Understanding Sustainability Within the Framework of Ancient Indian Philosophical Concepts
Keywords:
Sustainability, Ancient India, Metaphysical, Elemental existence, TrigunaAbstract
The key objective of the paper is to understand ancient Indian environmental consciousness and notions of selfhood from the vantage point of sustainability and sustainable development. The concepts of the elemental existence, metaphysical self, Karma theory, and the Triguna framework have been discussed in terms of their implications for socially responsible behaviour and a sustainability mindset. Examples from various ancient religious scriptures have been cited to help understand the essence of the Indian value system. The article concludes with a comparison between the Eastern and Western world views and their link with sustainability initiatives. The crux of the paper is the assertion that India has been a ‘viksit’ land with a progressive and scientific outlook from ancient times.
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