Environmental Concern of Sikhism: A Shift from Instrumental to Intrinsic Value

Shumye Getu Gelaw; Dr. Jatinder Kumar Sharma

Volume : VIII, Issue : II, February - 2019

Environmental Concern of Sikhism: A Shift from Instrumental to Intrinsic Value

Shumye Getu Gelaw, Dr. Jatinder Kumar Sharma

Abstract :

Why Sikhism? This paper aims to offer a rudimentary map of the subfield of religion and ecology by describing two distinct scholarly responses to the challenge levelled by Sikhism. Unlike “Judeo–Christian” theology which is inherently anti–ecological, Sikh religion backs the preservation of the environment for its own sake. The non–anthropocentric approach which accentuating intrinsic value of the environment is receded by the environmental philosophy of Sikhism. The religious and secular practices of Sikhism directly or indirectly endorses the value of the material life for its own sake. In Sikhism the material world is important not as long as it is a way to the other world but it is a world where the Sikhs consider as real and authentic which needs human conscious acts and careful moral deeds. Sikhism values purifying the environment for humans as purifying as his soul by serving God’s creation. The teaching of Guru Nanak and his successors including Guru Granth Sahib are determined to compacts with the value of nature as they did for human to realize the ultimate truth. As Sikh’s scriptures described reality is one, God as self–existing, just full of love and mercy, it is only God who can destroy and give life for his creation. Hence, human just simply has to serve his creation. They have to extend their service to the natural environment too. Sikhism teaches that if humans become greedy and selfish, they will destroy the environment for utilitarian reason. And it is only human have clean air and environment that they can practice and attain their self–realization and the ultimate truth by contemplation and meditation. Guru Nanak affirms that virtuous living towards the environment would be of indispensable value in itself.