2.2.3 Global warming facts: What happens when there is an increase in Raja-Tama?
Just as dirt and smoke make up pollution at a physical level, Raja-Tama is pollution at a subtle intangible level. As discussed earlier a general lack of spiritual practice and unrighteousness increase the overall Raja-Tama of humankind and hence the environment. An increase in the Raja-Tama subtle basic component means an increase in the subtle intangible spiritual pollution of the world. Just as we try to clean dirt out of the spaces that we use from time to time at a physical level, nature responds to the need for cleansing and correcting the subtle intangible pollution of Raja-Tama in the environment. The fact is, as soon as there is a tilting of balance in favour of Raja-Tama, the excess Raja-Tama exerts its influence through the medium of the five Absolute Cosmic Principles (Panchatattva). By acting through the five Absolute Cosmic Principles, it manifests in the increase of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, eruption of volcanoes, cyclones etc. Refer to the diagram below. Please note that by spiritual practice we mean spiritual practice that conforms to the six basic principles of spiritual practice. Refer to ourSSRF Classroom section for more details. If the Absolute Earth Principle (Pruthvītattva) is influenced, it results in an earthquake. If the Absolute Water Principle (Āpatattva) is influenced, it can either give rise to an excess of water (such as floods or excessive snowing, giving rise to an ice age) or a lack of water (e.g., a drought). The above-mentioned disasters are grossly visible; hence we are aware of their existence. However, the increase in Raja-Tama has a far-reaching adverse impact on the body, mind and intellect of each and every human. This impact, being subtle and intangible, is not easily recognised and humankind becomes aware of it only when this impact manifests as very gross climatic changes. Unfortunately, at this point, most of the changes are irreversible. Efforts made by world leaders at international summits like COP15 in 2009 and later only help in combating the effects of global warming at a physical level. This is the part where the human race affects nature (i.e. the 19% given in Reason 2A-1 in the chart above explaining the causes of global warming according to spiritual research conducted by SSRF). The rest of the effect of the human race on nature, which occurs at the mental and spiritual level, has not been recognised and therefore does not get addressed. If we do not change our ways at a mental and spiritual level (along with the physical measures such as reducing carbon emissions), it is inevitable that we will continue to experience the effects of global warming, unprecedented natural disasters and catastrophic war over the next decade. Only spiritual practice can transform the polluted human mind into a pure one. Hence, it is imperative that we understand the basic root causes of global warming and natural disasters and take appropriate steps to eradicate the spiritual pollution of Raja-Tama in the world. This way we would be truly working for the everlasting and all encompassing benefit of humankind. We have explained the steps that each one of us can take in our article on “What can I do?”