ENVIRONMENT

Don't burn leaves, bury them

Mar 1, 2026 - 15:37
Mar 1, 2026 - 15:38
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Don't burn leaves, bury them

By Rev Dr K M George 

THE other day, while walking in the Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi with a friend of mine, I noticed a poster that read: “Do not burn the leaves. Bury them.”

This is, of course, a wise nature-friendly tip. Burning leaves naturally adds smoke and carbon dioxide to the already polluted atmosphere.

Delhiites already know the consequence of stubble burning in Punjab after every harvest.

Dead or alive leaves play a major role in the cycle of plant life. While living they keep chlorophyll for photosynthesis and nourish the plant.

After death the degenerating leaves create natural fertilizer for plants and trees. Both functions are integral to the life of the trees. So strictly speaking, we cannot draw any big contrast between life and death in the case of leaves.

In fact, this is true or all living organisms, including the human species. From a biological point of view, life is a cycle, and therefore no starting or end point in the circle.

Add to it the cyclic rhythm of the seasons, and the cosmic cycles of the sun, moon and stars . This phenomenon underlines the concept of history and time as cyclic. There is an eternal return. Birth and rebirth are in cyclic succession.

There is, of course, rewards for a life well lived and judgement that awaits evil doers . The biblical understanding of time and history as illustrated in Christianity and other Semitic traditions is more like an arrow, a straight line. Time never returns.

Therefore, the human ethical and moral responsibility to accomplish life truthfully according to the divine plan is very high.

Because there is a judgment at the end, and eternal heaven and hell are poised before us there is a certain urgency to live out the life in truth, hope and love.

Both these worldviews can be brought together for a better understanding of our world reality as in the case of leaves. They are born and they die, but both are integrally tied to each other serving the life of the tree.

As we almost finished our stroll, a sudden gust of wind stroked the trees. Yellow and orange-red leaves started falling. They, however, didn’t fall to ground in a straight line, but zigzagging and dancing all the way in a gentle fall to death.

God bless you.

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