Master's Words

On The Alert Once Again

Excerpt From The Lecture In Japan By The Supreme Master Ching Hai September 8, 1994

The Crisis On Earth

The several years between 1994 to 1996 or 1997 are the most sensitive period of our Earth. Therefore, many incidents have happened. In the last few centuries, we have done so much harm to our planet. Sometimes, the actions looked like we were helping the world, or making the world progress, but the price has been too high! We human beings are too ignorant. Just to earn money quickly in our business, we have disregarded the future consequences. So, now we better slow down and consider our situation, and that of our next generation and the background of the world. We have destroyed too much! For instance, we may cut down trees, but we should plant two trees for every one we cut! We can retrieve used materials for recycling, that is all right! We may also change our meat diet to a vegetarian one, because meat eating has used up most of the resources on Earth.

Each year, many forests are destroyed just for raising livestock. To raise the animals and provide beef for our consumption, forests and jungles equivalent to the area of England are being felled each year. Raising cattle consumes a lot of water, forage, time and land, and the land cannot be used again. After the trees are felled and the earth trampled by the animals, you have to wait fifty years to plant things again. Also, with the trees gone, the exposed rich soils are washed away by the heavy rain, erosion is out of control, and the land becomes barren and dry. There will be a chain reaction of one thing affecting the other, and the destruction is not limited, but has many aspects. Pure water sources are used for animals to drink and take bathes, leaving only the filthy water for us, and in insufficient quantity too.

We have abused technology and damaged the protective layer of the Earth's atmosphere. This has also affected our planet, the Earth is getting hotter. If it's hot then there is no rain, and no shading trees. Without rain, trees cannot grow, without trees, there is less rain. Therefore, the climate is becoming hotter and changing unpredictably. All these end up affecting our body, affecting our children, our business, our mental state and other aspects, and eventually affecting the moral state of our Earth. Without sufficient food, prices would soar, many people could not afford it. Business would be bad which would result in bankruptcy. People without money would resort to robbing and do evil deeds, or become homeless. They might even harm themselves and their families.

Everyone Is Responsible For Saving The Earth

We can change, change our world. We can save our world. We should rebuild our way of life - live a moral life, be a vegetarian, cultivate ourself mentally and physically and there will be immediate results. Our world will be changed at once! If everyone plants trees instead of cutting them down, then we would be saved very soon. Within ten years, the world would not be the same, not have so much problem. Truly there is hope, but only with the cooperation of everyone.

If a vegetarian diet can save the world, then everyone just has to sacrifice a little. The political and religious figures have great influence and authority over the people. They are free to use any means. They have television, radio and everything. They can talk about anything at any time. They should talk about good things, propagating a vegetarian diet and environmental protection. This is the right thing to do for ourselves and our next generation.

Note: This excerpt is from the lecture "The Way To Save The World From Doomsday" For the whole text please refer to News No.38.