Charity -
Founder Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev explains why we need to plant 114 million trees in India:
King Lion Media, publisher of the National Geographic Green magazine supplement, is proud to announce its new charity partnership with Project GreenHands, a massive tree planting and culture change initiative designed to reforest Tamil Nadu in Southern India, by educating and engaging every sector of society to save their environment.
After NGG publisher, Jarvis Smith, and his band The Phoenix Rose were invited to play a Project GreenHands fundraiser last year, a beautiful relationship was formed. Jarvis was so captivated by the work of the charity, he travelled out to India to see it first hand and was called-to-action by the tree planting initiative’s capacity for mass mobilisation and social change.
Project GreenHands (PGH) was founded by the Isha Foundation. Jarvis's publishing company King Lion Media is now raising funds and publicity for PGH through its various endeavours, including NGG, the magazine supplement.
In collaboration with greenhelpline, King Lion Media offer an online service for consumers to garner advice, compare estimates and switch to a green energy tariff, which could slash their energy bills by up to £169/year.
For every reader who switches to a green tariff, ten trees will be planted through PGH. Says Jarvis: “The switching is an opportunity for climate awareness and will hopefully engage more fundraising!”
But why choose PGH? Jarvis feels the charity works on a number of levels. Aside from the obvious environmental benefits of planting more trees, he feels the project has the potential to effect positive change on factors like education, health, spiritual practice and unity in the community.
He explains: “people bond with the saplings that PGH hands out as part of their education campaigns. Very quickly, they want more saplings, and through them become more plugged into the natural world. They let nature do the job of inspiring people and everything else just naturally unfolds from there.” Jarvis also recognizes the altruistic nature of the endeavour . He quotes their founder Sadhguru as saying: “Every society needs individuals who will go on planting mango trees without thinking whether they will get to eat the fruit or not."
Despite receiving the prestigious Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar award from Indian Government, and planting over 10 million trees in 1800 communities across the state of Tamil Nadu by the end of 2010, PGH needs more funding and support to realise its full potential.
With your help, PGH can continue its work focusing on the rehabilitation of barren lands and dwindling water tables, the recreation of self-sufficiency, the alleviation of malnutrition and the reintegration of agro-forestry into the heart of Indian agriculture. The team at King Lion Media will do everything it can to raise the profile of this initiative, ensuring that the charity goes from strength to strength.
More about Project GreenHands
PGH is a social mobilisation initiative that aims to enrol 100% of the population of Tamil Nadu to raise the green cover of the state back up to 33% by planting 114 million trees within 10 years. This is not forest creation to be managed by a few. It is an environmental revolution designed to raise the green cover of the entire state, bringing trees back into the lives of millions so that their increased relationship with the living world ensures on-going propagation, planting and protection of millions of trees.
The social strategy
Underpinning the success of PGH is an inclusive and compassionate social strategy designed to touch the heart of everyone that gets involved. The strategy is an invitation to:
- Think big: inspire people to rise to an audacious shared challenge
- Spread knowledge: educate to underpin appropriate action
- Give of yourself: invite generosity of spirit and the experience of selfless service
- Include everyone: enhance community, collaborate to transcend social divides,
- Be practical: find logical ways of changing behaviour that address the current issues
- Celebrate: find ways to include the element of joy in all activities, so that it spreads
- Engage with the natural world: get your hands dirty making a tangible difference
Achievements
- Over the New Year 2004/5, PGH was formed and 25,000 trees were planted in Tsunami devastated coastal areas of Tamil Nadu
- In 2006, 856,587 trees were planted by 256,289 people on a single day - giving the project a place in the Guinness Book of Records
- In 2010, PGH was awarded the highest environmental award in India by the Indian Central Government; The Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskar (for the year 2008)
- By the end of 2010, over 10 million saplings will have been grown in more than 427 nurseries and planted by 1800 rural communities and 3 main industrial cities
Our Appeal
The people of Tamil Nadu need to plant about 114 million trees within 10 years if they are to successfully reverse the desertification that threatens their lives and lands. They have a workforce of millions and through them access to land, but they need funds fast. This means they need our help.
Tropical trees absorb carbon up to 3 times as fast as those planted in temperate zones, so they represent a vital planetary carbon sink for all of us, as well as having significant social and environmental benefit for the people of Tamil Nadu. King Lion Media is calling you to join its effort in supporting PGH because increasing green cover is vital for all of us. Thank you for your care and contribution. You can visit the PGG website to help out.
The Inspiration
The inspiration behind the Isha Foundation’s humanitarian and environmental initiatives is Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev; Yogi, mystic and spiritual master ‘with a difference’. Delegate to the United Nations Millennium Peace Summit, a member of the World Council of Religious Leaders, invitee to the Australian Leadership Retreat, Tallberg Forum and the World Economic Forum at Davos in 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009, and the Indian Economic Summit 2005 & 2006, Sadhguru’s international presence and reputation is growing rapidly.
He inspires everyone to plant trees because nurturing saplings is something that even the poorest can do, whilst the rich and the resourceful have the ability to do much more towards increasing the green cover that will give the earth time to recover from our excessive carbon emissions.
Sadhguru: The Man
Originally from Mysore, in Karnataka district, India, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev studied yogic practices and eventually graduated with a degree from Mysore University.
In his 20’s he was enlightened while meditating in the Chamundi hills of south India. He sat on a rock with his eyes wide open and had an out of body experience. He’s described it as feeling as if he was not in his body anymore, rather spread out everywhere, in the rocks, in the trees, in the earth. By the time he came back to his body it was evening.
This changed everything for him as he decided to dedicate his entire life to sharing those experiences with others.
In 1992 he founded the Isha Yoga Centre and Ashram in the foothills of Venilangiri Mountains, near Coimbatore. The Isha Foundation has implemented several large-scale projects including education, health and wellbeing, sports, community outreach, peace and the environment in the form of Project GreenHands.
He can incorporate science and 21st century ideas into his self-transformation because he doesn’t belong to a particular tradition.
Sadhguru has a vision and understanding of modern social, economic and ecological issues. He has spoken on World Economic Forum panels and served as a delegate to the United Nations Millennium Peace Summit and World Peace Congress. He is a well-known public figure and regularly draws crowds of more than 300,000 people for his talks and ‘sathsangs’ (group meditation).
JoWood goes
Jo Wood’s second visit to India would be nothing like her first. The last time she had set foot on Indian soil it was for her ex-husband’s rock music tour.
This time would be to fulfill an extraordinary environmental and spiritual journey.
Every year thousands of people from different religions travel to Mount Kailash in Tibet in the hope that walking around it will bring them good fortune.
Thanks to National Geographic Green’s publisher Jarvis Smith Jo was able to make this once in a lifetime trip with the guru that so many pilgrims worship by her side.
Guru Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev is founder of wellbeing organisation, the Isha Foundation but is equally interested in educating people about the environment and saving the planet. He has already planted 14 million trees as part of his environment initiative Project GreenHands.
Jo was invited to learn about Sadhguru’s Project GreenHands in India before making the Pilgrimage with him to Tibet.
The Diary
Sunday 1st August: India bound
After a long flight Jo and Emily, her brand manager for Jo Wood Organics, arrived in Delhi.
Emily: “The Indian heat hit us straightaway. We killed time for our domestic flight by reading Indian Vogue and people watching. We saw a great t-shirt with the words ‘Good boys go to heaven, bad boys go to London,’ which Jo promptly changed to girls.”
Monday 2nd August: Travel Day
After a long day, they arrived at Coimbatore, the second largest city in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Kanwai, one of the Isha Foundation’s UK representatives met them at the airport and accompanied them for the rest of their journey.
Emily: “We were tired, it had been a long day but Kanwai’s smiling face was waiting for us.”
Tuesday 3rd August: Project GreenHands Retreat
They then spent three days at the Isha Foundation’s headquarters, known as the ashram.
Emily: “It was at the base of the Velliangiri hills and while we were there the tops were covered by cloud making for a dramatic and beautiful setting.”
After breakfast they were taken on a tour around Sadhguru’s retreat. There was a rejuvenation centre, temples, meditation halls and grounds.
Jo: “My favourite place was the Theerthankund – a huge building where the water flowed into a pool with a sphere in the middle and mercury in it to rejuvenate and balance the body.”
Emily: “At the Dhyanalinga temple we went to a sound offering. We were given pink lotus flowers to offer as we entered and we sat cross-legged on the floor with our eyes closed. Some chanting started and it was so peaceful. I totally went into the moment and managed to keep my eyes shut throughout.”
Sadhuguru felt it essential that Jo and Emily see for themselves the devastating effects of climate change in the Tamil Nadu district. They visited a coconut graveyard where the coconut trees had died and snapped in half. The well hole that used to go down 900 feet was dry and the coconut trees short root’s couldn’t draw any water from the soil.
Sadhguru set up the Project GreenHands initiative because of the dramatic impact of climate change in the area. He wants to plant 114 million trees throughout the district and to make it a beacon of proactive, environmental responsibility.
Emily: “Project GreenHands aims to educate the farmers about climate change and how switching to organic farming can be profitable for both income and the earth.”
Jo: “I was blown away with what Sadhguru has achieved. We saw what can only be called a tree graveyard, visited a school, planted trees and visited a Rural Rejuvenation mobile health unit.”
But Sadhguru’s Isha Foundation takes internal wellbeing just as seriously as external action to save the environment.
Emily: “The Ayuvedic treatments we had at the Rejuvenation Centre were really tough. We had to wear a funny sumo wrestler style thong and were covered in oil. Two people work on you and your head gets pummeled, scratched and slapped but at the end of it we felt great.”
Friday 6th August: Kathmandu
For the next part of their journey they had to leave the Isha Foundation and travel from the South to the North in Kathmandu.
Jo: “From the air Kathmandu looked lush and the mountains looked like green velvet. But it was not so green in the city. It was a mad mix of motorbikes, cars and plastic. With ancient cities and towns surrounding it, Kathmandu is a fantastic place with buildings that have been there for thousands of years.”
Sadhguru asked them to accompany him on the golf course where they discussed family and the meaning of life.
Emily: “How surreal, golf with a guru in Kathmandu with the Himalayas in the distance, now that doesn’t happen every day but then it was no normal trip.”
Later Sadhguru invited them to a dinner and a ‘Sathsang’, which is a talk Sadhguru gives to people who are about to leave on their pilgrimage.
Jo: “It was amazing to see the devotion from the Indian people for Sadhguru.”
Saturday 7th August – Monday 9th August: Kathmundu
Over the next few days they prepared for their pilgrimage that would take them to Mount Kailash in Tibet.
Emily: “About 600 people in total made the pilgrimage over the three weeks in Nepal and Sadhguru joined them at one stage of the journey.”
Tuesday 10th August- Wednesday 11th August: Tibet
Jo and Emily were lucky enough to have Sadhguru for the entire trip and he even insisted on driving them to the Chinese border at ‘Friendship Bridge’ and into Tibet.
Armed with altitude sickness pills, a backpack and sleeping bag, the real adventure had finally begun.
Jo: “First stop on our three day drive was Zhang Mu a small town high in the hills, this town was a mixture of Chinese and Tibetan culture. To see the traditional Tibetans was fabulous. They were like Red Indians, the men had hair plaited high on their head and I really did feel like I was a long way from home.”
Thursday 12th August: Saga
On the second day of the drive they stopped in a new Chinese town called Saga, which had been built around a Tibetan settlement.
Jo: “All along the way, Sadhguru would talk about the country and we could see the new road being built by the Tibetans.”
The drive took them through rivers, dust storms, mud, and rain, as they climbed higher into the mountains.
Friday 13th August: Saga to Lake Manasarovar
Emily: “An hour or so before we reached lake Manasarovar, Sadhguru said we must remain silent to get our minds into the pilgrimage. It is the highest freshwater lake in the world and you can see Mount Kailash from its banks.”
Jo: “We stopped the cars at our first glimpse of the lake and saw Sadhguru overcome with emotion, tears streaming down his face. This truly was a spiritual lake and I was so moved.”
Monday 16th August: Day at the lake
On the last day Sadhguru did a process, which combines meditation, chanting, breathing and putting water on people’s heads. It took place at the edge of the lake on about 100 people and those that wished could immerse themselves in the lake.
Jo: “I was so cold I only went up to my knees. This lake is very spiritual. If you are very lucky, in the early morning you can see lights and beings coming out of it.”
The final and key part of the journey would take them to their spiritual destination, Mount Kailash. It is here that Hindus believe Lord Shiva, the destroyer of evil and sorrow left his body, energy and teachings. But people from all religions make the pilgrimage to the Mountain.
Emily: “Some pilgrims complete the final part on their hands and knees as the ground is considered to be so sacred they don’t want to be insulting and tread on it”
After an hour’s drive towards the mountain the group set off on foot with a porter.
Jo: “My girl was a 15 year old called Cheeky. She looked so young and small I was worried she wouldn’t be able to carry my backpack up to 18,000 feet, but she did it with ease.”
Emily: “Ahead was a rocky climb and we had no idea how long or tough it would be. We were surrounded by sheer rock faces and felt very small making small steps ahead. The mountain was breathtaking. It was dark grey in colour, covered in snow and surrounded by a moonscape environment, which didn’t seem real. ”
They walked through hail, rain, wind and sun. After four hours they saw Holy Mount Kailash and an hour later they reached the base camp hotel.
Tuesday 17th August: Mount Kailash
Jo: “I spent the day with the yaks and Mount Kailash at the hotel while Sadhguru spent most of it in deep meditation. It was fascinating. I did walk about the hill a bit and spent a quiet hour in front of Kailash but my meditation is nothing compared to Sadhguru’s.”
Wednesday 18th August: Climb
After a light breakfast, they set off on the last and hardest part of the climb.
Jo: “The air was so thin it was a struggle to walk up and I did feel queasy at one point. We made it to the clearing and gathered around Sadhguru and here he did another process to pass on his energy to everyone. There was music and singing by his musicians, The Sounds of Isha.”
Emily: “Jo literally flew back down the mountain to base and she had a big hug waiting for me. It was then that we started the long journey home.”
Tuesday 24th August: Homeward Bound
Emily: “I felt energised and ready to come back on our last day. Lots had been going on while I was away and I felt this journey had given me the right attitude to face life’s challenges and bumps in the road head on.”
Jo: “The whole trip was fascinating and I loved being part of it.”
To find out more about Project GreenHands visit projectgreenhands.org. To find out more about the Isha Foundation and Mount Kailash Pilgrimage visit ishafoundation.org.