I drank from that cup. Now, the cup could be described as half full or half empty. Is that really important? The cup that I drink from gives me pain and I experience suffering. What would be the right question if I have to drink from that cup? What I truly experience from my life, the reality of my condition is more important than my attitude towards my existence. The issue is not about optimism or pessimism. I need to focus on knowing the reality and I need to face the reality about what I experience when I drink from that cup of my life.
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THIS CUP TO BE TAKEN AWAY FROM ME?
I am alien, foreigner, sojourner, stranger, tenant and traveler with no place to call home. The never ending burden of the Cross for the alien follower. On Earth Day 2023, the alien is still carrying the burden of the cross while he slowly inches towards his final, earthly destination. The alien has no choice other than that of learning the art of Whole Patience.
I celebrate Earth Day 2023 as God is not willing to take away the Cup unless I drink it.
Patience in Suffering – Earth Day Celebration
MOTHER EARTH, ‘PRITHVI’, OR ‘BHUMI’ IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVE THE COSMIC BALANCE AND UNIVERSAL ORDER.
Mother Earth symbolizes the qualities of Patience, Tolerance, Perseverance and Endurance which is the ability to withstand pain without any complaint.
Earth Day Celebration gives a sense of Joy and Happiness. I am promoting the concept of #WholeHappy or Whole Happy which describes a Happy Person, a Happy Place, and Happier People. There is no real happiness if the personal feelings of happiness are not shared with a social community with whom the person interacts on a daily basis and the person is in a place that generates the feelings of happiness and an atmosphere conducive to happiness.
The Art of Patience involves learning the basic principles of Ecology which describe the interconnectedness, interrelatedness, and interdependence of all living creatures on planet Earth.
The principles of Ecology are applicable to human nature and human existence. Man is a social association of trillions of individual, independent living cells. Human existence depends upon mutual assistance, mutual cooperation, and mutual tolerance between members of the interacting biological community that represents the human individual. Man exists because of the living functions performed by individual members of a biotic or biological community.
Existence of man is conditioned. Man is dependent on an external source of energy and matter during all the days of his life’s journey on planet Earth.
EARTH DAY CELEBRATION SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2023:
In the United States, on Saturday, April 22, 2023 Earth Day is celebrated . This tradition of celebrating planet Earth began in April 1970 and it intends to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s natural environment.
Earth is the natural home for all humans, plants, and the animals that inhabit this planet. We need to learn to keep this home safe, and healthy for the sake of our future generations. Earth’s resources should be used in a wise and judicious manner. We need to accept the stewardship of the planet and act to preserve and protect the plants and the animals that share their lives with us.
INDIAN TRADITIONS ABOUT EARTH’S ROLE
In the ancient Indian scripture of Rig Veda, Mother Earth or Prithvi Mata is described as the primordial goddess. She is also known by the names of Bhumi, Dhra, Dharti, Dhrithri, and Dharani all of which refer to her sustaining beneficence as “that which holds everything.” Akasha (Sky), Vayu (Wind), Agni (Fire), Jala or Varuna (Water), and Bhumi or Prithvi (Earth) are described as ‘Pancha Maha Bhutas’ or the Five Great Elemental States of the Material Nature or Prakriti. She is the consort of Lord Vishnu, the Divine Protector of the Hindu Trinity. Earth represents the female principle of fertility and is the source of all vegetation and is responsible for precious and bountiful crops and fruits that it yields. She is the sustainer and the preserver of the Cosmic Balance. She stands up to the rights of the living entities and defends them from Cosmic Forces and Energies. She symbolizes the concept of a just and stable universe. She represents dedication to maintenance of ‘Dharma’ or Righteous Action which defines the Universal Order. She bears witness to all of our actions and particularly the actions of miscreants and evildoers who transgress the rights of weak and innocent denizens living in her domain. She mutely observes the acts of depredations and oppression. She endures all kinds of suffering with calmness and displays a great quality of patience. However, there are natural limits to her forbearance.When stressed beyond her limits of threshold and particularly to uphold the vital principle of Dharma, she cries out aloud, calls for attention of all gods, and insistently demands for intervention of Lord Vishnu, the Divine Protector.
PATIENCE IN SUFFERING
Indians find encouragement in developing perseverance while confronting trials and tribulations of many kinds. The idea that Mother Earth is a witness to their pain and suffering provides man a sense of comfort and enables man to endure suffering with a sense of hope and expectation of deliverance. Indians are culturally driven to face calamities with calmness as they hope that Mother Earth would intervene on their behalf. Being patient is a quality t imparted to the human character by Mother Earth.
A hymn to Praise Earth Goddess Bhu Devi:
Vishnu Shakti Samutpanne
Chitra Varne Mahitale
Aneka Ratna Sampanne
Bhoomi Devi Namostute
Vishnu Shakti Samutpanne,
Shanka Varne Mahitale,
Aneka Ratna Sambhute,
Bhumi Devi Namostute.
Earth Goddess, Bhumi Devi, you originated from the Creative Power of Lord Vishnu and you display the complexion of a Conch shell, you produce a variety of gems and precious stones. I join and press my palms together and bow my head to offer my salutations to you.
The Rudolf-Rudi doctrine of Spiritualism 