Global Unity: Together in Saving Lives, Part 25 of a Multi-part Series

Since ancient times, drums were used not only as musical instruments but also tools to pass messages to places afar. The power of drumming mesmerizes us with its strong rhythms. It also delivers profound messages to our hearts. Let’s hear what Mr. Lee, our Association member from Hong Kong has to tell us with his Chinese drumming, “Spiritual Awakening.”

“(May I ask you to share more with us on how the vegan diet can benefit the environment?) Just now, I mentioned that the warming is caused because animals eat plants. Apart from its effects on the protective function of plants for the Earth, when we raise animals, they emit a lot of what we call “methane” as well. In fact, many people probably don’t know that the damage one particle of methane does to the ozone layer equals approximately the damage done by 21 particles of CO2. That’s what we commonly call global-warming potential. It means that if a lot of methane particles are generated, then of course it will affect the situation of global warming. Therefore, in fact, it doesn’t only affect the growth of plants, but also the environment. Meanwhile, while the livestock industry produces methane, it also affects the environment. So for the environment, it also has a dual destructive effect.

(Speaking of environmental protection, Professor Lin, Supreme Master Ching Hai, in addition to being a spiritual Teacher, an artist and a humanitarian, recently She has spared no effort and done a lot for environmental protection and Earth rescue as well. Could you also talk about your impression of Her?)

I think Supreme Master Ching Hai, from Her past charitable acts of caring for society to Her present charitable acts of caring for the whole world, I think She is worthy of people’s reverence and esteem. Actually, as we all say, we’re now living in one global village where there are hardly any divisions of areas. So I think, the most important thing in promoting such a movement to save the planet, like this is actually that we must be responsible for the next generation. That is not to let what our generation has done, like eating up a lot of the resources of the environment, affect the lives of the next generation. So, as a matter of fact, a lot of what we’re doing is really for our next generation. However, in the past, the actions of campaigns for asking the whole world to save the Earth or to mitigate climate warming were mostly empty words without actually putting them into very realistic action plans. I feel that Supreme Master Ching Hai is taking very practical actions to support an action plan like this, by directly teaching the public things that help vitalize the Earth and reduce climate warming. Those practical actions made me think that She deserves our high regard.”