Yale University
South Asian Religions & Ecology
Yale University

South Asian Religions & Ecology

Taught in English

1,996 already enrolled

Course

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals

Mary Evelyn Tucker
John Grim

Instructors: Mary Evelyn Tucker

4.9

(14 reviews)

Beginner level

Recommended experience

16 hours to complete
3 weeks at 5 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

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Assessments

7 quizzes

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There are 9 modules in this course

What's included

4 videos7 readings1 discussion prompt1 plugin

We examine some of the key environmental problems in India and the larger region. With over a billion people and with rapid industrialization, levels of pollution of air, water, and soil have increased dramatically in the last several decades. We then explore the intersections of religion and ecology and its promises for South Asia.

What's included

4 videos8 readings1 quiz1 discussion prompt

We explore some of the oldest scriptures in the world, the Vedas and the Upanishads, and their connections to nature. These foundational texts have been studied and interpreted for centuries in India and are now translated into many languages. They have also influenced many Western writers and thinkers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and T.S. Elliot. Now their ecological implications are being appreciated for religious environmentalism.

What's included

7 videos10 readings1 quiz1 discussion prompt

We examine the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, especially the idea of devotion (bhakti), namely, affection to the divine as manifested in human and natural forms. Major examples of such devotion are found in the sacred rivers of India, namely the Yamuna and Ganga. We also highlight Hindu perspectives on food, animals, and biodiversity.

What's included

6 videos20 readings1 quiz1 discussion prompt3 plugins

We look at the teachings of yoga as both an ancient philosophy and a modern practice with ecological implications. We then explore the significance of yoga for environmental awareness and action. We conclude by examining the ecological teachings of Jainism and its reverence for all forms of life.

What's included

1 video18 readings1 quiz1 discussion prompt5 plugins

This module explores the basic teachings of Buddhism and their relevance to the environment. We discuss the life of the Buddha and his key insight regarding the interdependence of all reality. We then consider the spread of Buddhism across Asia and its diverse expressions in art and culture. We also recognize the presence of Buddhism in the West and its influence on ecological engagement.

What's included

2 videos11 readings1 quiz1 discussion prompt2 plugins

This module explores Buddhist forest protection in Southeast Asia as well as Buddhist attitudes toward food, animals, and biodiversity. The teachings of the Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Thích Nhất Hạnh, are highlighted with particular attention to “interbeing,” or interdependence.

What's included

3 videos14 readings1 quiz1 discussion prompt3 plugins

We examine the teachings of Sikhism as articulated by their founder, Guru Nanak, and their central scripture, Adi Granth. In Sikh understanding there is no separation between humans and the rest of nature; this gives rise to an environmental ethic of care explicitly expressed in Sikh tree planting and a social justice ethic focused on food distribution. The second section emphasizes the Baha’i Faith and the ways it integrates the teaching of unity with ecological knowledge and engagement. For several decades, the Baha’i Faith has been actively engaged in international forums on the environment.

What's included

15 readings1 quiz1 discussion prompt6 plugins

What's included

1 video1 reading

Instructors

Instructor ratings
4.8 (10 ratings)
Mary Evelyn Tucker
Yale University
13 Courses41,981 learners
John Grim
Yale University
13 Courses41,981 learners

Offered by

Yale University

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4.9

14 reviews

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MS
5

Reviewed on Dec 28, 2023

EC
5

Reviewed on Jul 22, 2022

PP
5

Reviewed on Mar 9, 2023

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