Pay heed to the whispering Earth
ON World Earth Day, as the morning sun touches the horizon and the wind carries the scent of awakening soil, let us pause — not just to observe the world, but to feel the divine breath that animates it. The Earth is not merely a planet — it is a sacred manifestation of the divine, a living being, a mother, a teacher, a temple.
In the ancient Indian tradition, we begin our day by touching the ground and seeking forgiveness from Bhumi Devi — the Earth Goddess — for placing our feet upon her. This simple act holds profound wisdom: it reminds us that the Earth is not ours to exploit, but ours to revere. In every tree, river, mountain and breeze, there is Ishvara — the presence of the divine.
But somewhere along the way, modern civilisation forgot the sacred. The forests became timber, the rivers became drains, animals became commodities and the Earth became an ‘asset’. We traded reverence for revenue, devotion for domination.
Yet the Earth endures. Even in her suffering — through floods, wildfires, droughts and dying ecosystems — she does not retaliate. She simply reminds us: return. Return to balance. Return to harmony. Return to dharma.
This is not merely an environmental crisis — it is a spiritual one. We are disconnected not just from nature, but from our own nature. We have forgotten that Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world is one family — is not just a Sanskrit phrase; it is a cosmic truth. The trees that give us oxygen, the bees that pollinate our crops, the animals that roam the wild, the rivers that nourish us — all are our kin.
World Earth Day must be more than a calendar event. It must be a call to spiritual awakening. The call is simple but profound: live in ahimsa — nonviolence not just in thought and deed, but in how we eat, build, travel and exist. Embrace aparigraha — non-possessiveness — not just in wealth, but in how we consume the planet’s gifts. Practise seva — selfless service — for the Earth and all her beings.
Today, spirituality is not escapism; it is activism rooted in compassion. A prayer for the planet is powerful, but a life lived as that prayer is transformative.
Let this Earth Day not be about saving the Earth — because she will survive. It is we who must transform, return to living in rhythm with the sacred. Let us plant trees not just for shade, but as offerings. Let us protect rivers as we would protect temples. Let us walk lightly, eat mindfully, speak truthfully and live with the awareness that every breath is a gift, every creature a reflection of the divine.
As the Upanishads remind us, “Isha vasyam idam sarvam” — All this is pervaded by the Divine.
May we remember. May we return. May we revere. The Earth is whispering.
Musings