We should learn the basics of love from the Nature - Amma's Article

Here's the traslation of Matha Amrithanandamayi's article from the Malayalam Daily Mathrubhumi

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LEARN THE BASICS OF LOVE FROM NATURE

My dear children
There is no greater University than the Nature. What all lessons she teaches us? We should carefully watch the Nature. However small we see it will show us bigger views. It will light our mind. Our life will be a celebration of joy.
Look at a River. On its way from the High Mountains it softly caresses everyone along its way to the Ocean. We should be like this River. Anyone can bath in the river, the river is not bothered about what gender or what race are those who approach her belong to. She is not bothered at all if you like it or not. She does not mind why you came to her but gives everything she has. The River does not care if you came to bath or drink or wash. When one person encompasses this quality we can it compassion. This is the first lesson we learn from Nature. This compassion should be nurtured in us.
What is the meaning of the saying "Plant Ten trees, if you fell one?" Is that sufficient? Not at all. It is like changing a big Teakwood pillar and replacing it with ten match-sticks. Not even a hundred saplings can give the coolness and shade a big tree can provide. My children, you should never think The Mother advices you against planting Trees. If you want to cut a Tree, before that we have to plant a sapling and wait for it to grow into a tree. A small sapling can never give as much as a big tree gives to the Nature. Only one spoonful of chlorine can clean a bucket of water, not one or two granules. When trees are destroyed be aware that it is the end of the mankind. See how much animals are becoming extinct everyday. As the climate is changed more species are lost. Fireflies are not at all seen in cities now.
There was once a liquor seller. He asked his wife to pray for more people to become his clients. When a drinker heard that he asked her to pray for his business too to increase. And what was his profession? He was a coffin-seller. This is the present state of the World.
Look once again into the Nature. She gives everyone everything without expecting anything in return. My children should never be a part of anything that disturbs or destroys Nature. Nature is the biggest teacher. Her sacrifice should be the ultimate lesson for us. We are bound to return at least a millionth of this to Nature. We should always be very loving to everyone around us.
You might have heard the story of Sakuntala. Muni Kanwa got her from Nature, from the forest. While she was leaving the Ashram when grown up, the jasmine plant she watered and tended to did not let her go by encircling her. The animals cried. These all show, if we love the trees and animals they will surely love us back. Swimming in selfishness, we are even unaware what love is. We should learn the basics of love from the Nature. We should open our eyes and ears every time to the Nature. Set aside some time everyday for the Nature. The lessons the Nature teaches us will make the world a peaceful haven. My children should realize this. My children should live accordingly and spread the word.

Amma on Planting Trees

This article is a free condensed translation of a weekly article written by Matha Amrithanandamayi in Mathrubhumi daily


"My dear children

Amma has reiterated that there should be nothing in our actions that would scuttle the equilibrium of nature. The scientific Community too tells that. Still it is doubtful whether anyone is actually engaging in Nature Conservation activities. In this respect the Westerners are  far ahead of us. In Alappat panchayath where a lot of people are killed in the Dec 2004 Tsunami, there grows now more than a hundred thousand Tulsi plants. This feat is possible only due to two German girls of the Ashram who travel six kilometers by bicycle every morning to tend them. Now the locals too help them. They have very well realised the greatness  of Tulsi.

But what are we doing now? We are planting trees for Industries only, clearing our native ones. Those trees lack immunity to diseases and require fertilisers and pesticide to survive. At the place where our native flowers stood now stands cactus. It shows the change happened to the human mind. Our ancestors used to put various medicinal flowers and leaves in water and used to drink it. They did not have to use any kind of medicines or tonics. This water itself was acted as their medicine. Their medicinal value are now scientifically proven, still we are not giving enough importance to them.

Guests were given tender coconuts in those days. Now it has given way to tea or coffee or colas. Our children has turned into cola drinkers. Lemon juice was readily available in all petty shops till recently, now it is very rare and only coloured juices are available in shops. Rubber an vanilla are cultivated at the place of coconuts and oranges. It is not due to the love of Nature, but the profit margin only.

For some years now Amma's children are celebrating Vrishchikam first(A Malayalam month starting  around mid-November), a by Planting Trees. The devotees intend to go to Sabarimala temple start the 41 day long vrata on that day. During the 41 days' of rituals and vratha the plant is watered everyday. The Plant is revered as holy and worshipped as a symbol of Nature. We are all dependent on Nature. Realisation of this helps us to remove our selfishness. When one sees himself as part of the Nature itself he realises he and Nature are not two but a single entity. People who love Nature are the real treasure of any Nation. "