्मः शान्तिः शान्तिरेव शान्तिः
सा मा शान्तिरेधि शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
May there be peace in heaven, peace in space, peace on earth. May there be peace in trees, peace in vegetation and plants. May there be peace in our gods and in entire creation.
May there be peace everywhere and be it only peace. That peace, I pray, embrace my being!
This mantra warns us not to disturb nature, not to abuse, pollute or destroy our surroundings upto the heaven. In trying to master and get benefit of our ecology, we are simply destroying ourselves, our own nest. True peace will prevail only when man lives in peace with nature, divine forces and ultimately himself. How can we do this?
The wise rishi or seer of Ishavasy Upanishad gives us a wonderful advice:
इशावास्यम् इदं सर्वं यत् किंचित् जगत्यां जगत् ।
तेन त्यक्तेन भुंजीथाः मा गृध् कस्यस्विद्धनम् ॥
The rishi says: everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is enlivened by the supreme power. One should therefore, accept only these things necessary for oneself. This quote must be enjoyed by renouncing it. Moreover one must not snatch away what belongs to or is required by others. The whole creation is filled with the presence of God.
This is a message against the animalistic greed of human beings. We should not, like a vulture, keep others away from having what we actually don't need. Gandhiji also said: "There is enough on this earth for everybody's need, but not sufficient for one's greed. As the crown of creation, man must protect and not exploit and consume other animals. If man stopped destroying animals, trees or other aspects of nature, our world would become less violent and thus a peaceful abode for all.
Mahavir Swami preached Ahimsa(non violence) to that extent that all Jain Sadhus put a cloth on their mouth, drink boiled water and do not take food before sunrise and after sunset for not destroying even bacteria. Mahavir Swami believed that we should not disturb or hurt even a stone for a selfish purpose. Rishis believed that every matter in the universe is living. There is nothing like non living. Every thing is in a process of evolution. This was the realism of our ancient seers.
Mahakavi Kalidas has written a play: Abhijnan Shakuntalm. In a scene, King Dushyant of Bharatvarsh enters the Ashram of Rishi Kanva. He is in his chariot, chasing a deer for hunting. Two disciples of Kanva see him and immediately ask him not to shoot his arrows at the deer.
न खलु न खलु बाणः संनिपात्योडस्मिन् ।
मृदुनि मृगशरीरे पुष्पराशाविवाग्निम् ॥
They said: O King don't shoot, please, don't shoot the arrow at the tender body of this deer. It is as bad as putting fire on the heap of flowers.
This shows that Ahimsa was very much in the blood of ancient people and it became the tradition of Indian culture. Our culture has given us a heart as big as this earth; we have a global heart. Ancient wisdom teaches the world a true philosophy of universal peace and harmony.
