Eco-Dharma

We have duties toward nature—toward animals, plants, landscapes, and ecosystems—toward our entire living home.

The social movement toward genuine nature conservation was overshadowed and nearly stifled by the fear of war. This is no coincidence; there are centers of power and interest groups that find this very convenient.

During this critical time for the future of life and human civilization, I have decided to translate my article on eco-dharma, which I originally wrote in German at the beginning of 2022.

Dharma

The ancient Indian culture has the beautiful concept of dharma. Dharma is too broad to be translated with just one word. At its core, dharma is an attitude toward the world and oneself. It is characterized by a sense of duty and responsibility for everything we encounter in life.

People embrace dharma when they acknowledge that there are more important rules and a more meaningful law in the world that transcend their egocentric beliefs and selfish pursuits. Once people have done this, they try to understand and follow this law in their daily lives.

Dharma also refers to a moral life of self-discipline and righteousness—a purposeful and considerate life. Dharma is the foundation of Vedic ethics.

Dharma is part of Vedantic ethics, which is significantly more complex and profound than Western morality. Western morality is human-centered and focuses on social utility.

Ecological Dharma

Such an attitude toward the world naturally fosters a sense of responsibility for all life around us. When we are mindful, we consider not only our own benefit in everything we do and in all our decisions, but also the well-being of nature. Supermarket carrots are cheaper, but when I buy them at an organic shop, I support the health of the soil where they're grown. Driving is more convenient, but when I walk or ride my bike to the bakery, I don't pollute the biosphere. I may want a steak, but if I stick to vegetables, I protect biodiversity and prevent animal suffering. These and similar decisions make up the life of each one of us and of society.

Business leaders, government officials, and prominent opinion makers can either act based on their own ideas, self-interest, and notions of right and wrong, or they can incorporate a broader moral law that encompasses nature. In the latter case, they are more likely to decide in favor of the common good. If business leaders, government officials, and prominent opinion makers consciously followed their ecological dharma, they would protect non-human life without being asked to do so.

These decisions determine life and death, as well as the amount of suffering, beauty, and ugliness in our world. Provided we make them! Most of us do not make them at all; we simply blindly follow our habits, entrenched beliefs, or selfish interests. This is the opposite of dharma.

We should save the biosphere not only because it is good for us, but also because it is the right thing to do. It is also morally right. The eco-movement would gain momentum if it explicitly addressed eco-dharma.

Therefore, ecological dharma is an attitude toward nature characterized by a sense of responsibility. Since humans have free will, they have duties, including those toward animals, plants, and all living things. Ecological dharma means recognizing these obligations. When we do so, we are not blindly following external rules and prohibitions; rather, we are acting according to our own will to lead a good, righteous life. Living according to the principles of ecological dharma enriches and beautifies not only our external landscapes but also our internal ones.

Eco-Dharma and the Living Planet

Humans are a product of the evolution of life on our planet. This evolution is the result of laws that transcend the significance of our man-made laws. Humans occupy a special place in this evolutionary process because our intelligence enables us to influence all life on Earth—for better or worse. This gives rise to a special responsibility and dharma. In Sanskrit, dharma means "that which sustains creation." It is our duty to support the evolution of life on our blue planet. If we destroy the diversity of life, we grossly violate ecological dharma.

Without awareness of our duties to nature and ecological dharma, we will not stop destroying the biosphere. Without subjugating our way of life to the laws of life — that is, without ecological dharma — we as a civilization have no future on this planet. Furthermore, without a fundamental change in our human-centered ethics—again, without ecological dharma—we cannot grow as individuals either because people who violate their dharma eventually become morally stunted.

Western ethics are too focused on humans. Through social discussions about eco-dharma, we can include nature in our morality.

How do we integrate ecological dharma into our culture?

The first step is recognizing that the survival of the biosphere hinges on a fundamental change in our morals, assumptions, and worldview. In short, we must change the way we think. In order to correct the flaws in our culture, we must first see them.

How do we change our morals? How can we influence our culture specifically? Through social discussion, different stories and images told and reproduced by wise people, an education system that pursues different goals and teaches different values, and examples supported and promoted by society and the state. Culture is the sediment of what we think, talk about, read, and do, what others reward and admire us for.

Can culture be changed? Of course. It happens all the time. I am old enough to know that we live in a different culture today than we did 40 years ago. It didn't just appear—we created it, both consciously and unconsciously, through our thoughts and actions.

Our current worldview is shaped by what science tells us about the world. Our values are shaped by what we are taught in school and in the media. Our life goals are the result of what the state promotes or permits and what society considers normal.

Now, science is done by scientists. Education is carried out by teachers and civil servants. Members of the government and representatives make the decisions of the state. Each and every one of us influences what society considers normal and right. They are human beings who can do things differently.

Clearly, this will not be easy. However, we have no choice. Do we want to explain to our grandchildren, in the midst of a destroyed world and suffering humanity, "You know, dear, it was just too hard for me. I didn't want to be the first. I wanted your mother and father to have an easy life. It was too comfortable to do nothing"?

Dharma is the opposite of such an attitude toward life. Dharma means facing up to our responsibilities. Dharma means supporting the good within our reach. When we do this, we grow and mature as human beings. Mature people are happier.

A dose of humility would do our Western culture good.

It's important to understand that dharma is always an individual's attitude, not a collective one. It's not the attitude of a family, workforce, neighborhood, or authorities. Therefore, it's not the attitude of others. Looking left and right is of no use here. Each of us stands alone and exposed before God, history, and our conscience—whatever you call that which transcends our egocentric beliefs and selfish desires.

Nature and life in its entirety are also greater than us. Recognizing this is the first step in establishing ecological Dharma in the West, Europe, and Germany. It enriches our culture. It can save our lives.

Andreas Sternowski is a publisher at Continentia Verlag, where he publishes books about sustainability and responsibility. A society based on fair and enriching community and harmony with nature is his vision.