Spirituality and Climate change : Are they related ?

On the eve of World Environment Day special article - 5 June 2026

Compiled by : Mr Sean Clarke, Research Lead, Maharshi Adhyatma Vishwavidyalay (MAV)

From scorching heatwaves and raging wildfires to devastating floods and droughts, our planet appears to be sending humanity an urgent warning ! Reports suggest that by 2040, nearly 600 million children may live in areas facing extreme water stress, threatening health and development worldwide.

While scientists and policymakers largely attribute these crises to industrialisation and greenhouse gas emissions, environmental conditions continue to worsen despite global sustainability efforts.

So, the question is : Are we overlooking a deeper cause behind the environmental crises ?

Root cause lies in the spiritual dimension

As per spiritual science, everything in the universe emits subtle vibrations, including thoughts, emotions, and actions. These vibrations are influenced by the three subtle basic components (Trigunas) present in the universe – Sattva (purity and knowledge), Raja (action), and Tama (ignorance and inertia). Positive qualities such as compassion, honesty, and kindness increase Sattva, while greed, hatred, and selfishness increase Raja and Tama, creating what is described as ‘spiritual pollution’.

A rise in Raja-Tama affects the Five Cosmic Elements (Panchmahabhutas) — Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether — leading to disorder in nature. For example, an increase in Raja-Tama affecting the Earth Element may manifest as earthquakes, and an increase in the Fire Element may lead to heatwaves and wildfires.

The ancient Indian scripture, Charaka Samhita, had stated unrighteousness (Adharma) and collective spiritual deterioration of mankind thousands of years ago as the main causes behind climatic disturbances, which still hold true.

The Cycles of Nature and Human Behaviour

Charak Samhita also describes cosmic cycles known as the four yugas — Satyayuga, Tretayuga, Dwaparyuga, and Kaliyuga. The current era, Kaliyuga, is said to have the lowest level of spiritual purity, resulting in greater negativity in society and the environment. Researchers at MAV have found that 98% of environmental changes are due to these cyclical changes, while only 2% relate to human behaviour. Natural disasters and calamities are nature’s way of restoring the spiritual balance, a kind of cleansing process.

Research into Subtle Vibrations of the Environment

Researchers at MAV studied nearly 1,000 soil and water samples collected from 32 countries and measured their subtle energies using an aura meter and an energy scanner. They found that :

1. Over 83% of samples outside India emitted negative vibrations, regardless of physical cleanliness or economic development. Additionally, the same samples collected from the same locations over the years showed increased negativity (in some cases, upto 500% in just 1 year).

2. India emerged as unique in the study, with over 65% of collected samples showing positive spiritual vibrations.

3. Interestingly, some physically polluted rivers in India were found to emit positive vibrations of 6M.

4. Samples collected from spiritually pure places, such as temples and Ashrams, displayed greater positivity. Similar effects were observed in trees growing in spiritually positive environments.

UAS :

“The Universal Aura Scanner is an instrument developed by Dr Mannem Murthy (a former nuclear scientist). It is used to measure the subtle energy (positive and negative) and the aura around any object (living or non-living)”.

Summary of soil and water data- chart :

These findings indicate that the world’s environment is increasingly becoming negative and that spiritual positivity is relatively more prevalent in India. This can be attributed to factors such as in India the maximum number of Saints reside, actions are based on Sanatan dharma and the highest percentage of vegetarians is seen in India. Negativity can be attributed to lack of Spirituality, materialism, personality defects and ego, which emit negative vibrations and get absorbed by the land and water, flora and fauna. Subtle, powerful negative energies, then, thrive in such an environment and affect the entire human race negatively. This can be understood from this subtle picture drawn by a seeker with an advanced sixth sense who can perceive the spiritual dimension.

Can Spiritual Practice Help the Environment?

Spiritual Practice is important in human life

Spiritual research shows that spiritual practices such as chanting the Name of God, performing Yajnas (sacred fire rituals), and living a spiritually pure lifestyle help increase positive vibrations in individuals and the environment. Chanting the Name of God is a potent spiritual tool that can be practised with ease. Saints have especially recommended chanting “Shree Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram” during the present times. Several studies have been conducted at the research centre at MAV on the effects of chanting on one’s energy, chakras and the environment, and the results have been very promising.

As the world observes World Environment Day, this spiritual perspective offers another dimension to the discussion. If pollution can exist in human thoughts and actions, then environmental cleansing also requires inner spiritual transformation and the raising of collective consciousness!