DO WE NEED TO CLING TO OUR CELEBRATED SPIRITUALITY?

I am often told that we must listen to our Rishis to understand sustainable development.Frankly, I have my doubts if sustainable local development is possible only by listening to the rishis who lived in harmony with nature.In principle the logic sounds robust, but somewhat romantic.Just as technology helps us to evolve smaller but complex and efficient machines that do more with less energy,may be our big and ugly cities may be replaced by smaller energy efficient environment friendly rural communities.May be these compact communities can use technology to harness energy sources that are locally available, like wind and solar power.I firmly believe that sustainable development can be brought about by advanced technology by using recyclable materials and energy sources.I have no quarrel with spirituality, if it helps us curtail our greed for cornering resources more than what we need as Gandhiji had wished.
I welcome the spirituality of Gandhi and Einstein rather than that of our rich Bishops and Amrithanandamayis who presides over large coffers of wealth.
We must teach our children from young age that nature has all answers but the resources have to be frugally used.Sensible technology only can help reduce poverty in developing countries.Otherwise the greed with which we charge developed nations for having looted nature will also destroy developing countries.Koraput , in orissa is a timeless tribal belt untouched by development.I go through that area once in 3 months.One common sight is tribal women, cutting trees and carrying the firewood to city based lorry drivers to sell for peanuts so that they can buy garishly coloured synthetic clothes from the exploitative weekly market.Unfortunately, developing countries are following the same anti-nature attitude exhibited by developed countries 50 years ago.There is need to encourage scientific temper to fight problems arising out of environmental degradation,greenhouse effect,and energy crisis.If the spirituality can support such holistic scientific push towards sustainability, I have no quarrel with such spirituality.

Jayanthram.