Children, delegates from nearly every nation are gathered in Antalya, Turkey, for COP31, the UN climate conference, to seek solutions for the crisis humankind faces. Our university has sent two UNESCO Chairs, Dr. Maneesha V. Ramesh and Dr. Raghu Raman, to share research and ideas. I pray their efforts bear fruit. Yet the climate that most needs to change is one we refuse to see.
At this juncture, with more than a quarter of this century completed, what is the state of our world? Close your eyes and place your finger on a map. Now open your eyes and see what continent and nation it landed upon. Wherever it is, find out if that place is peaceful and free from conflict.
Is there enough drinking water and food to fulfil the thirst and hunger of everyone? Is there a roof over every head? And clothes to wear? Is timely healthcare available for everyone? Are the women and children safe?
Everyone will know the answer without me saying it. The only difference is that, while the rich cry surrounded by luxury, the poor cry sitting on a broken chair under a leaky roof.
The world we live in has undergone countless changes. Every living and non-living being is in a process of change. At present, the wheel of change is taking us in a harrowing direction. When a disaster or event impacts the world on a global scale, we should view it as the karma of the cumulative actions of humankind. Each and every one of us bears a degree of responsibility.
For example, if a person drowns near the shore or way out in the ocean, we simply say he drowned at sea. We do not put the blame on a specific part of the ocean; the entire ocean is viewed as responsible. To build a better tomorrow for our children, each one of us needs to shoulder our share of responsibility.
Long ago, forests covered much of the world, and God dwelt within every human heart. The trees flourished around the people, and the Divine flourished within. Now the forests have been cut down, and a tangled wilderness has grown inside us, pushing God out. Our divine qualities are fading, and demonic ones are taking their place.
One thing is clear: if we want a lasting solution to the atrocities humankind is facing today, and will have to face in the future, we should be willing to change our internal climate. What is happening in the external environment-be it natural disasters or global warming-is but a reflection of the harsh climate in our minds. No one wants to serve; everyone wants to lead, and that too is based on fear and a need for control.
It is only when we get a few blows in life that we learn to look within. It is when we experience tragedy that we begin the quest to transcend sorrow. Viewing things from this perspective, we realise that the experiences we once considered negative are not really so. We can turn them into lessons that awaken us to the true purpose of human life, realising the Divine that dwells in all of creation.
If we focus on fulfilling our needs rather than our desires, we can make this Earth a heaven. Think of a beautiful, flowering garden. Many children are in the garden, running, laughing and joyfully playing. Butterflies flutter among the flowers, happily drinking nectar. I pray that the world becomes like this beautiful and peaceful garden, all people all over the world living joyfully.
Everyone would get their rightful share. People do not have to give away everything they own to achieve this; they only have to give a little of their share. If we do this, we will not be isolated islands, alienated from each other. We will become links in the chain of life.
Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, known simply as Amma, is a spiritual master and humanitarian who has given darshan in the form of a motherly embrace to more than 4 crore people around the world. She is Chancellor of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, a multi-disciplinary, compassion-driven research university with 10 campuses across India. It holds an A++ grade from NAAC and was ranked eighth among universities in NIRF 2025; Views presented are personal.