Nature’s Calling - Ahimsa Paramo Dharma

Ahimsa means living without harming people, animals, or nature.
Environmental harm is a form of violence against the planet.
Everyday choices—like reducing waste—reflect true non-violence.
Sustainability is modern Dharma in action.

With the conflicts of Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Palestine, and other ongoing territorial divisions around the world, there is a principle that is necessary for all of us to be reminded of: Ahimsa Paramo Dharma. Originating from ancient Hindu texts like the Mahabharata, the full term is “Ahimsa paramo dharma, dharma-himsa tathaiva cha.” This literally translates to “non-violence is the supreme virtue, and so is violence in the defense of dharma.” Though violence is sometimes necessary in the pursuit of righteousness and justice, non-violence is the highest ethical standard and ideal, promoting the values of compassion and empathy for our surroundings. In the modern world, this applies not only to wars and disputes but also to the seemingly inexorable crisis of climate change and the environment.

The planet is constantly being polluted, losing biodiversity, and experiencing extreme weather events. Glaciers are melting, seasons are becoming intense, sea levels are rising, and many animal species are dying with no end in sight. Environmental pollution and other human behaviors create these negative impacts on our planet.

At a time like this, the application of Ahimsa Paramo Dharma has become vital. Non-violence is usually interpreted as conflicts, physical fights, or even a technology war between nations. However, this principle also directly implies the concept of eco-friendliness and kindness towards nature and all life forms in general. It teaches us to be non-violent and peaceful with our ecosystem, which can be done in many different ways.

One application of non-violence towards nature is to reduce the amount of waste created and use natural or human-created resources with mindfulness. Additionally, using sustainable resource alternatives instead of pollutants can be beneficial. For instance, instead of using materials like non-sustainable and polluting synthetics, polyesters, and single-use plastics, utilizing cotton, paper, and other reusable objects is a better option. This can be done even at home in our everyday lives. Substitute your plastic water bottles with a long-lasting metal one, or bring reusable totes for your grocery shopping, or even use dry leaves in the fall as compost for your garden.

On a large scale, green technologies have gained massive popularity. Some examples of this are solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and bioenergy. All these methods use natural resources such as the sun, wind, and water to naturally generate electricity and heat. Additionally, incentivizing businesses to reduce their carbon emissions is also a strategic move from governments. For example, New Jersey provides tax cuts for cement companies that use less carbon-intensive methods to produce the material.

The negative issues caused by humans can be reversed to some extent by applying Ahimsa Parmo Dharma. What nature calls for now is not just awareness; instead, it needs conscious living and working in harmony with the environment.

Be kind to nature, and nature will be kind to you.