Rajaram Sir, I often congratulate myself for provoking and unearthing the fund of insightful knowledge,Savants like you possess. YM
On Thu, Nov 11, 2021 at 10:16 AM Rajaram Krishnamurthy < [email protected]> wrote: > Pranam > Please go through: > > NATURE AND HUMAN NATURE > > {WEST AND SCIENCE}: Within the various uses of the word today, > "nature" often refers to geology and wildlife > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife>. Nature can refer to the general > realm of living plants and animals, and in some cases to the processes > associated with inanimate objects—the way that particular types of things > exist and change of their own accord, such as the weather and geology of > the Earth <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth>. It is often taken to > mean the "natural environment > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_environment>" or wilderness > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilderness>—wild animals, rocks, forest, > and in general those things that have not been substantially altered by > human intervention, or which persist despite human intervention. For > example, manufactured objects and human interaction generally are not > considered part of nature, unless qualified as, for example, "human nature" > or "the whole of nature". This more traditional concept of natural things > that can still be found today implies a distinction between the natural and > the artificial, with the artificial being understood as that which has been > brought into being by a human consciousness > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consciousness> or a human mind > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind>. Depending on the particular > context, the term "natural" might also be distinguished from the unnatural > <https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/unnatural> or the supernatur > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernatural>AL. > > Although humans <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humans> > comprise > only a minuscule proportion of the total living biomass > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomass_(ecology)> on Earth, the human > effect on nature > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_impact_on_the_environment> is > disproportionately large. Because of the extent of human influence, the > boundaries between what humans regard as nature and "made environments" is > not clear cut except at the extremes. Even at the extremes, the amount of > natural environment that is free of discernible human influence is > diminishing at an increasingly rapid pace. A 2020 study published in *Nature > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_(journal)>* found that > anthropogenic mass (human-made materials) outweighs all living biomass on > earth, with plastic <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_pollution> alone > exceeding the mass of all land and marine animals combined.[73] > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature#cite_note-73> And according to a > 2021 study published in *Frontiers in Forests and Global Change*, only > about 3% of the planet's terrestrial surface is ecologically and faunally > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fauna> intact, with a low human footprint > and healthy populations of native animal species. The development of > technology <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology> by the human race > has allowed the greater exploitation of natural resources > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploitation_of_natural_resources> and has > helped to alleviate some of the risk from natural hazards > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_hazards>. In spite of this > progress, however, the fate of human civilization > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilization> remains closely linked to > changes in the environment. There exists a highly complex feedback loop > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feedback_loop> between the use of advanced > technology and changes to the environment that are only slowly becoming > understood. Man-made threats to the Earth's natural environment include > pollution <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollution>, deforestation > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation>, and disasters such as oil > spills. Humans have contributed to the extinction > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocene_extinction> of many plants and > animals, with roughly 1 million species threatened with extinction within > decades. The loss of biodiversity > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity_loss> and ecosystem functions > over the last half century have impacted the extent that nature can > contribute to human quality of life, and continued declines could pose a > major threat to the continued existence of human civilization, unless a > rapid course correction is made. > > Some fields of science see nature as matter in > motion, obeying certain laws of nature which science seeks to understand. > For this reason the most fundamental science is generally understood to be " > physics <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physics>"—the name for which is > still recognizable as meaning that it is the "*study of nature*". Matter > is commonly defined as the substance of which physical objects are > composed. It constitutes the observable universe > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Observable_universe>. The visible > components of the universe are now believed to compose only 4.9 percent of > the total mass. The remainder is believed to consist of 26.8 percent cold > dark matter <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_dark_matter> and 68.3 > percent dark energy <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_energy>. The > exact arrangement of these components is still unknown and is under > intensive investigation by physicists. The behaviour of matter and energy > throughout the observable universe appears to follow well-defined physical > laws <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_law>. These laws have been > employed to produce cosmological > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_cosmology> models that > successfully explain the structure and the evolution of the universe we can > observe. The mathematical expressions of the laws of physics employ a set > of twenty physical constants > <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_constant> that appear to be > static across the observable universe. The values of these constants have > been carefully measured, but the reason for their specific values remains a > mystery. > > (INDIA AND NATURE AND VEDAS) Ancient treasures of > vast knowledge reveal a full cognizance of the undesirable effects of > environmental degradation, whether caused by natural factors or human > activities. The protection of the environment was understood to be closely > related to the protection of the dyaus or heavens and prithvi or earth. > Between these two lies the atmosphere and the environment that we refer to > as the paryavaran. Many of the Rig Vedic hymns therefore vividly describe > the Dyava Prithvi that is, they describe Heaven and Earth together. The Rig > Veda venerates deities like Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Maruts and Aditya, that > are responsible for maintaining the requisite balance in the functioning of > all entities of Nature whether the mountains, lakes, heaven and earth, the > forests or the waters. Seers recognised that changes caused due to > indiscreet human activities could result in imbalances in seasons, rainfall > patterns, crops and atmosphere and degrade the quality of water, air, and > earth resources. All four major Vedas the Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva > Vedas recognise the importance of maintenance of the seasons' cycles that > are likely to get altered due to the climate change owing to inappropriate > human actions. It is remarkable that the people in Vedic times regarded > Nature and the environment in a holistic manner and revered each of its > constituents and entities by carefully preserving them. "Do not harm the > environment; do not harm the water and the flora; earth is my mother, I am > her son; may the waters remain fresh, do not harm the waters... > Tranquillity be to the atmosphere, to the earth, to the waters, to the > crops and vegetation." This Vedic prayer invokes divine intervention to > bless and protect the environment. > > Rig Veda the first literary work of ours presents the > noble concept of man nature relationship in the universe. The hymns of Rig > Veda view man only as the manifestation of the same reality of cosmos with > equal importance. It is deeply rooted in the Indian philosophical concept > of Monism (Advaitha). “Nobody thought of an existence that was apart from > nature, which is the basis of man’s existence. His duty is to protect > nature and accept what nature offers”. (V. Rajeev: 2008). In our ancient > tradition and in literature Nature was worshiped with same importance given > to other deities. “Man and nature were in perfect harmony, enjoying the > abundance and the bliss of the supreme. The sacred rivers like Ganga, > Yamuna Saraswathy and Kaveri were worshiped as mother goddesses from > ancient time. According to Vedic Tradition the cause of existence of man in > the universe is due to the blessings of nature and the compassion of mother > earth and her prosperity. The majority of Vedic hymns are the prayers of > man to nature goddess. Rig Veda refers mainly the Sun God (Savithav) the > source of energy, Water (Varuna) the god of water and other gods like > Ushas, Yama, Rudra, Puusha, and Agni also were the manifestations gods. “In > the incipient golden era, the spiritual vision, thoughts and actions of > mankind were not contaminated by corruption of any kind. Man and nature > were in perfect harmony, enjoying the abundance and the bliss of the > supreme”. (Swami Gururethnam Jana Thapaswi: 2010). Human beiges pray for > the blessings and abundance of harvest and prosperity. “The Veda wants > every member of a society to have a vocation and to work not only for one’s > livelihood but also to achieve noble ends. Ushas, the Goddess of Dawn, is > associated with men’s active life.” (Avinash Chandra Bose: 1965) Many of > them are fertility Goddess also. Rig Veda narrates the spiritual transition > of man to a stage were man and nature are one and same. This is already > pointed out in the last chapters of Eashavasya Upanishad of > Shuklayajurveda. Here it explains that all the micro and macro materials in > the universe are preserved by the sprit of God. This cosmos is God itself. > All the living and inanimate objects are the manifestations of God. The > earth is the limbs of God, Atmosphere is the abdomen, sky is the head, sun > and moon are eyes and four corners are the years. Universe & Physical mass > are the two stages (phases) of the Almighty. That means all the organic > and non organic substance in the universe is the manifestations of God. > Worship them; live with them, because these two are one and same. This > unique spiritual relation of man and nature is the core concept of Indian > ecology. The Purushasuktha in Rig Veda is the scientific truth of the > structure and components of the cosmos. The prime cause of Vedic history is > that, all the living and non living creators and natural phenomenon in the > planet are the part of the divine power. “It has been believed that the > very sound of the Vedic hymns, called ‘Sabda Brahman’, The Veda as a mere > succession of sounds, sets in to motion blissful vibrations in the > atmosphere and works for the wellbeing and peace of the whole world. The > invocation of universal peace forms a solemn close to Yajnas” (Avinash > Chandra Bose: 1965). The river, mountain, stars and trees are divine and > sacred to Indians. Like Rig Veda, The Atharva Veda is also filled with > prayers to nature and man’s organic relationship with the eco-systems. Among > this Bhoomisukatha is also has equal importance. It is also known as > Mathrubhumisukthom, as mother earth is considered as the mother of all the > organic and inorganic substance in it. In Atharva Veda the earth is the > holy mother and all the creatures in the universe are the offspring of the > earth; the eternal sky is the universal father. The mother earth is to be > worshipped as Adithi, the goddess. The noble sky is the brother and it > dissolves all the sins and showers blessings on creatures. Make it remain > lively as it is, this is the duty of human being. Man must not become an > obstacle in the course of Nature’s journey forward. This is the holy > message the Atharva Veda gives. “The Hindu system worship was not confined > to the propitiation of Gods and demigods, for the whole of the nature were > in some sense divine. ….. Not only men, but animals and plants were and > still are holly, notably the cow.” After cow, Snake was perhaps the most > revered animal of ancient India. (Basham, A. L., 1992) Even the mountains > and rocks were also considered as divine. Trees were also worshiped. Each > village had its sacred tree and sacred groves where supernatural powers and > Goddess were present. Sacred groves are very common in South India where > Serpent Gods were worshipped. To Indians, everything in the universe is > divine with religious sanctity. This shows the cult of deep eco- > consciousness of our ancient people and their harmonious life with nature. > > (conclusion) In modern and western concept man and nature > are different entities. Man is the supreme and he has the power to > interfere in the natural discourse of nature. In India it starts from the > intrusion of colonial powers. The western concept of world is > anthropocentric where man is the centre of the universe. The western > concept of colonial modernity reinforced this man centred philosophy. As a > result eco[1]centrism was replaced by anthropocentrism. Now where the > people who accuse the opposite write up as against the nature, had not > adhered to the Vedic concepts and changed the life style and the pattern > and that is the main cause of the imbalances today*. Then who is to be > accused? Please change to Vedas before going to the Nature*. K R IRS > 111121 > > On Thu, 11 Nov 2021 at 07:03, Markendeya Yeddanapudi < > [email protected]> wrote: > >> >> >> -- >> *Mar*Nature, the Arena of Problems and Automatic Solutions >> >> >> >> In nature, there is no problem which has no solution; there are always >> solutions that actually take one to the better. Nature continuously >> improves; every tragedy actually is the stepping stone to a better >> situation, of success, of completely undoing the tragedy. This process is >> life. >> >> Look at a Volcano that spews lava. After the Volcano calms, the Lava, >> changes into the most fertile soil, where the purposeful soil bacteria, the >> tiny Gods and Goddesses, create wonderful flora and fauna. >> >> Look at the devastation created, by an earthquake or cyclone. The >> destruction and devastation may create the most putrefied smells after the >> destruction. But from that destruction, one finds the tiny flowers >> sprouting, the flowers attracting bees, creating more plants, creating the >> life giving photosynthesis, resulting in thick flora and fauna, where the >> organisms create the symbiotic rapture. Nature always improves. >> Improvements are solutions. >> >> Now look at the destruction caused by the pollution of a factory. The >> pollution creates putridity, the ever expanding putridity, with no solution >> for the better. The putridity expands into many diseases, genetic defects, >> and creating economists who continuously impose the technological fixes, >> the technological fixes creating more problems, on and on. We fall into the >> abyss of economics, where problems grow, develop branches; create more >> problems, leaving no opportunity to nature to solve the problems. >> >> Now technology is growing tentacles. First a writer fantasizes something >> impossible and absurd. Then we find the cinema taking over creating an >> absorbing story. Then in dozens of Universities in the west and also in >> Russia, students and teachers team up to create a technology that makes the >> absurdity into a possibility via technology. There are efforts to upload >> electrodes in the injection or tablet or attachment form, into a person, so >> that when it is switched on, one becomes an instant karate expert, who can >> beat anyone or a physicist, or an engineer or doctor... >> >> These are now in the realm of fantasy, science fiction and cinemas. But >> research is going on to make the science fiction into a fact. The hysteria >> is to make the processes of nature; the Biospheric symbiosis of nature, >> unnecessary.Technology is now geared to speed up life, a life which is not >> part of nature, the macro physical connection that creates emotions and the >> basic emotional meanings of life. >> >> The very phrase economic development today means, the destruction of >> nature. The clear fact is, Ecology is sanity while economics is lunacy. >> >> Nature has an inbuilt mechanism of creating livelihood for every organism >> including the human organism. Economics must be based in accordance of the >> scheme of nature, the tenets of ecology, and assuming away, for convenience >> and indulging in the make believe, employment multipliers, income >> multiplier etc,may satisfy one’s ego for the impressive mathematics, the >> incongruous mathematics, but that make believe, advanced economic theory >> can never become reality, without environmental pollution. >> >> A human being is basically emotional and he can never be the economic >> man, who behaves like a machine unnaturally. Nature invariably solves >> problems and creates a better situation. Economics creates unsolvable >> problems only. Happiness is possible only, when one teams up with nature >> and feels that life means not economic problems but continuous emotional >> rapture as part of the Biosphere. Happiness is, sensing, perceiving, >> understanding and living along with every other organism of the Biosphere. >> But we are now busy eliminating the flora and fauna and filling up the >> earth with machines, toxic air, toxic water and toxic land, and writing >> about it is PhD spinner. We are now getting cyborged, with many mechanical >> parts attached or implanted into our body and when we surrender to >> technology completely, there may be Robots only which do not need pure air, >> water and land. >> >> Today, you write something about the vital need to protect nature. But in >> response someone writes about an engineering problem or the problem of >> managing economic problems with more technology. The original write up gets >> killed and one finds write ups in economics and technology, as >> responses!!!!!! >> >> Nature and nature’s symbiosis have no place in every discourse. >> >> YM >> >> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Thatha_Patty" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CACDCHCKCBBPKG8kEyDyVtrZqSeRVVBM%3DM4bkRZ0b0H2E9YCdUg%40mail.gmail.com >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CACDCHCKCBBPKG8kEyDyVtrZqSeRVVBM%3DM4bkRZ0b0H2E9YCdUg%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- *Mar* -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. 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