The Compassionate Universe

The Power of the Individual to Heal the Environment

By: Eknath Easwaran

Narrated by: Paul Bazely

A practical and inspiring approach to tackling our environmental crisis, from a master spiritual teacher. We can heal our earth by choosing a simpler, more fulfilling lifestyle, as trustees of a compassionate universe.

Eknath Easwaran presents a penetrating analysis of the spiritual roots of our current predicament and offers a realistic and hopeful way forward. Each of us has a role to play in making wise choices, and each of us can genuinely make a difference. Drawing inspiration and insight from Mahatma Gandhi, Saint Francis, and his own experience of living in the East and the West, Easwaran shows the connections between individual thoughts and actions that move beyond consumerism to the unity of life.

Mahatma Gandhi formulated a series of diagnoses of our seemingly perpetual state of crisis, which he called “the seven social sins”: knowledge without character, science without humanity, wealth without work, commerce without morality, politics without principles, pleasure without conscience, and worship without self-sacrifice. Easwaran explores each of these diagnoses in turn and presents an alternative hypothesis of who we are and how we fit into the universe.

This is ecology as a great adventure, filled with the challenges and rewards of inner growth. Easwaran tells us that “once we open our eyes to cooperation, artistry, thrift, and compassion, we begin to see thousands of little things we can do to help restore the environment – and restore dignity and deeper fulfillment to our own lives.”

Eknath Easwaran is renowned as a teacher of meditation and for his translations of the Indian scriptures. His writings express timeless spiritual insights and are illustrated by stories from East and West. His books reflect two cultures: India, where he grew up in a self-supporting agrarian village, and the United States, where he taught and lectured for over 30 years. His early experiences of living in harmony with nature, his firsthand acquaintance with Gandhi’s India, and his long familiarity with an American audience have resulted in this book: a deeply thoughtful examination of our present situation, and a blueprint for living as trustees of a compassionate universe, in a world that we would want our children and grandchildren to inherit.

©1989 Blue Mountain Center of Meditation (P)2022 Blue Mountain Center of Meditation

Critic reviews

“Easwaran provides a clearly stated hypothesis about the cause of current problems as well as a well-organized guide to using human potential.” (Booklist)

“In this inspiring paperback, [Eknath Easwaran] salutes the spiritual zeal of Mohandas Gandhi who by transforming his mind managed to change the world. He uses the great Indian leader's list of social sins as the thematic focus of this treatise on becoming trustees of the earth and taking care of all her creatures.” (Spirituality & Practice)

Disappointing and sadly archaic

Some books stay relevant through the years. This one does not: I was very excited about it initially having read his other books. Many points are made about society from long ago. They seem archaic now. You could choose to glean what still applies from what does not, or read a book that relates to current times more readily.