Sankara Vedanta for Environmental Harmony (A Novel Interpretation of the Age-Old Advaita Vedanta Darsana)

About the Book The most alarming situation today is the degradation of environment. There is a perpetual deterioration of environment internally, externally and cosmically. Environmental pollution is rooted in `Avidya'. External disturbances are sparked by the distortion of internal states, which lead to pollution, deforestation, animal cruelty, global warming, and other environmental concerns.

The present book attempts to deduce 'Environmental Ethics' from the subtle metaphysics of Sankara Advaita Vedanta. It delves deeply into His philosophy, spiritual Sadhana, works and practical endeavors in order to emphasize an environmental and eco-esthetical perspective that elevates 'Environment' to the status of the 'All-pervasive Truth, Highest Good, Supreme Beauty, and Ultimate Reality.' One can particularly see the above said viewpoint highlighted in Adi Sankaracarya's Prakarana granthas. The book identifies lessons of universal compassion in view of environmental harmony. It focuses on the elucidations in accordance with the teachings of Advaita Vedanta and endeavors to apply the same in the most practical manner. It is to be pointed out that no known research or book related to Adi Sankaracarya's philosophy and environment has been carried out or published in India or abroad. Therefore, this book emerges as a unique, innovative and critical work of all times. The aim of this book is not merely to see environment in view of Adi Sankaracarya's philosophy rather it also endeavors to kick-start a new era where ancient thoughts, philosophies, teachings and visions will be reinterpreted while being rooted in their metaphysics in order to deal with the current environmental, social, political, religious, scientific and cosmic chaos.

About the Author DR. VANDANA SHARMA 'DIVA' is a well-known Scholar of Advaita Vedanta Dargaria. Her passion for Bhartiya Darian sastra made her study the nine schools of Indian philosophy and specialize in Advaita Vedanta of Adi Sankaracarya. With a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Bhartiya Darian Sastra (Indian Philosophy) from the Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, she went on to earn a Ph.D. in Advaita Vedanta Darian from the same university. Dr. Sharma further studied the advance Advaita Vedanta and the Bhagvadgita. Sankarabhasya at the Chinmaya Mission Foundation, Ernakulam. She has to her credit several research articles published in national and international journals. Her research article on 'Charavaka (Indian Materialism)' has been published in the renowned 'Philotheos International Journal, Republic of Serbia'. In addition, one of her works was published in the Journal of The University of Nebraska, USA. She has also received 'The Swami Pranavananda Philosophy Book Award 2020' for her commentary and translation of Adi Sankaracarya's legendary work 'Prainottara Ratna Malika'. The Govt. of India further sent her to the 'World Congress of Philosophy 2018' held in Beijing, China, to present her research study on Advaita Vedanta and environment. She has been a fellow of the ICPR, MHRD and is the first known researcher in India and abroad to have undertaken systematic research on Advaita Vedanta and the environment. Besides her scholarly contributions, she strives to promote Santan Dharma, vegetarianism, animal welfare, and environmental consciousness.

Foreword The present scholarly book Sankara Vedanta for Environmental Harmony' authored by Dr. Vandana Sharma Diya' is a novel attempt to highlight the practical dimensions of Adi Sankaracarya's Vedantic insight in the context of environmental harmony.

Advaita Vedanta is both a view of reality and a way of life. It has a strong theoretical foundation drawn from the Prasthanatrayi in terms of experiential certainty (anubhava), scriptural support (sruti) and logicality (yukti). Based on these it propounds a viable practical mode of life. The Prasthanatrayi teach the same spiritual truth metaphysically and morally.

There have been several Vedantic Acaryas expounding the Vedantic lore from different perspectives. Among them, Adi Sankaracarya remains outstanding. The distinguishing feature of Adi Sankaracarya's philosophy is the advocacy of the doctrine that the Ultimate Reality is unitary, all-pervasive, pure-consciousness 'Brahman'. All multiple objects are phenomenal manifestations of the same reality. They are real from an empirical point of view but cease to be so ultimately at the transcendental level. The world we live in is real and we have to reckon with it, but not so ultimately. The world is empirically diverse real but intrinsically it is they same unitary Brahman which is ultimately real.

Introduction The present book is an analytical exposition of Adi Sankaracarya's life, philosophy, practical enterprises and works. The book attempts to deduce environmental ethics from the subtle metaphysics of Advaita Vedanta as propounded by Adi Sankaracarya. It also looks at His works intricately in order to highlight an environmental and eco-esthetical view that raises environment to the level of the ' All-pervasive Truth, Highest Good, Supreme Beauty and Ultimate Reality'. One can particularly see this view in Sankara's Prakarana granthas. The book further goes on to take into consideration His life and practical initiatives in order to identify lessons of universal compassion in view of environmental harmony.

The most startling situation today is the degradation of environment. There is a perpetual deterioration of environment internally, externally and cosmically. Environmental pollution is rooted in Avidya '. It is ignorance that becomes the root cause of greed, stress, disease, ruining of internal peace, balance, accord and a gamut of other vices. These perverted internal states lead to external unrest in the name of pollution and cause disharmony in the five great elements (Pancamahabhutas), deforestation, animal brutality, acid rain, melting glaciers and a hoard of other environmental issues. The corruption of internal and external environment leads to cosmic disturbance, disorder and disruption.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages