Human health, traditionally so dependent on water and centered around its sources, is not only threatened by unnatural living, but also by the degeneration of the environment.
Human society of ages ago lived a water centered life, respectful to the power of waves, grateful for abundant rains. In the modern environment of greed and exploitation, it is not the human beings but industries which suck up the rivers, canals, lakes and ponds in an unquenchable thirst for water.
For their personal care, human beings have started tap the only other source available for them – ground water. In fact even the industry in different parts of the world now relies on ground water because its traditional sources are either too polluted or have dried up. Yet the earth needs the same ground water to keep its balance and green color.
The over all pollution of the environment and the drying up of the earth reflect the inner human condition of toxification of the body and lack of water. To restore this may take centuries.
With the pollution of river, ground water tables falling rapidly and dams and lakes not enough to supply agriculture and industry, the very existence of many is at stake. We can truly say the earth is facing a gobal water crisis.
Shrii P. R. Sarkar who gave so much wisdom regarding the preservation of sentient health provided also a system of water management to ensure sufficient water for the survival and health of the entire world population.
According to him “….. the only solution is to rely on rainwater. We must collect the rainwater, develop the science of making artificial rain and bring the rain clouds from their place over the ocean onto the land.”
Also according to him, every drop of water should not go to the ocean before it has been utilized several times.
Inspired by his ideas, a global project for the practical education on water preservation was started in one of the driest part of India – Purulia, West Bengal. This project is called “Ananda Nagar” or “The City of Bliss”.
In his plans for this ideal community more than 700 pools and lakes are to be dug. Some of these have already been constructed with excellent result and neighbouring people are also benefiting greatly from the collected rainwater.
The special techniques of Sarkar’s preservation is a natural method of stopping evaporation by planting different varieties of plants, shrubs and trees by the lake side, in the water and on the water surface. The lakes and ponds are to be small, which prevents excessive evaporation. They should be located in locations where rainwater flows naturally. To avoid accidents and drowning, the ponds should not be deeper than five feet, except where the climate is too dry. In those places ponds can be made up to ten feet deep. To prevent seepage through the soil, the bottom of a newly constructed pond should be spread with lake bed soil from other ponds or lakes.
Sarkar’s choice of water preserving plants can be seen in the following charts. To maintain the water level, fish are helpful because their presence will complete the ecological cycle of water, plants, birds and insects.
Hundreds of experimental centers have been started around the globe following the model of Ananda Nagar. Most of them are in different stages of development, but all aim to reflect Sarkar’s vision. Some examples:
Source: "Sentient Health: Happy and Holy Life through Water" by Ac. Jyotirishananda Avt.
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"Human beings have still not been able to form a human society, and have still not learned to move with the spirit of a pilgrim. Although many small groups, motivated by self-interest, work together in particular situations, not even a small fraction of their work is done with a broader social motive. By strict definition, shall we have to declare that each small family unit is a society in itself? If going ahead in mutual adjustment only out of narrow self-interest or momentary self-seeking is called society, then in such a society, no provision can be made for the disabled, the diseased or the helpless, because in most cases nobody can benefit from them in any way... in that case there always remains the possibility of some people getting isolated from the collective. All human beings must attach themselves to others by the common bond of love and march forward hand in hand; then only will I proclaim it a society." |