Today there is pollution in everything such as the air we breathe, the water we drink, the sounds that are jarring to the ear and the food we consume. Because of this all round pollution, man’s health is affected. Apart from this, man’s mind is also polluted making him susceptible to disease. Man should make an earnest endeavour to lead a serene and pure life. He should realise the truth that troubles and turmoils are temporary, like passing clouds. There is no scope for agitations to arise if one realises this truth. One who realises this truth will not allow his mind to be swayed by the passions of anger, cruelty, etc. Passions yield only temporary satisfaction, but cause serious emotional disturbances. Hence, it is imperative on the part of man not to yield to any unbecoming passions while taking food. The observance of the three P’s, namely, purity, patience, and perseverance, vouchsafes permanent happiness and good health, free from diseases. (SSS Vol.27, pp. 27-28)
There is in the body a digestive organ. When one takes a balanced diet, the food is properly digested and the body is kept healthy. Similarly the body’s temperature has to be kept at a certain norm. If the temperature goes above or below that norm it is a sign of illness. Similarly if the Five Elements that constitute the natural environment are kept in balance, the world is in a healthy state. If this balance is upset or if the elements are polluted, then the country suffers in various ways. If the products of science and technology result in upsetting the balance of Nature and pollute the atmosphere or the rivers and the seas, many harmful consequences follow.
Pollution gives rise to many new diseases. Today even pure air has become a rare commodity. Three-fourths of the earth is covered by water. There are many minerals in the ocean bed. But in extracting them, some limits should be observed. Otherwise, even the ocean, which has been adhering to its bounds, will exceed its limits. Even earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are caused by the unsettling of the ecological balance in nature. (SSS Vol.16, p. 73)
When an atomic bomb is exploded thousands of miles away by America or Russia in some far-off country, the fall-out traveling all over the world contaminates the atmosphere, poisons vegetation and distorts life, say the doctors who have to deal with these. The vibrations of hatred and greed, of pride and envy that result from the shouts of discontent or animosity also pollute the air equally seriously. (NNSG Vol.5, p. 85)