Aligning religion and environmentally-friendly practices

The common values that all of the world’s religions hold in relation to the natural world might be summarised as, reverence, respect, restraint, redistribution, and responsibility.There is no doubt that religious principles and environmentally-friendly practices are linked in some way or another. I believe that religious traditions place a strong emphasis on the need to protect the environment.So, how are religious principles and environmental benefits linked? One of the oldest texts in existence, The Vedas concentrate on a cosmic rule and a natural code of conduct that governs every aspect of the universe, from a microscopic ant to the largest galaxies.The Vedic view of the environment not only describes the eternal principles and the unified ontology of humans, gods, and nature but gives prescriptions for living, which then translate themselves into various devotional and ritualistic practices. The most fundamental principle of this view is that there is no separation between the Divine and the natural world.From the Vedic perspective, the protection of the environment is essential to all life. The ancient scriptures and texts talk about the responsibility and preservation of Mother Nature: from trees, animals, water, air, and land.Environmental protection, ecological balance, weather cycles, rainfall phenomena, hydrologic cycles, and environmental impacts have been referenced in the Vedas records.In Buddhism, there is great stress on truth, non-violence, and love for all living creatures including trees, plants, and animals. Buddhists understand that nature is alive and is partly conscious, it is therefore strictly prohibited for any kind of hunting and killing of animals, birds, or living organisms.In Islam, teachings promote peace with nature and the protection of biodiversity. The protection of the environment against pollution has been a cardinal principle of Islamic religious philosophy. The Qur’an states that the human population must coexist with nature to ensure that everyone and everything live together harmoniously. By maintaining a balance between nature and natural resources we can preserve our world from destruction or pollutionIn Sikhism, the duty to respect all living creatures and the preservation of the environment is important to Sikhs. The Sikh scripture, the Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji states that “Air is the Guru, water is the Father, and earth is the Great Mother” encouraging the people to respect and live in harmony with the environment.In Jainism, followers are taught that the path to enlightenment is through non-violence. The main principles involve compassion for all life and self-restraint where people should learn to respect all gifts of nature and not to waste natural resources.What can we South Asians do as a community? We can support environmental causes: Religious groups can help the environment by volunteering to environmental charities or by taking part in activities like tree planting and beach clean-ups. You can also help to recycle, install energy-efficient lighting and appliances, consume enough food to prevent wastage and conserve water where possible.It is beneficial to encourage sustainability and take care of our environment by aligning religious principles and environmentally-friendly behaviors. Religious groups may improve the environment and make it a better place for everyone by putting an emphasis on these ideals in their teachings and promoting sustainable behaviours. Ultimately, it is the active duty of every person to protect the environment which is the natural source for human existence and life on earth.