Taking Care Of The Earth

The Earth is not only the common heritage of humanity, but also our ultimate source of life. By overexploiting its’ resources, we are in the process of undermining the very ground of our survival. All around we see the signs of destruction caused by human action and the degradation of nature. So protection and preservation of the Earth are questions not of morality or ethics, but of survival. The way we rise to this challenge will have an impact not just on our generation but on many generations to come.

When it comes to questions that have such a global import, the human mind is the key factor, as in the case of business,international, scientific, technological, medical or ecological problems. All these seem to go beyond the capacity of individual reponse, but ttheir root and solution must be sought within the mind. In order to transform the situation outside we must transform the situation inside. If you want a beautiful garden you must first sketch it out in your imagination, and have a vision of it. Then the idea can be made concrete, and the external garden will materialize. Destruction of natural resources results from ignorance, from a lack of respect for living things, and from greed.

To begin, we must seek to control these negative states of mind by developing an awareness of the interdependence of all phenomena, by cultivating a wish not to harm other living beings, and by understanding their need for compassion. Because of the interdepedant nature living being, we cannot hope to solve a multifaceted question by beginning with partiality or a self centered attitude. History has shown us that people haven”t often managed to cooperate. Our past failures result from ignorance of our interdependent nature. Today we need a holistic approach to problems linked to an authentic sense of universal responsibility, based on love and compassion.

I offer best wishes and prayers so that we can become aware of the necessity to take better care of the Earth.