Of all the five elements, water is the closest metaphor for human life because we too are highly impressionable and degradable
Water is the driving force of all nature.” leonardo da Vinci’s words stand out so true today, isn’t itIJ We all know the importance of water in our lives. Can we even imagine a day without itIJ Gosh! The very thought is so frightening. Of all the five elements of nature, water is the most primary. It impacts human life at many levels and is provided to us in abundance by mother nature. Truly speaking, it is synonymous with life itself. And it is because of this reason that scientists, while looking for the traces of life in other planets, first look for signs of water. Even the earth can sustain so many life-forms because 70 per cent of its surface is covered with water, which is consumed directly or indirectly through the food chain and various life-supporting activities. Water bodies on this planet also shelter a large number of flora and fauna species that help maintain ecological balance. Besides, one of its most vital sustainable aspect is in the form of water cycle which transforms the salty seawater into clean water through rains and snowfall.
Unlike fire, which devastates everything that comes into its contact, water gets polluted when it gets in touch with soluble impurities. Hence, of all the five elements, water is the closest metaphor for human life, because like water, human beings are highly impressionable and degradable. They can become a deity or a demon while interacting with the environment. In the ‘golden age’, when human beings were chaste and innocent, their thoughts, words and mannerisms were within the bounds of the highest codes of conduct. As a result, all natural elements functioned with harmony and regulation. Rivers never crossed banks, rains never flooded lands and the sun, air and earth all gave plentiful resources to humankind. However, with increasing human greed and ego, there has been rampant exploitation of nature and its resources.
Today, the situation is so grave that in many areas people do not have access to clean drinking water; we have even started witnessing riots in the name of water. Those days are not far-off when war will be fought on this issue. Hence, it’s time we learnt from these warning signals of nature and changed our ways of living. Instead of a self-serving, reckless attitude that we have developed vis-à-vis nature, we should adopt lifestyles that support nature and help in sustaining its resources. We must not forget the fact that water is an element endowed with a great healing, cleansing and psychic value; hence, it has to be kept clean and healthy to its original state. likewise, we need to remember that if human mind is cleansed of all impurities, the outer environment will also become positive, nourishing and friendly, which will pave the way for a healthy and happy society.
The writer is a spiritual columnist