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'Yama' and 'Niyama' the first two foundation steps in yoga practices prescribed by sage Patanjali, are the only effective means to take care of environment. Unfortunately these most important steps are generally ignored and even discarded by most of the yoga teachers. 'Yama' consists of five vows of Ahimsa (non violence), Satya (Truth), Achaurya (non-stealing), Aprigraha (nonconsumerism) and Brahmacharya (Celibacy). If these five vows are imbibed and followed, environmental problems will be solved. Non-violence is not restricted in respect of the fellow human beings but to all life-forms, air, water-bodies and entire plant kingdom. All these natural resources have their carrying capacities, resilience and rejuvenation time-cycles and if over burdened or over-exploited beyond that, they will degrade and ultimately i.e. annihilated. As in case of humans if anyone is over burdened with work beyond his capacity he will suffer and may even die. Presently all natural resources are being over exploited many times more than their capacities. Scientists have estimated that at present levels of population and consumption we need resources of 4 to 5 such plants as earth. Over burdening is violence. Non-stealing means not taking anything of anybody without his willingness. If one takes fruits dropped naturally by a tree it is nonstealing. Humans or animals eating naturally dropped fruits help the tree also by dispersing its seeds. Non-consumerism and celibacy are important because rising consumerism and population are two major causes of environmental pollution. The second step 'Niyam' is related totally to environment as it enjoins on yoga practitioners as foremost duty to purify not only human body but also the surrounding environment.
Unfortunately the most revered religious texts the Vedas advocate unlimited population and consumerism :
“सन्त्वेका दश च दश च शतं च शंत च सहस्र चं सहसं चायतुं च नियतु च प्रयुतः चार्बुदं च न्यर्बुदं च प्रश्चं मध्यं चान्तश्च परार्द्धश्वेता 3777 Seat a: Hayatha ||17/211"
- Yajurveda
"By God's grace I should have bricks for house construction and cows for milk in billion-trillion numbers to cover upto the boundary of sea."
"Tu
facet 3R
Y OTT FT GUT: ah | 19:6:611"
- Rigveda
"God has created things for pleasure of living beings in the world and men should enjoy all these to the best of his capability. (this is most injurious anthropocentrie approach).”
"Tufaqur du A
TU HIVI 12 / 4511"
- Gita
