Earth Day

Today is Earth Day. Earth Day occurs each year on the vernal equinox. It is held annually in the (northern) spring, it’s intended both to inspire awareness of and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. Not only that, the spring equinox is also the New Year in Iran and other Islam countries, which makes possible collective attention for a common purpose — the sustainable care of Earth, with justice and peace for all.

Obviously, we must take care of our home. One can learn a lot by reading the book of nature, which is open right now quite close at hand, wherever you may be. Or watch our former future-president Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” and learn a lot. Look up his list of Ten Things You Can Do to Help Save the Planet.

According to Wikipedia, the late marine biologist Rachel Carson’s landmark best selling book of 1962, Silent Spring, is often credited with having launched the global environmental movement. Silent Spring had an immense effect in the United States, where it spurred a reversal in national pesticide policy. Carson was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Starting in the mid-1940s, Carson became concerned about the use of newly invented pesticides, especially DDT, and how pesticides enter the food chain and affect us all through interconnectedness. “The more I learned about the use of pesticides, the more appalled I became,” she wrote later, explaining her decision to start researching what would eventually become her most famous work. “What I discovered was that everything which meant most to me as a naturalist was being threatened, and that nothing I could do would be more important. … The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe around us, the less taste we shall have for destruction.”

Let’s find our own ways to save the Earth, thinking globally while acting locally, beginning with ourselves and each other. This will help us show real love for our world neighbors and the web of life that covers our globe. So start somewhere. Even picking up litter is a place to start. Not to mention refraining from littering.

What kind of world shall we leave to our children and the generations to follow? Let’s do what we can to leave this world a better place than we found it.

The Buddha was one of the globe’s first ecologists. He exhorted each of his most committed followers to plant at least one tree each year in order to continuously replenish the earth’s resources, and to refrain from soiling the waters.

Burmese Buddhist and Vipassana meditator U Thant, the United Nations Secretary-General, on March 21, 1971, said; “May there only be peaceful and cheerful Earth Days to come for our beautiful Spaceship Earth as it continues to spin and circle in frigid space with its warm and fragile cargo of animate life.”

Traditional Buddhist Blessing and Healing Chant

Just as the soft rains fill the streams,
pour into the rivers, and join together in the oceans,
so may the power of every moment of your goodness
flow forth to awaken and heal all beings–
those here now, those gone before, those yet to come.

By the power of every moment of your goodness,
may your heart’s wishes be soon fulfilled
as completely shining as the bright full moon,
as magically as by a wish-fulfilling gem.

By the power of every moment of your goodness,
may all dangers be averted and all disease be gone.
May no obstacle come across your way.
May you enjoy fulfillment and long life.

For all in whose heart dwells respect,
who follow the wisdom and compassion, of the Way,
may your life prosper in the four blessings
of old age, beauty, happiness and strength.