Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas and several scriptures in
Hinduism contain important environmental teachings. Pankaj Jain writes about
the important ten environmental teachings in Hinduism in an article published
in the Huffington Post.
The first five teachings are very important and form the
core of Hindu Religion. The rest of the five are products of the first five.
The ten environmental teachings are:
Pancha Mahabhutas (The five great elements) create a web of
life that is shown forth in the structure and interconnectedness of the cosmos
and the human body.
Ishavasyam -- Divinity is omnipresent and takes infinite
forms.
Protecting the environment is part of Dharma.
Our environmental actions affect our karma.
The earth -- Devi -- is a goddess and our mother and
deserves our devotion and protection.
Hinduism's tantric and yogic traditions affirm the
sacredness of material reality and contain teachings and practices to unite
people with divine energy.
Belief in reincarnation supports a sense of
interconnectedness of all creation.
Non-violence -- ahimsa -- is the greatest dharma.
Sanyasa (asceticism) represents a path to liberation and is
good for the earth.
Gandhi is a role model for simple living.
You can read the complete article here in Huffington Post
titled 10 Hindu Environmental Teachings.