Asian Journal of Language, Literature and Culture Studies

The Place of Spirituality in Traditional & Scientific Ecological Knowledge

Tej Kumar Nepal *

Medicinal Plant Specialist Group, Species Survival Commission, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Thimphu, Bhutan.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

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Abstract

This paper intends to analyze how indigenous traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and spiritual knowledge are inextricably linked. Though TEK's practical wisdom in sustainable resource management is widely recognized, its spiritual aspects are often disregarded. This paper makes a case for explicitly acknowledging spiritual knowledge as a core element of TEK, highlighting its function in directing attitudes and actions toward the environment and cultivating a deep sense of interconnectivity and stewardship. There are chances for cooperation and mutual learning, where indigenous spiritual wisdom can enhance scientific undertakings and educate culturally sensitive conservation programs, even in the face of obstacles like Western-centric mindsets and institutional prejudices. We can better understand indigenous environmental stewardship and open the door for more comprehensive approaches to conservation and sustainability by embracing the spiritual wisdom found in TEK. These approaches will be based on the same reverence for the natural world that has supported indigenous communities for many generations.

Keywords: Traditional ecological knowledge, spiritual knowledge, acknowledgment

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