Hinduism

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Though scholarship has largely focused on the philosophical texts and practices of the ascetic traditions, David Haberman, in his Overview Essay, calls for a greater attention to the bhakti/devotional aspect of the Hindu tradition in the service of ecological awareness and restoration. He quotes Hindu eco-theologian Shrivatsa Goswami that, “Love is the key to all sustainability. ” This love calls those of the Hindu faith to give their devotion to the rivers, the trees, and indeed all of creation.

 

 

Overview Essay
“Hinduism: Devotional Love of the World” by David L. Haberman was originally published in the Routledge Handbook of Religion and Ecology. In it, he urges those interested in Hinduism and ecology to steer “away from an emphasis on the ascetic traditions in our understanding of Hinduism and ecology to the bhakti devotional texts and rituals.”
Bibliography

This thorough listing of titles compiled by Christopher Key Chapple provides print resources on this topic from the early 1900s to the present day.

 Statements

Here you’ll find several statements from organizations and individuals regarding the Hindu approach to ecology and the environment.
Engaged Projects

Here you’ll find organizations and projects around the world working on issue related to the intersection of Hinduism and ecology.

 

 Sacred Texts

Here you will find a small selection of passages relating to Earth and the environment. This listing is by no means exhaustive, but serves as a jumping off point for further investigation.
Multimedia

Located here are multimedia offerings of interest, relating to the intersection of Hinduism and ecology.

 

 Links
In addition to the links in the Engaged Projects section, we have provided a brief list of additional online resources here.

Header photo: People on the ghats at the holy river Ganges in Varanasi