On World Earth Day yesterday, HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President and Spiritual Leader of Parmarth Niketan – after planting a Rudraksha sapling in the Ashram courtyard – shared that the Earth is our Mother, a beautiful and comfortable home for all of us, containing water and greenery and an abundance of living beings. “We must,” He said, “be sensitive to the Earth and its needs. Protecting the Earth means protecting us all, and we must begin to make a sincere effort to protect everyone!”
“The Earth is being affected by what we are doing to her,” He continued. “Natural resources are being exploited like never before, and it’s threatening the very existence of life. People are finding it harder and harder to live. We are of the earth, but we have to remember that the earth is not just for human consumption. We have to make significant changes in our lifestyles and activities, and we must protect the earth by being advocates. We have to think not about the exploitation of nature, but about the conservation of nature. We all know that a lot will have to be done to save the environment because the very existence of the earth is at stake.
“And, the fact is we all want to change things, but we don’t want to contribute. We need clean air to breathe, but do not contribute to tree plantations to purify the air; we want clean water but do not pay attention to the polluted rivers and water bodies. This must change. We must all be a part of important changes to save Mother Earth. Do not use plastic; contribute to plantations and preservation; minimize production of carbon dioxide; manage waste properly; conserve water. These are the actions of responsible citizens.
“So, not just on World Earth Day but every day, awaken your consciousness and direct your thoughts towards the environment. Pledge to protect Mother Earth because global warming and decreasing water levels are real. We must act, or life will cease to exist.”
