A Peace Garden in the UK. Fruit trees planted in gardens across New Delhi.
Gifts of Rudraksha saplings to the Hon’ble President of India, Shri @Ram Nath Kovindji; HRH Prince Charles; HH the Dalai Lama; and, Bollywood superstar Vivek Anand Oberoi. Plantations of Peepal and Banyon with faith leaders and the faithful; with Rishis and the Rishikumars; and, with our closest neighbours and our farthest-flung brothers and sisters.
Trees! Life-giving, oxygen-producing, shade-inducing trees.
They’ve been a part of HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji – Muniji’s divine life since His early days in the forests of the Himalayas, and today they’re a part of the life-long service that He offers selflessly to the world as part of His efforts to combat climate change and deforestation.
“In Vedic times,” Pujya Swamiji reflects, “trees and water were revered as sacred. Today, we’ve turned our backs on them, becoming far too insulated within our temples and homes. No longer can we follow the ways of even 50 years ago. Our world is becoming hotter, dryer and more and more polluted. Traditions, such as birthday and wedding celebrations and gift-giving, must change if we as humanity are to survive.”
With a steadily-growing population, 54% of India is already facing extreme water stress, which is aggravated by the growing burdens of pollution, rising temperatures and increasing incidents of disaster. Many agree that celebrations and rituals, which play a crucial role in the fabric of society, can become dynamic forces for change.
To demonstrate the point, Pujya Swamiji advocates tree plantation drives as part of celebratory events – events such as the ones already being planned for His upcoming June birthday. “Let us break free from these walls of tradition and break through towards a new era,” He exhorts. “Rather than plucking flowers for my birthday, let us plant trees, so that all may benefit from their cooling shelter.”
“We should celebrate all our occasions and festivals by planting and giving trees.” He continued. “If there are no trees there is no water and if there is no water there is no life. Therefore, let us use every occasion to renew our green pledge. I encourage, not just people, but all banks, businesses and institutions to come forward through their Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Social Responsibility programs to plant trees and to end single use plastic.”
It’s Giving Tuesday. A day devoted to giving back to each other and to Mother Earth. Let’s pledge to follow Pujya Swamiji’s divine example and give back to Nature and to ourselves.
Let’s pledge to plant trees! Lots of them!
#GivingTuesday #tuesday #giveback #trees #TreePlantation
