Compassion for sustainable living

Summers were always close to my heart. This was the time of reunion and lots of masti. Our Joint family ( 50 Members) used to spend summers at our Family House in our Village-lush with greenery and delicious mangoes. Much of our time ( with all our Cousins & Friends) was spent in our backyard and nearby garden, where we had lots of Mango and Jamun trees, enjoying delicious Mangos. Every tree in the garden had a unique name like Langda, Maldha, Mitthu, Chini, etc. It gave us a true sense of being in a Family and togetherness.

On my recent visit with my kids during this Summer break, I observed most of the trees disappear to accommodate the growing need for space for housing for nuclear families, Panchayat Projects for Village Development, etc. In this pace of development, I think our basic Indian Villages are losing their originality and are gradually in the process of transforming into the jungle of Concrete like Today's Cities.

During a visit to a nearby Market, I saw a huge crowd waiting outside in an electrical appliances Store in scorching hot weather. I was intrigued to know more and a buyer told me that because of the intense Heatwave??People are rushing to buy ACs/Coolers/Fans etc. The madness was such that customers were fighting for instant deliveries. You can correlate this with the Oxygen Cylinder demand of COVID. Most of the buyers were from farming communities/middle-class salaried/ Shopkeepers etc, forced to buy because of the unbearable Hot weather.

Two things triggered in my mind when I saw this. First, These appliances will drive the per capita consumption of Power, hence the Demand for Power will drastically increase. Second, these appliances can impact the environmental conditions as the penetration level goes up.

While buying temporary relief could be a good idea under current circumstances, we must evaluate the devastating impact in the Long run therefore, we must nurture " Compassion for sustainable living". without this, Nothing will exist for a long time.

Compassion is a fundamental principle for achieving sustainable living, intertwining environmental responsibility with empathy for all forms of life. Sustainable living requires a shift in mindset from short-term gains to long-term well-being, and compassion plays a critical role in this transformation.

Compassionate choices extend beyond human interactions to encompass the entire ecosystem. For instance, mindful consumption—such as reducing waste, opting for renewable resources, and supporting eco-friendly products, Nurturing Environment—reflects care for the planet and future generations. When individuals consider the environmental impact of their actions, they contribute to preserving biodiversity, reducing pollution, and mitigating climate change.

Education and awareness are crucial in nurturing compassion. By understanding the interconnectedness of all life, people are more likely to adopt sustainable practices. Schools, communities, and governments can play pivotal roles in promoting this awareness through programs that emphasize the importance of empathy towards the environment and each other.

As Mahatma Gandhi said, "The world has enough for everyone's needs, but not everyone's greed."

So the next time when your impulse drives your consumption, must evaluate the environmental impact of your decisions.

By fostering compassion, we nurture a sustainable future, ensuring that our actions today leave a thriving planet for generations to come.