Std 9 English
Unit - 10 Ecology for Peace
Questions - Answers
Read the extracts and answer the questions.
(1) The Vedas sing about oneness of man and nature. The idea expressed in the ancient texts have universal value. We have always tried for the preservation and prosperity of all the species including mankind on this earth.
1. What do the Vedas talk about?
Ans. The Vedas talk about the oneness of man and nature.
2. What have we always tried?
Ans. We have always tried for the preservation and prosperity of all the species including mankind on this earth.
3. The ideas expressed in the ancient texts have ....
Ans. The ideas expressed in the ancient texts have universal value.
(2) The Atharva Veda gives us a great idea : It means the whole world lives as one single unit like a nest. All the living beings have the same right to live and thrive. This can be achieved through co living only.
1. What does the Atharva Veda say about living beings?
Ans. The Atharva Veda says that all living beings have the same right to live and thrive.
2. How does the whole world live?
Ans. The whole world lives as one single unit like a nest.
3. How can we live as one single unit?
Ans. We can live as one single unit through co-living.
(3) We are the birds of the same nest. We may wear different skin, different clothes, speak different languages, believe in different religions, belong to different cultures - yet we share the same home: our earth! Born on the same planet, covered with the same sky, gazing at the same stars, breathing the same air, we must learn to progress and prosper together happily or perish together miserably.
1. What must we learn?
Ans. We must learn to progress and prosper together happily or perish together miserably.
2. 'We are birds of the same nest." How?
Ans. We are the birds of the same nest. because though we have different skin, wear different clothes, speak different languages, believe in different religions, belong to different cultures-we live in the same home: our earth.
3. What do we share?
Ans. We are born on the same planet, covered with the same sky, gaze at the same stars and breathe the same air.
(4) Our idea of peace does not mean just a state of 'no-war', neither is it limited just to men or countries and communities. But it embraces the whole nature and the whole creation.
1. What is our idea of peace ?
Ans. Our idea of peace embraces the whole nature and whole creation.
2. To what is our idea of peace not
limited ?
Ans. Our idea of peace is not limited to
men or countries and communities.
3. What does our idea of peace
embrace?
Ans. Our idea of peace embraces the
whole nature and the whole creation.
(5) Let's try to understand this shanti mantra from the same Atharva Veda :
May there be peace in heaven, peace in space, peace on earth. May there be peace in trees, peace in vegetation and plants.
May there be peace in our gods and in entire creation.
May there be peace everywhere and be it only peace.
That peace, I pray, embrace my being!
This mantra warns us not to disturb nature, not to abuse, pollute or destroy our surroundings up to the heaven. In trying
to master and get benefit of our ecology, we are simply destroying ourselves, our own nest. True peace will prevail only when man lives in peace with nature, divine forces and ultimately himself.
1. What does the shanti mantra warn us?
Ans. The shanti mantra warns us not to disturb nature, not to abuse, pollute or destroy our surroundings up to the heaven.
2. What are we doing in trying to master ecology ?
Ans. In trying to master ecology, we are destroying ourselves, our earth.
3. When will true peace prevail ?
Ans. True peace will prevail when man lives in peace with nature, divine forces and ultimately himself.
(6) The wise rishi or seer of Ishavasya Upanishad gives us a wonderful advice:
The rishi says: everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is enlivened by the supreme power. One should therefore, accept only those things necessary for oneself. This world must be enjoyed by renouncing it. Moreover one must not snatch away what belongs to or is required by others. The whole creation is filled with the presence of God.
1. What does the rishi say about everything that is animate and inanimate in the universe ?
Ans. The rishi says that everything that is animate or inanimate in the universe is given life by the supreme power.
2. What should we accept?
Ans. We should accept only these things that are necessary for us.
3. What should we not snatch away?
Ans. We should not snatch away what belongs to others or is required by others.
(7) This is a message against the animalistic greed of human beings. We should not. like a vulture, keep others away from having what we actually don't need. Gandhiji also said: "There is enough on this earth for everybody's need, but not
sufficient for one's greed.'
1. What do we do because of our
greed?
Ans. Our greed keeps others away from
having what we do not need.
2. What did Gandhiji say?
Ans. Gandhiji said that there is enough on this earth for everybody's need, but not sufficient for one's greed.
(8) As the crown of creation, man must protect and not exploit and consume other animals. If man stopped destroying animals, trees or other aspects of nature, our world would become less violent and thus a peaceful abode for all..
1. What must man do?
Ans. Man must protect and not exploit and consume other animals.
2. How can we make the world less
violent?
Ans. We can make the world less violent when we stop destroying animals, trees and other aspects of nature.
(9) Mahavir Swami preached ahimsa (non violence) to that extent that all Jain sadhus put a cloth on their mouth, drink boiled water and do not take food before sunrise and after sunset for not destroying even bacteria. Mahavir Swami believed that we should not disturb or hurt even a stone for a selfish purpose.
1. What do the Jain sadhus do to protect the smallest creature ?
Ans. The Jain sadhus put a cloth on their
mouth, drink boiled water and do not take food before sunrise and after. sunset so that they do not destroy bacteria.
2. What did Mahavir Swami believe? Ans. Mahavir Swami believed that we should not disturb or hurt even a stone for our selfish purpose.
(10) Rishis believed that every matter in the universe is living. There is nothing like. non-living. Everything is in a process of evolution. This was the realism of our ancient seers.
1. What did the rishis believe?
Ans. Our rishis believed that every matter
in the universe is living.
2. What was the realism of our ancient
seers?
Ans. Everything in the universe is living and in a process of evolution. That was the realism of our ancient seers..
(11) Mahakavi Kalidas has written a play : Abhijnan Shakuntalam. In a scene, King Dushyant of Bharatvarsh enters the ashram of Rishi Kanva. He is in his chariot, chasing a deer for hunting. Two disciples of Kanva saw him and immediately asked him not. to shoot his arrows at the deer.
They said: O king! Don't shoot, please, don't shoot the arrow at the tender body of this deer. It is as bad as putting fire on the heap of flowers.
1. What was King Dushyant doing? Ans. King Dushyant was chasing a deer
for hunting.
2. Who stopped the king from hunting
the deer?
Ans. Two disciples of Kanva rishi stopped the king from hunting the deer.
3. According to the disciples, shooting an arrow at the deer was....
Ans. According to the disciples, shooting an arrow at the deer was as bad as putting fire on a heap of flowers.
(12) This shows that ahimsa was very much in the blood of ancient people and it became the tradition of Indian culture.
Our culture has given us a heart as big as this earth; we have a global heart. Ancient wisdom teaches the world the true philosophy of universal peace and harmony.
1. What does the extract say about ahimsa?
Ans. Ahimsa was very much in the blood of ancient people and it became the tradition of Indian culture.
2. What does ancient wisdom teach the world?
Ans. Ancient wisdom teaches the world the true philosophy of universal peace and harmony.
3. What has our culture given us?
Ans. Our culture has given us a global heart as big as this earth.
0 Comments