What does this mean in practice?
For many Hindus, a guiding principle is that all life is interdependenceRefers to the fact that all organisms that live in an ecosystem depend upon each other, for food, protection, shelter, etc, in order to survive.. The belief is that it is the responsibility of each individual to play his or her part to ensure all creation is respected.
Even in activities such as pilgrimageA journey which has religious or spiritual significance, usually to an important religious place., some Hindus are assessing the environmental effects and looking at how transportation and the use of resources at sacred sites can be sustainableAn activity which does not consume or destroy resources or the environment..
Mahatma GandhiA Hindu who was given the title 'Mahatma', meaning 'great soul', because of his work for and commitment to equality and peace. Born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. said:
There is enough for everyone's need, but not for their greed.
In 2009, at the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) meeting in Windsor, representatives of a range of religions, including Hinduism, together with members of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), agreed upon a nine-year plan where everybody would work together, through education and action, to strengthen their commitment to preserving the wellbeing of the planet.