04.25.2025 We Are the Earth This past Tuesday, April 22nd, marked Earth Day. In the Northern Hemisphere, it coincides with the end of the first month of spring — a time when everything really begins to stir and awaken. Over the years, Earth Day has brought with it a mix of emotions for me. While my appreciation for the planet and love for the natural world never waver, I often feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the work required to protect it, and the creeping sense of dread that we’re not doing enough. This year, I spent Earth Day rock climbing in the Red River Gorge in Kentucky. Great rivers carve their way through sandstone cliffs, vast forests stretch in every direction, and waterfalls seem to appear around every bend. The climbing is steep and thrilling, a true outdoor playground. I spent a lot of time looking up, watching large birds glide over the canyons, and thinking to myself, “I can’t believe this place exists.” Throughout the trip, I felt incredibly small — but in a way that made me feel deeply connected to the earth. Looking up at the massive landscape made me feel no different than the tiny salamanders crawling over the rocks or the smooth stones resting in the river. As the late Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us, “The Earth is not just the environment we live in. We are the earth, and we are always carrying her within us.” Below are a few teachings that speak to our oneness with the earth — and how, by remembering that connection, we are naturally moved to protect this planet we call home. I hope these reflections offer you a sense of joyful smallness in the natural world this weekend. – Martine Panzica, assistant digital editor, Lion’s Roar Thich Nhat Hanh’s Love Letter to the Earth The earth is you. You are the earth. When you realize there is no separation, says the late Thich Nhat Hanh, you fall completely in love with this beautiful planet. You may be used to thinking of the earth as only the ground beneath your feet. But the water, the sea, the sky, and everything around us comes from the earth. Everything outside us and everything inside us come from the earth. We often forget that the planet we are living on has given us all the elements that make up our bodies. The water in our flesh, our bones, and all the microscopic cells inside our bodies all come from the earth and are part of the earth. The earth is not just the environment we live in. We are the earth and we are always carrying her within us. ADVERTISEMENT We Are Not Separate from the Earth Brother Phap Linh on the two truths we need to understand to solve the climate crisis. Looking into our own body, we find our ancestors—both genetic and spiritual. It’s our genetic and cultural inheritance that has to a very large extent determined how we speak, think, and act today. Our body contains all our human ancestors, but also all our more-than-human ancestors. Our body is an expression of the whole history of life on planet Earth. In fact, the entire history of the cosmos has given rise to this moment that we’re now living. And this very moment is the ground of the whole future unfolding of the cosmos. Looking deeply into the present, we discover the interconnection of past, present, and future—the interbeing of the three times. This is the view from the ultimate in the dimension of time. We could look at a tree and ask: Is it part of the historical or ultimate dimension? Science describes trees as efficient carbon-capture machines. They remove carbon dioxide from the air, cause no pollution, and also happen to be nice to look at. They’re efficient—offering shade, oxygen, fruits, and aesthetic satisfaction—but is that view complete? Could we be missing something by seeing trees only in terms of human utility? Vandana Shiva on Healing the Earth Through Oneness   In this powerful talk, Vandana Shiva calls for an expanded heart and mind to see the Earth as one interconnected family. Drawing from spiritual traditions and indigenous wisdom, Shiva highlights the vital role of small farmers and women in creating “Gardens of Hope” amidst crises like climate change, COVID-19, and economic despair. She reminds us of the urgent need to end the war against the Earth and each other, emphasizing the power of oneness and unity over division.   MORE FROM LION’S ROAR