"The forest is a peculiar organism of unlimited kindness and benevolence that makes no demands for its sustenance and extends generously the products of its life activity; it provides protection to all beings offering shade even to the axeman who destroys it."
Guatama Buddha, 525 BC
In the community of living things we call the forest, the noblest member is the tree. For over 400 million years, trees have flourished on this earth.
Although connected to the forests in every aspect of our being – physical, emotional, and spiritual-, out of ignorance and greed, we have pursued a dangerous path of deforestation, leaving lifeless deserts in our tracks.
To change this destructive course, we must truly understand the vital importance of trees and deeply appreciate their existence, and then take the necessary steps to preserve our forests and, wherever we can, plant new trees.
We can be "human shields" for the forests with our hearts, minds, and actions.
Ava Orphanoudakis