Bharat Darshan – The Experience of Existence on Mother Earth

The Celebration of the Experience of Earthly Existence

Excerpt: Monday, April 22 is Earth Day and the official theme for 2024 is “Planet vs. Plastics.” Since man has no direct sensory experience of the realities of Earth’s shape and motions, the Earth Day celebration calls for the recounting of the experience of one’s own earthly existence.On Earth Day 2024, this 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.

The main message this year is to raise awareness of the health risks of plastics, with a goal to phase out the use of single-use plastics.

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. 

Earth Day Monday, April 22, 2024. The Celebration of Mother Earth. Man’s Existence is shaped by Flat Earth with Arched Dome:

The man’s existence on surface of planet Earth demands the experience of Flat Earth with Arched Dome on which the man observes the apparent motions of Sun, Moon, planets, and stars. The man experiences alternating periods of Day and Night, and experiences changing Seasons in consistent manner without experiencing the true or real motions of Earth and with no direct experience of the true shape of Earth.

The Agony of the Cup – Recounting the Experience of one’s own Earthly Existence:

Since man has no direct sensory experience of the realities of Earth’s shape and motions, the Earth Day celebration calls for the recounting of the experience of one’s own earthly existence.

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. 

I am an 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 2024, 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 2024 as God is not willing to take away the Cup unless I drink it.

Earth Day. The Celebration of Mother Earth, the Source of Whole Patience.

The First Earth Day Celebration was held on April 22, 1970. It has now become a global tradition to celebrate Planet Earth as man’s only home in this vast universe of unknown dimensions. In the Indian tradition, I pay my tribute to Mother Earth, Goddess Earth often adoringly described as Bhu Devi or Prithvi Mata.

Mother Earth symbolizes the qualities of Patience, Tolerance, Perseverance and Endurance which is the ability to withstand pain without any complaint.

Earth Day 2024. Indian Traditions about the role of Planet Earth:

MOTHER EARTH, ‘PRITHVI’, OR ‘BHUMI’ IS DEDICATED TO PRESERVE THE COSMIC BALANCE AND UNIVERSAL ORDER.

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 – The Concept of Whole Patience

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.

Ecology helps to formulate the Art of Patience

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.

THE FIRST EARTH DAY

Author: History.com Staff Website Name: History.com Publisher: A+E Networks

Earth Day, an event to increase public awareness of the world’s environmental problems, is celebrated in the United States for the first time. Millions of Americans, including students from thousands of colleges and universities, participated in rallies, marches, and educational programs.

Earth Day was the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, a staunch environmentalist who hoped to provide unity to the grassroots environmental movement and increase ecological awareness. The objective was to get a nationwide demonstration of concern for the environment so large that it would shake the political establishment out of its lethargy, Senator Nelson said, and, finally, force this issue permanently onto the national political agenda. Earth Day indeed increased environmental awareness in America, and in July of that year the Environmental Protection Agency was established by special executive order to regulate and enforce national pollution legislation.

On April 22, 1990, the 20th anniversary of Earth Day, more than 200 million people in 141 countries participated in Earth Day celebrations.
Earth Day has been celebrated on different days by different groups internationally. The United Nations officially celebrates it on the vernal equinox, which usually occurs about March 21.