Human sanctuaries can be created everywhere: pilgrimage, tourism, and conservation in Vrindavan, India

Title
Human sanctuaries can be created everywhere: pilgrimage, tourism, and conservation in Vrindavan, India
Publication Date
2020
Author(s)
Nash, Joshua
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8312-5711
Email: jnash7@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:jnash7
Editor
Editor(s): Kiran A Shinde and Daniel H Olsen
Type of document
Book Chapter
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
CABI
Place of publication
Wallingford, United Kingdom
Edition
1
Series
CABI Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage Series
DOI
10.1079/9781789241600.0060
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/53009
Abstract

This chapter focuses on how deeper and more philosophical experiences with sacred places, such as Vrindavan, India, can lead to the creation of human sanctuaries. Although present-day Vrindavan, which in popular mythological image is considered a celestial forest and divine playground of Krishna, is a city full of environmental problems, it still is the focus of spiritual teachings that build on the union of religion and nature conservation. In an almost biographical style, the author expounds on the Vaishnava teachings and their relevance for conserving the natural environment as he learned them from his study with local Vrindavan ecologist Shri Sevak Sharan, who calls for practical action and contemplative practice (sadhana, chintan) using what he calls the Vrindavan Ecological Concept (VEC). It is argued that this concept is powerful enough to inspire changes in thought processes and behavioural action that can create human sanctuaries everywhere in the world.

Link
Citation
Religious Tourism and the Environment, p. 60-69
ISBN
9781789241624
9781789241617
9781789241600
Start page
60
End page
69

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