Our veneration of the planet will lead to Dharma. The practice of Dharma (righteousness) will enable us to save Prithvi (mother earth) and ourselves.
There are four important acts that we must make a part of our daily life. Ahimsa, compassion, maintaining the ecological environment and being aware of the presence of the Divinity.
Ahimsa is a Sanskrit word which means without injury. Ahimsa when applied in our daily life means non-violence. Ahimsa in its broader sense applies to the pollutants generated by us. These toxins pollute the atmosphere, the ground water, the rivers and the seas. These chemicals affect the wild life and flora and fauna. We are all suffering from the fall outs. Ahimsa has to be applied and this means not hurting nature.
Contaminating our earth
Compassion for all denizens is an essential part of our day-to-day life. Respect the elements which comprise the universe, earth, water, fire, air and space. We are contaminating our earth with our wasteful and destructive wastage. We are poisoning the water which in many parts of the earth is undrinkable. Fire is worshipped but now there are fires raging all over the planet.
It is almost impossible to put out some of the fires. The air is becoming more and more polluted, there is climate change. And our space (ether) which is considered the very essence of emptiness is being destroyed by our acquisitiveness.
Accepting what the Isha Upanishad teaches us, that the divinity is all pervasive and we must be constantly aware of the presence of God in everything. Therefore, treat the earth like a temple, a church or a sacred place.
Biotic elements
My description of Dharma, dear ones is not a selfish one. Righteousness means being upright and moral. Righteousness means treating all living or biotic elements (animals, plants, forests, fisheries and birds) and non-living or abiotic elements (land, sunlight, air, water and rocks) with love and care.
Compassion is a gift of the Divine, which we all have and it can only become greater and greater. The elements which comprise the planet have to remain in harmony. Lastly, be aware of the presence of the Divine and you will be practicing Dharma and cherishing the earth.
Aim Hrim Klim
Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash