Existence as Coexistence: Resolving the Human–Nature Rupture Through Madhyasth Darshan (Sah-astitva-vad) and Its Implications for Ecological Sustainability
Abstract
Contemporary ecological crises are predominantly addressed through technological innovation, economic instruments, and governance frameworks. While these approaches mitigate symptoms, they fail to address the foundational cause of environmental degradation: the fragmented human understanding of reality and the human nature relationship. This paper reframes the problem through the philosophical system of Madhyasth Darshan (Coexistence Philosophy), arguing that Existence is inherently coexistential and orderly. Nature operates through self-organization, whereas humans must consciously acquire right understanding to live in alignment with natural laws. Through comparative analysis with dominant environmental philosophies—anthropocentrism, sustainable development, deep ecology, ecofeminism, and systems ecology—the paper demonstrates that ecological imbalance is inseparable from disharmony within thehuman self and society. Drawing on the primary works of A. Nagraj (2009, 2015) and supplementary environmental scholarship, the study concludes that sustainability is fundamentally an ethical–cognitive transformation grounded in knowledge of coexistence, rather than a purely managerial or technological challenge. The paper contributes to ecological discourse by proposing an alternative ontological foundation for sustainability: conscious human participation in the intrinsic order
of existence.
How to cite this article:
Gupta S, Pathak S, Existence as Coexistence:
Resolving the Human–Nature Rupture Through
Madhyasth Darshan (Sah-astitva-vad) and Its
Implications for Ecological Sustainability. Int J
Adv Res Peace Harm Edu 2026; 11(1): 21-27.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2455.9326.202607
References
.1. IPBES. (2019). Global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental
Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. IPBES Secretariat.
IPCC. (2023). AR6 synthesis report: Climate change 2023. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Redclift, M. (2005). Sustainable development (1987 2005): An oxymoron comes of age. Sustainable
Development, 13(4), 212–227. https://doi.org/10.1002/ sd.281
WCED. (1987). Our common future (The Brundtland Report). Oxford University Press.
Capra, F. (1996). The web of life: A new scientific understanding of living systems. Anchor Books.
Crutzen, P. J. (2002). Geology of mankind. Nature, 415(6867), 23. https://doi.org/10.1038/415023a
Fromm, E. (1976). To have or to be? Harper & Row.
Nagraj, A. (2009). Jeevan Vidya: Ek parichay [An introduction to life science]. Divya Path Sansthan.
Nagraj, A. (2015). Manav vyavahar darshan [The philosophy of human conduct]. Divya Path Sansthan.
Madhyasth Darshan. (n.d.). Madhyasth Darshan – Sah Astitva-Vad. Retrieved January 19, 2026, from https://
www.madhyasth.org/
White, L. (1967). The historical roots of our ecological crisis. Science, 155(3767), 1203–1207. https://doi.
org/10.1126/science.155.3767.1203
Tucker, M. E., & Grim, J. (2014). Ecology and religion. Island Press.
Hopwood, B., Mellor, M., & O’Brien, G. (2005). mSustainable development: Mapping different
approaches. Sustainable Development, 13(1), 38–52. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.24414. Naess, A. (1973). The shallow and the deep, long-range ecology movement: A summary. Inquiry, 16(1–4), 95–100. https://doi.org/10.1080/00201747308601682
Plumwood, V. (1993). Feminism and the mastery of nature. Routledge.
Steffen, W., Richardson, K., Rockström, J., Cornell, S. E., Fetzer, I., Bennett, E. M., Biggs, R., Carpenter, S.
R., de Vries, W., de Wit, C. A., Folke, C., Gerten, D., Heinke, J., Mace, G. M., Persson, L. M., Ramanathan,
V., Reyers, B., & Sörlin, S. (2015). Planetary boundaries: Guiding human development on a changing planet.
Science, 347(6223), 1259855. https://doi.org/10.1126/ science.1259855
Meadows, D. H. (2008). Thinking in systems: A primer. Chelsea Green Publishing.
Odum, E. P. (1983). Basic ecology. Saunders College Publishing
Shiva, V. (1988). Staying alive: Women, ecology, and development. Zed Books.
Galtung, J. (1996). Peace by peaceful means: Peace and conflict, development and civilization. Sage
