Back to the Preciousness of Living Things
I simply can’t seem to let go the theme of needless hurting to live plants. Whenever I think of those three large bleeding hearts that are no more — it hurts me to thing of how uncannily beautiful and happy they were. I was responsible for them, and someone pulled them out of the rich soil they were growing in and threw them away.
I don’t suppose Paula’s roses and lilacs were my responsibility, and yet my heart hurts for them as well.
Through these incidents, however, I am coming to realize that I must feel a deep sense of responsibility for the very ground, the soil, that precious living things grow in.
That must be why I must compost. I can’t throw peelings into a garbage disposal. I can’t do it. I just can’t do it.
Something else recently pointed me to this sense of responsibility for growing things. I was looking for some Sanskrit words on Google. I never found what I was looking for, but I did come across this:
From ancient times, India has worshipped plants and trees and regarded all flora and fauna as sacred. This practice reveals sensitivity, foresight and refinement.
While modern man often works to conquer Mother Nature, ancient India “worshipped” her. The Lord, the life in us, pervades all living beings, be they plants or animals. Hence, they are all regarded as sacred.
Human life on Earth depends on plants and trees. They give us the vital factors that make life possible: food, oxygen, clothing, shelter, medicine etc. They lend beauty to our surroundings. They serve man without expectation, and they sacrifice themselves to sustain us. They epitomize sacrifice.
In fact, the flora and fauna owned the earth before man appeared on it. Presently, the world is seriously threatened by the destruction of forest lands and the extinction of many species of vegetation due to man’s callous attitude toward them. We protect only what we value.
Hence in India, we are taught to regard trees and plants as sacred. Naturally, we will then protect them. Indian scriptures tell us to plant trees and to use parts of trees and plants only as much as needed for food, fuel, shelter etc. We are also urged to apologize to a plant or tree before cutting it.
In our childhood, we are told stories of the sacrifice and service done by plants and trees and about our duty to nourish them. Certain trees and plants, like tulasi, peepal etc., which have tremendous beneficial qualities, are worshipped till today.
It is believed that divine beings manifest as trees and plants.
http://www.saranam.com/guide/?n=Puja.DefinitionOfPuja
This reminds me a little bit of the movie, The Last of the Mohicans. When the American Indians had to shoot a deer for food, they apologized and thanked the deer. It was beautiful and right.
It also reminds me a little bit of Findhorn and Perlandra where the plant devas are consulted as to where they want to be planted and what else they like.
This article gave honor to the sensitivity Paula and I feel.
Godwriting is a blog by Gloria Wendroff and is about Gloria's daily life as the Godwriter of the Heavenletters project that is having a profound effect on the lives of people around the world.
RSS 2.0 Feed
