Earth Day in its modern form was initiated by the Honorable Gaylord Nelson, a United States senator from Wisconsin, who strived to raise awareness and gather political support for the environmental issues of the day. The first Earth Day was held on 22nd April 1970 in the U.S. with more than 20 million Americans participating. Nowadays, Earth Day continues to be observed internationally on the 22nd of April each year by more than 500 million people in 192 countries worldwide. It is a day on which people voice and address concerns about environmental issues, with the hope of making this world a better place.
At Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Earth Day is observed in the spiritual context as we believe that all types of problems on earth, whether environmental, political, economic, or social, stem from the polluted human mind. It is believed that through this polluted mind all sorts of problems are generated on this planet. In order to rectify these problems, we have to tackle them at the root cause, which begins at the mind. Therefore, we take this opportunity to promote spiritual values, moral standards, meditation, and ethics among humankind.
Cleanse the Mind, Cleanse the World
In order to cleanse and safeguard the world in a sustainable manner, we must start by purifying the mind. Once the mind is purified, we can instill virtues in people and motivate them to perform only wholesome deeds. As a consequence, they will not have the desire to harm others or the willingness to damage the environment.
The best tool for purifying the mind is the practice of meditation. Meditation allows our mind to enter a state of calmness and liberate us from greed, anger and hatred. Furthermore, a calm and still mind is a state conducive for generating the pure energy that can be used to purify the world. As more and more people meditate and reach this mental calmness, the unification of their powerful minds is able to create incredible amount of positive energy that will benefit both the practitioners and those around them. Such collective energy can even lead to the reduction of disasters and other calamities on earth.
Schedule for Earth Day
08.30 Morning Chanting
09.30 Morning Meditation
10.30 Presentation of Funds to support teachers in the four southern provinces of Thailand
11.00 Midday Meal Offering to the Monastic Community
13.30 Afternoon Meditation
14.00 Ceremony of Great Offerings to about 30,000 Buddhist temples throughout Thailand, including the 323 Buddhist temples in the four southern provinces
17.30 Ceremony of driving the final pile for Boonraksa Medical Center.
Virtues of Offering Food and Requisites to the Monastic Community
- Longevity – enjoy good health and a long lifespan
- Good complexion – possess fine and radiant complexion that leads to opportunities and wealth
- Happiness of body and mind – being cheerful, happy and joyous at all times
- Vigor – possess tremendous strength and is well respected by everyone
- Wisdom – be endowed with penetrating knowledge in every branch of the arts and sciences
- When one’s mind is removed of miserliness, accruing good deeds in fertile fields of merit
- Be loved and respected by all human and deity
- Be well received everywhere one goes
- Perseverance – possess boundless willpower to pursue the Perfections
For more information, please contact The Dhammakaya Meditation Centre nearest you or Call (662) 831-1000
