THE PAST TEACHING THE PRESENT: Climate Change and Ethics of Niṣkāmakarma

Co-Author: Prof. Dr. Ananya Barua

Abstract: In the epic of Ramayana, King Janaka or Shiridhwaja is referred to as a rajarishi. He was a religious and spiritually inclined ruler, encompassed by wise sages. The Ashtavakra Gita captures his dialogue with his spiritual guru Ashtavakra on various philosophical musings. His court held many dialogues on matters such as extramundane, divinity, and inner development. Janaka was predisposed towards seeking inner solace rather than outward physical pleasures, he was thus referred to as videh. This term connotes his detachment from physical matters. He was considered an enlightened soul, who knew how to rule with wisdom and courage without getting attached to the fruits of his actions. Once when he was ploughing on a field as a part of a yagna, his daughter Sītā appeared on the edge of a golden plough. Considering it to be a sign from the divine, he adopted her and raised her as his own. These instances, among others, in the epic, corroborate his karma yogi personality. In Bhagawad-Gītā, Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna that only because of proper action Janaka, and other kings, attained perfection. The following paper shall focus on the insinuations of such perfection. It shall reflect on the implications of following the proper path of action, as proposed by Krishna, in ancient, modern and postmodern times. The correspondence with nature and animals in pre-Vedic and Vedic times as the basis of the human-environment relationship is discussed. The commentary by Gandhi on the Gītā during the nationalist struggles is examined to fathom the effect and the possibility of being a Niṣkāmakarma yogi. Issues, such as the present climate change crisis, are viewed in context to Niṣkāmakarma. It is an attempt to explore the connotation of being a Niṣkāmakarma yogi in Vedic, and modern times. 

Key-Words: Bhagawad-Gītā, Niṣkāmakarma, karma yogi, ancient, modern, post-modern, dialogue, climate change.

LINK TO FULL ARTICLE: March-21-_17-Barua-Kapoor.pdf