Question: What part does religion play in the relationship between man and Nature?

Amma: "It is religion that helps a person to maintain the awareness that he or she is not separate from Nature. Without religion mankind loses that awareness. Religion teaches us to love Nature. In truth, the progress and prosperity of mankind depend solely on the good which man does for Nature. Religion helps to maintain a harmonious relationship between human beings, between the individual and society, and between man and Nature.

The relationship between man and Nature is like the relationship between Pindanada (the microcosm) and Brahmananda (the macrocosm). Our great ancestors understood this. That is why they gave so much importance to Nature worship in religious practices. The idea behind all religious acharam (practices) was to closely associate human beings with Nature. By establishing a loving relationship between man and Nature, they ensured both the balance of Nature and the progress of the human race.

By establishing a loving relationship between man and Nature, they ensured both the balance of Nature and the progress of the human race.

Look at a tree. It gives shade even to the person who cuts it down. It gives its sweet, delicious fruits to the person who harms it. But our attitude is completely different. When we plant a tree, or raise an animal, we are only concerned about the profit we will make from it. If the animal ceases to make a profit, we will have it destroyed without delay. As soon as the cow stops producing milk, we will sell it to the butcher in order to make money. If a tree stops yielding fruit, we will cut it down and make furniture or something else from it.

Selfishness reigns supreme. (Today) selfless love cannot be found anywhere. But our ancestors were not like this. They knew that trees, plants and animals were absolutely necessary for the benefit and good of humans. They foresaw that man, in his selfish moments, would forget Nature, and would cease to have any concern for her. They also knew that future generations would suffer, due to man’s disassociation from Nature. They therefore linked each religious rite with Nature. Thus, through religious principles, they could succeed in developing an emotional bond between man and Nature. The Ancients loved and worshipped trees and plants, such as the banyan tree, bilva and tulasi, not because the trees bore fruit and helped them to make a profit, but because the Ancients knew that they themselves in truth were one with all of Nature.

Religion teaches man to love the entire Creation. Some people mock religion saying that it is mere blind belief; yet it is generally found that the actions of such people do greater harm to Nature than those who believe in God. It is the religious minded people, not these so-called intellectuals, who protect, preserve and love Nature. There are some people who, by quoting modern scientific theories, are always trying to prove that whatever religion teaches is wrong. The truth is that the reverence and devotion that human beings develop through their religious faith are always beneficial, both to humanity and to Nature.

Religion teaches us to worship God within Nature. Through the stories of Sri Krishna’s life, the tulasi (basil) plant and the cow have become very dear to the people of India, who lovingly protect and look after them. In times past, there would be a pond and a small grove of trees adjoining every house in India. Each home had a tulasi plant growing in the front yard. Tulasi leaves are highly medicinal. The leaves won’t decay, even if plucked and kept for several days; the medicinal potency remains. Part of the daily routine in those days was to water the tulasi plant every morning, bowing down with reverence and devotion in front of it, worshipping it as an embodiment of the Goddess. This was the traditional way of reverence and worship which the Indians also showed to other trees, such as the banyan, the bilva and the fig.

The medicinal value of tulasi leaves, which was known to the ancients rishis eons ago, has now been proven through modern scientific experiments. But the question is, do scientists and others who have discovered the medicinal value of the tulasi and other sacred plants, show the same love and reverence toward Nature as the Ancients did, who were inspired by their religious faith? Is it not religious faith which helps to protect and preserve Nature, rather than the knowledge obtained through modern science?

Suppose you have ten seeds. Consume nine of them if you want, but let at least one seed remain for planting. Nothing should be destroyed completely. If you receive a hundred dollars from a harvest, at least ten dollars should be given to charity.

Amma picks up litter