AS NATURE BEHAVES, SO DOES MAN: A VEDIC VIEW ON WAR AND HUMAN CONFLICT

In the current geopolitical climate, the specter of World War III cannot be taken lightly. The possibility of a large-scale global conflict is no longer limited to dystopian fiction — it is a simmering reality shaped by numerous converging pressures. However, this raises a deeper philosophical question:

Why do we, as a species, repeatedly destroy the very structures we painstakingly build?

To answer this, one must look not to politics alone, but to the deeper truths embedded in ancient wisdom, particularly the philosophy of Hinduism.

THE COSMIC CYCLE: CREATION, PRESERVATION, DESTRUCTION

At the heart of Hindu cosmology lies the Trimurti: Brahma, the Creator, Vishnu, the Preserver, and Shiva, the Destroyer

These deities are not mere religious figures but symbolic representations of the three fundamental forces that govern the cosmos. They reflect the cyclical nature of existence, where every act of creation is followed by preservation, and ultimately, destruction, which in turn paves the way for renewal.

This divine triad teaches that destruction is not chaos — it is transformation. It is nature’s way of clearing what no longer serves, so something new can emerge. Since we are born of nature, we, too, are subject to its laws. Our civilizations, like stars, bloom and collapse in cycles.

MAYA AND THE ILLUSION OF PERMANENCE

In Vedic philosophy, Maya is the veil of illusion that cloaks the world of appearances. It makes the ephemeral seem eternal; the transient seems lasting. Maya is not mere deception — it is a creative force that shapes how we perceive reality.

It is through Maya that the world appears diverse, fragmented, and separate from the Brahman, the one unchanging, eternal truth. Maya traps the soul in Samsara — the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth — by obscuring the true Self (Atman) and binding it to worldly desires and constructs.

Thus, all that we build — homes, societies, nations — though necessary and meaningful, are not absolute. They are forms within the illusion, destined to dissolve.

INSTINCT, EVOLUTION, AND HUMAN CONSTRUCTS

Nature does not offer ready-made solutions. It provides only raw material and the instinct to survive. A bird must build its own nest. A predator must hunt. These instincts, honed over millennia, ensure survival through active engagement with the environment. 

Humans, though more evolved in cognition, remain bound by instinct. But unlike other creatures, we layer these instincts with imagination, reason, and culture. We construct:

Families, rooted in the instinct to protect and nurture offspring, but elevated into complex emotional and social systems.

Homes, born of the need for shelter, yet imbued with memory, identity, and belonging.

Societies, formed out of the instinct for cooperation, developed into intricate systems of law, ethics, and governance.

Nations, the most abstract of all — geographic, ideological, and emotional constructs that bind strangers into a shared identity.

Yet, all of these constructs, however noble, are human inventions. Nature provides no blueprints for borders or parliaments. Their permanence is illusory. Wars, internal fractures, and external pressures routinely unravel them.

THE DESTRUCTION OF HUMAN CONSTRUCTS: WAR AS A CATALYST

What begins as a triumph of collective will — nations, civilizations — often ends in self-destruction. Why?

Because these constructs, shaped by instinct and sustained by reason, are also vulnerable to their contradictions. Ethnic strife, ideological polarization, and economic collapse gnaw at national unity. When diplomacy fails, war becomes the brutal agent of destruction.

Wars — internal or external — obliterate families, raze homes, disband societies, and redraw nations. They sever kinship, shatter trust, and upend economies. Refugees scatter. Institutions crumble. Cultural memory is lost. What took centuries to build can vanish in a matter of days.

But just as forest fires make way for new growth, so too do wars, tragically, set the stage for renewal. History bears witness: humanity, though often foolish, is also resilient. It rebuilds.

THE LOOMING THREAT: A WORLD ON EDGE

In today’s volatile world, several flashpoints threaten to ignite a global conflict:

Ukraine and NATO-Russia tensions: Any escalation, especially involving unconventional weapons or NATO territory, could lead to catastrophic consequences.

Middle East Instability: The Israel-Hamas conflict, Iran’s regional ambitions, and Red Sea disruptions increase the risk of wider confrontation, including involvement from the U.S. and major powers.

Taiwan and the South China Sea: Chinese assertiveness, paired with U.S. involvement, risks drawing global powers into direct military confrontation.

U.S.–China Rivalry: Beyond military posturing, economic warfare — centered on trade, technology, and currency — undermines global cooperation and heightens tension.

Resource Conflicts: Competition over critical materials—rare earths, water, energy — could drive nations into conflict zones under the guise of security or sustainability.

Cyberwarfare and AI Militarization: State-sponsored cyberattacks on infrastructure, combined with AI-driven weapons, introduce unpredictable and destabilizing risks.

Institutional Breakdown: The erosion of global institutions like the UN and the rise of unilateral action reduces avenues for peaceful conflict resolution.

Each of these pressures is dangerous alone. Together, they form a web — taut, fragile, and flammable.

A VEDIC WARNING AND A HUMAN CHOICE

The cycles of creation and destruction are not abstract metaphors. They are living realities — mirrored in the rise and fall of civilizations. If we do not heed the rhythms of nature, we will repeat its harshest lessons.

The teachings of Sanatana Dharma are clear:

To transcend the illusions of Maya, one must awaken to truth, inner and outer.

To avoid destruction, one must align with Dharma — the path of balance, truth, and duty.

To preserve what we create, we must understand that nothing we build is eternal unless it is rooted in higher consciousness.

In the current scenario, it is vital to prevent reckless escalation, particularly with countries on war, lest we plunge blindly into another world war. The goal is not appeasement, but prudence, not submission, but survival.

CONCLUSION: THE CHOICE BEFORE US

We are not doomed to repeat history, but we are destined to live by nature’s laws. These laws demand balance, not dominance. Cooperation — not conquest. 

If the present tensions escalate into a third world war, it will not be nature’s failure. It will be ours—failing to rise above our instincts and illusions.

Yet, the same force that drives us to destroy also drives us to create anew. The eternal flame of human spirit — guided by wisdom, tempered by humility — can still light a path forward.

Let us not wait for the old to be destroyed.

Let us consciously evolve.

Let us choose preservation over annihilation.

Let us act not out of fear, but out of understanding.

source: Creative Awareness Trust (CAT)