This gratitude for rain video is by one of my dharma brothers, David Nelson and friends. It it called Rain Gratitude Meditation and is totally appropriate for today, now that the hot weather is here and we did have some rain this week.
The extent of drought in California is so severe that it is causing farmers to give up thier land and leave their farms. One cattle raiser had to sell most of his stock just t make ends meet.
India has been so hard hit with drought that they are expressing gratitude for rain when it comes. But the situation is so bad there that four farmers a week are committing suicide. You can find out more about this in the video, Last Call at the Oasis.
The movie shows just how bad the fresh water situation is all over the world. I’ve only had a chance to watch the first 36 minutes, and it was packed with water problems all over the world.
In and around Las Vegas, Nevada, the people rely on the water in Lake Mead. The water levels there are falling by three feet per year and now the residents are trying to suck up the water from a small reservoir 250 miles away in Baker, Nevada, on of the last oases in Nevada.
Global warming has a lot to do with the drought situation. As the Earth’s temperature rises, the periods of drought get longer, the ice packs melt, and more desertification takes place. We are contributing to this problem by over watering our lawns and plants, flushing 6 gallons of water with just a little bit of urine, and leaving the water on while we wash ourselves, the dishes, and brush our teeth. Cutting back on these and other water waste could make a big difference.
Who lets all of this happen? We do. We let our greedy civil servants control the fresh water polices so that the big oil companies and big pharmaceutical companies can continue to rake in the money with the rest of the world is dying for thirst.
On the bright side, I still can enjoy a marvelous rain and I feel gratitude when it come. Getting a little wet from rain water my be one of the last things we will be able to enjoy. I enjoy my showers and washing my hair.
Now, more than ever, we must practice the fifth Mindfulness Training which states,
Aware of the suffering caused by unmindful consumption, I am committed to cultivate good health, both physical and mental, for myself, my family, and my society by practicing mindful eating, drinking, and consuming. I am committed to ingest only items that preserve peace, well-being, and joy in my body, in my consciousness, and in the collective body and consciousness of my family and society. I am determined not to use alcohol or any other intoxicant or to ingest foods or other items that contain toxins, such as certain TV programs, magazines, books, films, and conversations. I am aware that to damage my body or my consciousness with these poisons is to betray my ancestors, my parents, my society, and future generations. I will work to transform violence, fear, anger, and confusion in myself and in society by practicing a diet for myself and for society. I understand that a proper diet is crucial for self-transformation and for the transformation of society.
What are you willing to do to help over come the water shortage? What do you do to save water? How do you express your gratitude for rain?
