Cross-Cultural Moral Ecology in Sportsmanship: A Comparative Study of the Bhagavad Gita and the Analects

Abstract

This article compares the Bhagavad Gita and philosophy in the Analects from a cross-cultural perspective in relation to ecology and sportsmanship to demonstrate how both texts can theorize the notion of balance, harmony and interconnectedness in sports. The Bhagavad Gita is concerned with three environmental constituents, namely: karmayoga, dharma and samatva. Where the Analects stresses on ren, li and yi. In addition, this paper examines the divinity and philosophy of these ideas through the ecological viewpoint by using Susan Bassnett’s (1993) theory of comparative literature to identify the intersection of these traditions and locate and seek harmony and balance. Moreover, the research indicates that social virtue must be accompanied by the spiritual disconnection as one of the ethical principles that must be developed by athletes and coaches to favor clean, humble and respectful sportsmanship. The study is driven by the fact that sport is an ecological laboratory to build a universal ethical discourse, which evokes conscience and compassion. The paper concludes that both traditions are eco-conscious, wherein self-discipline, reciprocity and equilibrium are bound together and provide trans-civilizational ethic of responsibility and restraint which resonates with the ecological consciousness of the present and evolution of sustainable virtue.