Dear All, Greetings from Sai Anugraha.
We are going to celebrate April 22 as EARTH DAY all over the world. Marking the occasion, SAI ANUGRAHA sharing the quotes and sayings from various religious scriptures and famous personalities of the world on the importance of growing TREES.
Religious Scriptures
BIBLE
In the Book of Genesis (the first book of the Bible) after the creation of man, Lord God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”. (Genesis 1:28-29).
“He planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:8-9).
Bhagavath Gita
In the Bhagavath Gita (The Hindu scripture), it is mentioned that “A tree’s leaves, flowers, fruits, shades, roots, skin wood, pulp even the charcoal, everything, it gives to humans for their use. In short whatever they have they give it for others and they live a selfless life. How precious and satisfied are their lives”.
Padmapuranam
In the Padmapuranam, another Hindu Scripture, we read, “The one who plants a tree on the wayside is a blessed man. He receives the blessings from heaven as long as it bears flowers, leaves and fruits”.
Quran
The Prophet (pbuh) also encouraged the planting of trees: “Even if you fear that the Last Day has arrived, plant the sapling you hold in your hand” (Bukhari); “Whoever plants a tree will be rewarded the amount of its produce by God” (Ahmed b . Hanbal, Musnad); “If someone revives an empty infertile piece of land, he will be rewarded by God for this action. And when any living creature benefits from this land, it will be recorded as charity for the one who revived the land” (Munawi).
If a Muslim plants a tree, the produce eaten from that tree is most certainly charity for him. And the produce stolen from that tree is also recorded for him as charity. Whatever is eaten of the produce by wild animals is also recorded as charity, the produce eaten by birds is charity, all the produce eaten from that tree is charity for the one who planted it”(Bukhari, Adab). These hadith are a clear indication of the encouragement to bring environmental concerns to the attention of others.The tree was part and parcel of human race from the very beginning. It was so closely connected with human beings. Trees not only connected with human beings but the animal kingdom too depends on trees.
Guru Grandh Saheb
The Sikh scripture declares that the purpose of human beings is to achieve a blissful state and be in harmony with the earth and all creation. Guru Nanak in his philosophy states that the reality that humans create around themselves is a reflection of their inner state. The current instability of the natural system of the earth - the external environment of human beings, is only a reflection of the instability and pain within humans. The increasing barrenness of the earth's terrain is a reflection of the emptiness within humans.
Sikhism has three postulates implicit in its teachings:
- That there is no essential duality between spirit and matter.
- That humans have the capacity to consciously participate in the process of spiritual progression.
- The highest goal of spiritual progression is harmony with God, while remaining earthconscious, so that the world itself may be transformed to a spiritual plane of existence.
Famous Personalities on Trees
Goutam Buddha
“Trees are the best examples of selfless service. For their existence they never demand anything from anybody, instead they provide many good things for the welfare of the people. Even the person who puts his axe on its bottom, it gives him shadow till its fall.
Poet Kabir
“Trees live a sacrificial life; soul body and everything they have they give to others with a sacrificial mind. They are the real munificent, they are the great benevolence. The ones who do service to such trees they receive God’s blessings”.
President Roosevelt
“How sad will be a childless life! A nation without enough trees and greenery is also like a childless couple”.
Jawaharlal Nehru
“Planting plants and trees and meeting its needs shows a nation’s welfare and wealthiness”.
Famous Malayalam poet
“The one who pours water with a loving heart to a Banyan sapling, when it grows, it gives shadow to everyone who passes by”.
The most interesting fact about tree is, it is worth of 33 lakhs when lives for 50 years.
- Generates INR 5.3lakh worth of Oxygen.
- Recycles INR 6.4lakh worth of soil fertility.
- Facilitates INR 6.4lakh worth of soil erosion control.
- Creates INR 10.5lakh worth of air pollution control.
- Provides INR 5.3lakh worth of shelter for birds and animals.
- Provides flowers and fruits.
Sai Anugraha also has an initiative "SAI LENDI BAUG" which encourages people to celebrate their special days (Birthday/Marriage day and other important day) by sapling plantation. We planted 194 saplings in the year 2011. I sincerely thank each and every Sai Anugraha family member who supported us in this initiative. Our vision is to plant 10000 trees by 2020.
If anyone interested in organizing a sapling plantation drive @ Schools/Colleges/religious places/residential places etc, update your details @ REGISTER HERE, we will provide saplings and also invite volunteers for the event. Let us take steps on an individual basis in making this earth a better place to live, not only for human beings, but for all of Creation.
Thanks & Regards,
Sai Anugraha
Shradha-Saburi
LoveAll-ServeAll
