Sadhguru gets down to the nitty-gritty of the impending soil extinction, why we urgently need to act to prevent it, how each one of us can participate in bringing about long-term solutions, and what has been achieved so far. An excerpt from Sadhguru’s talk at the Save Soil event in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 2 September 2022.
Sadhguru: Why is there even a need today to talk about saving soil? How did such a situation arise? Knowingly or unknowingly, every one of us are part of this destruction that has happened. The only way to turn the situation around is that everyone becomes part of the solution.
This cannot be done by one person, one government, or one ministry. This has to become humanity’s mission because we are destroying the foundations of our existence. In our culture, we have always referred to soil as our mother. When we say mother, we are talking about the source of our life. But unfortunately, in the last few decades, we have started treating soil as a resource. Soil is the source of our life, not a resource we use.
But this is exactly what we have done. When you seek outside what is within you, you will destroy everything. In search of happiness, we have produced consequences that threaten the fundamentals of our lives. If you have children, it is intrinsic within you to want them to live better than you. But with such a wonderful intention, look at the world we are creating.
But this is exactly what we have done. When you seek outside what is within you, you will destroy everything. In search of happiness, we have produced consequences that threaten the fundamentals of our lives. If you have children, it is intrinsic within you to want them to live better than you. But with such a wonderful intention, look at the world we are creating.
By 2045, they are saying, there will be 40% less food. Once there are food shortages, our children cannot live well, whatever wealth, education, or anything else you have given them. These serious conditions are evolving very quickly. It is expected that by 2032, 3.5 billion people will be water stressed – that means daily drinking water will be a challenge. This is not alarmist philosophy – this is being spoken by very responsible scientists.
Sadhguru received a very warm welcome in Riyadh. He addressed an enthusiastic and highly engaged public gathering organized by the Embassy of India, Riyadh, answering questions of all kinds, and of course – talking about Soil.
Fortunately, in the last few months, soil has become part of the conversation. Many nations are beginning to unroll their own kind of soil policies. The United States has invested 8.5 billion dollars for soil regeneration and no till farming, which is a phenomenal step for them. The UK has invested some 1.3 billion dollars for cover crop subsidies. Germany has put in 4.5 billion dollars for a similar kind of soil regeneration process.
The EU has unfolded a consultative process to come up with the soil policy because there are so many nations which need to agree to that. And Caribbean nations have been very active with us. Guyana has given 100 square kilometers of land where they want us to demonstrate how this can be done. India has dedicated over 19,000 crore rupees for regenerating the soil in 13 river basins across the country, which will amount to 67% of India’s agricultural land. That is a huge step. China is unfolding their own soil policy.
So, the world is responding. But we must understand that in a democratic nation, you are the leaders. It is important that you do not think someone else is going to do it. Running a nation is always a complex situation. Most governments on the planet are trying to do things which will produce results within 5 years because not even in a single nation has ever 60% of the adult population stood up and said, “We are concerned about the long-term wellbeing of this nation. We are concerned about the future of our children.”
Sadhguru received a very warm welcome in Riyadh. He addressed an enthusiastic and highly engaged public gathering organized by the Embassy of India, Riyadh, answering questions of all kinds, and of course – talking about Soil.
Such a thing has never been expressed. All people ask for is, “Reduce 5 rupees on my gas price. Give me 1% discount on my income tax.” But no one is asking for the long-term wellbeing of the nation. It is time citizens of any mature nation stand up and ask for the long-term wellbeing of your country. This is very, very important.
If you do not do that, it is not going to happen. If you want the governments to invest in the long-term wellbeing of the nation, you should raise your voice. Your responsibility is not just to vote – your responsibility is your voice. And today, fortunately because of technology and social media platforms, you can sit at home and raise your voice. You do not have to go and stand on the street to do that.
Sadhguru received a very warm welcome in Riyadh. He addressed an enthusiastic and highly engaged public gathering organized by the Embassy of India, Riyadh, answering questions of all kinds, and of course – talking about Soil.
If you have any sense of love and responsibility in your heart, your phone is a powerhouse. If you are really committed, you can reach the entire world. If all of you get together, no one can stop you.
This is not a protest, this is not an agitation, this is not expressing our anger and resentment or blaming anyone. All of us have done it, knowingly or unknowingly. In the beginning of the 20th century, we were just 1.6 billion people; today, we are inching towards 8 billion. We have been able to feed this many people only because of chemicals and fertilizers. But at the same time, we have damaged the soil significantly. The time has come for us as a generation to turn this situation around.
Turning it around is not with fanatical ideas to ban fertilizers and chemicals. If you raise the organic content, the need for fertilizer will start decreasing naturally. We must be patient enough to do that. All of you must educate yourself about soil. Wherever you go, at least for 2–5 minutes, you must be able to speak with some sense about soil.
Without people’s support, this is not going to happen. Please make this happen. It is expected that by 2032, 1.3 billion people will migrate because of food and water shortages. Forced migrations bring untold suffering to human beings, especially to women and children. Let us not once again drive humanity in that direction. For the long-term wellbeing of any nation, basic food must grow in every country where people are. This is very, very important.
You are also soil – walking soil. This is a brief life. In this, how much mess – simply because we are forgetting the context of our existence. First of all, most human beings are not conscious that none of us are here forever. This body will become part of the soil. Once you are human, it is your privilege that you can do everything with yourself consciously. This is why Save Soil is under the banner of Conscious Planet.
Right now, human beings are suffering their own intelligence. Intelligence is the only solution we have, but we have turned it into a problem because we are not conscious. If you hold something very sharp in your hand, you must know how to hold it. If you are not conscious, it becomes very dangerous.
Without creating conscious human beings, there is no Conscious Planet. Without creating a Conscious Planet, there is no solution for anything because we are capable of making everything into a problem. So, let us create a Conscious Planet.
As a generation, we have this challenge of soil extinction in front of us, but we also have the privilege that we could be the generation that turns back from the brink of a disaster. We do not want to be the generation that walks into the disaster and cries about it. This is the time for us to stand up and turn this situation around. And it is not rocket science, nor does it take enormous financial outlays. It just needs the right direction and relentless commitment. That is all it takes. Let us make it happen.
