March 14th, Sikh Vatavaran Diwas (Environment Day) 2012

[BaljinderS]

Sikhs around the world will come together again to celebrate the Gurdgaddi of Guru Har Rai Ji again Sikh Vatavaran Diwas (environment day) for a second year in a row. On this day, Gurdwaras worldwide will focus kirtan and katha on the concept of kudrat, and participate in a number of hands on activities to protect our environment.

Ask your Gurdwara to participate by:

Focusing kirtan and katha on nature
Hosting the Khalsa School Lesson on the Environment, created by the Sikh Research Institute
Participating in a cleanup, tree planting, or children’s activity
All resources will be available on the EcoSikh website. Participating Gurdwaras should register to keep a database on worldwide activities, and respond with a ‘Yes’ on the Facebook invitation.

The purpose of Sikh Vatavaran Diwas is to bring Khalsa Panth together on issues of the environment. With Punjab ranking twenty-seventh out of thirty states in the environmental performance index (EPI), the need for Sikhs to connect Gurbani to the issues around them is real. The contamination of soil, land and water from intensive agricultural production remain high on the list of Punjab’s ecological challenges, in addition to industrial pollution and solid waste, low forest cover, and air pollution from thermal plants.


The annual event is being hosted by EcoSikh, an organization that encourages us to live in harmony with the environment according to the philosophy of Guru Nanak. EcoSikh brings together innovative partnerships between Sikhs, scientists, planners, and major bodies working to protect air, water, and land. This year, the day is expected to be marked by Punjab Government Schools, five major Takhts, along with twenty-five Gurdwaras across Pakistan, in Punjab and Balochistan.

Be a part of the movement. Get your Gurdwara on board today.

http://thelangarhall.com/sikhi/march-14th-sikh-vatavaran-diwas-environment-day-2012/

 

[BaljinderS]

I believe the environment has a big impact on our well being. Nature has very powerful healing qualities. Sikhism teaches us to nurture and look after the environment.
I don't find many Sikhs who have any consideration for the environment. Why is this? They are so quick to pave over their lawns... In India, its shocking to see how the animals are declining so rapidly and nobody seems to care.

 

[Luckysingh]

This is a topic that we should all try and give a little more dhyan and focus to.

Todays market driven economies and selfish consumerism poses a huge threat to the environment and global climate.

In SLOK

Pavaṇ gurū pāṇī piṯā māṯā ḏẖaraṯ mahaṯ.

Air is the Guru, Water is the Father, and Earth is the Great Mother of all.


ਦਿਵਸੁ ਰਾਤਿ ਦੁਇ ਦਾਈ ਦਾਇਆ ਖੇਲੈ ਸਗਲ ਜਗਤੁ ॥

Ḏivas rāṯ ḏu▫e ḏā▫ī ḏā▫i▫ā kẖelai sagal jagaṯ.

Day and night are the two nurses, in whose lap all the world is at play.

and page 7 SGGS -

ਰਾਤੀ ਰੁਤੀ ਥਿਤੀ ਵਾਰ ॥

Rāṯī ruṯī thiṯī vār.

Nights, days, weeks and seasons;


ਪਵਣ ਪਾਣੀ ਅਗਨੀ ਪਾਤਾਲ ॥

Pavaṇ pāṇī agnī pāṯāl.

wind, water, fire and the nether regions -


ਤਿਸੁ ਵਿਚਿ ਧਰਤੀ ਥਾਪਿ ਰਖੀ ਧਰਮ ਸਾਲ ॥

Ŧis vicẖ ḏẖarṯī thāp rakẖī ḏẖaram sāl.

in the midst of these, He established the earth as a home for Dharma.


ਤਿਸੁ ਵਿਚਿ ਜੀਅ ਜੁਗਤਿ ਕੇ ਰੰਗ ॥

Ŧis vicẖ jī▫a jugaṯ ke rang.

Upon it, He placed the various species of beings.


ਤਿਨ ਕੇ ਨਾਮ ਅਨੇਕ ਅਨੰਤ ॥

Ŧin ke nām anek ananṯ.

Their names are uncounted and endless.


ਕਰਮੀ ਕਰਮੀ ਹੋਇ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥

Karmī karmī ho▫e vīcẖār.

By their deeds and their actions, they shall be judged.

The great mother earth (“mata dharat mahatt”) with its many life forms, is the “dharam khand”, the realm of balanced, responsible and righteous living.
This earth, together with the environment (made from wind and water) is the “dharamsaal” or “mandir” (place of worship) where man is to achieve the purpose of this given human life form.
We are not to desecrate this place by disturbing the fine balance of nature such as abusing the environment through selfish overuse of resources.

I believe that if we are in harmony with nature and environment or mother earth (mata dharat mahatt) only then can this help us to be in harmony with the creator.ie. 1st harmonize with surroundings then 2ndly with mind and spirit.

From page 19 SGGS
Sācẖe ṯe pavnā bẖa▫i▫ā pavnai ṯe jal ho▫e.

From the True Lord came the air, and from the air came water.


ਜਲ ਤੇ ਤ੍ਰਿਭਵਣੁ ਸਾਜਿਆ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਸਮੋਇ ॥

Jal ṯe ṯaribẖavaṇ sāji▫ā gẖat gẖat joṯ samo▫e.

From water, He created the three worlds; in each and every heart He has infused His Light.

The Creator created the air, which created water and brought life on earth.

The Creator Being resides in nature, creates numerous diverse species, and provides the balance in life.
The air, the water and the earth are the givers of life and knowledge, and sustainers of life.

Pavan guru pani pita mata dharat mahath-- from Slok
The air and environment -is the guru or teacher,
The water -the father
The earth - the mother
These are the caring parents who look after us.
It is also our duty to serve our “parents” – the earth and the environment - and not to disturb the natural mechanisms which provide the delicate (natural) balance in the environment and between the diversity in creation.

From many different sections of the SGGS, my understanding seems to be that when we interfere with earth and enviroment harmony and balance thus resulting in imbalances.
--- This is when we experience consequences and natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis etc.. that consequently result in many many lost lives.

It is all under the Hukam of God.
We can never understand and accept why these disasters happen,it is difficult to accept why acts of God would take lives.

Instead of questioning and not getting anything solved, we could atleast make an effort for the earth and environment by stopping the imbalances being created by our actions..

If only we could all contribute and make a joint effort for our sustenance.


Waheguru
Sat Kartar

LuckySingh

 

[japjisahib04]

This is a topic that we should all try and give a little more dhyan and focus to.
Todays market driven economies and selfish consumerism poses a huge threat to the environment and global climate.
In SLOK
Pavaṇ gurū pāṇī piṯā māṯā ḏẖaraṯ mahaṯ.

Yes it is time we focus on this epilogue.
The sloka (Epilogue) in the end sums up the theme of the Japji. Theme throughout is how to be sachiar but I am wondering this epilogue is linked with environment. In the prologue Guru Nanak confirms that every human being is equipped with AN INBUILT SCALE - karmi aapo aapni kai naidai kai dur (a technique - a system followed by the laws of nature, according to which within a fraction of second, judgement on our action is rendered by itself and accordingly OUR QUALITY LIFE STARTS IMPROVING/ DETERTERIOTING (in avan javan which is pal pal marna)or enters into eternal bliss (nanak bhagata sada veegas).

Considering veracity of natural manifestations, appreciating in poetry the beauty of God, I have noticed most of the sites are interpreting in this salok ਦਿਵਸੁ as nurse and ਰਾਤਿ as ਦਾਇਆ respectively. But if we look at raag maru sohalai on page 1031 guru sahib is saying the opposite, 'ਰੈਣਿ ਦਿਨਸੁ ਦੁਇ ਦਾਈ ਦਾਇਆ ਜਗੁ ਖੇਲੈ ਖੇਲਾਈ ਹੇ ॥੧੦ it is ਰੈਣਿ which is nurse and ਦਿਨਸੁ as ਦਾਇਆ.

When gurbani throughout explains, 'mata mat pita santokh', then what does ਪਵਣੁ, ਪਾਣੀ, and ਧਰਤਿ ਮਹਤੁ stands for. Let us see, what is the true message guru sahib is trying to convey through this epilogue as per my understanding. The epilogue after completing thirty eight stanza now sums up by saying that in order to maintain the 'ਦੁਰਲਭ ਮਾਨੁਖ ਦੇਹ - the transformed body, it requires constant oxygen of divine wisdom as guiding source, otherwise 'ਆਖਾ ਜੀਵਾ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਮਰਿ ਜਾਉ ॥ a definition and warning of separation from God. Then we have, 'ਪਾਣੀ' irrigate this body with the water of santokh - contentment otherwise ਮਨਮੁਖ ਅੰਧ ਨ ਚੇਤਹੀ ਡੂਬਿ ਮੁਏ ਬਿਨੁ ਪਾਣੀ ॥੧॥ SGGS.31.2 Similarly 'ਧਰਤਿ ਮਹਤੁ' transmit this wisdom to all body parts to practically live just like 'ਉਦਰ ਸੰਜੋਗੀ ਧਰਤੀ ਮਾਤਾ ॥ a mother gives biological birth to a child.

Then we have 'ਦਿਵਸੁ ਰਾਤਿ ਦੁਇ ਦਾਈ ਦਾਇਆ ਖੇਲੈ ਸਗਲ ਜਗਤੁ ॥ guru sahib is reminding us that world is playing both in the lap of illuminated mind(ਦਿਵਸੁ) and crocked mind(ਰਾਤਿ) and as per inbuilt scale we are upgraded and downgraded.

best regards