Module 5: THE GMRC TEACHER AS AN AGENT OF NATION-BUILDING AND

SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT
Lesson 1A: Caring and Sharing for the Earth

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, the student must be able to:
▪ understand that others do not always understand what we say in the same way what
we mean;
▪ demonstrate awareness of one’s own ability in good communication through
compassionate living and
▪ internalize the value of caring for humans and the environment.

INTRODUCTION
A. BE COMPASSIONATE AND DO NO HARM
As a mother loves her one and only child, so shall you love the whole humanity. –
The Buddha

Our planet is incredibly gifted with resources that allow humans to survive. All that we
need in order to live are gifts from Mother Earth: the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water
we drink and the homes we run for cover. Unfortunately, instead of nurturing the planet that
nurtures us, humans have damaged the earth’s ability to sustain life. Numerous ecological
concerns now threaten the destruction of earth’s life support systems. (Castro & Galace)

ABSTRACTION
Compassion, in simple terms, refers to that quality which encompasses non- violence,
kindness, empathy and equanimity in the highest and purest form. It takes people out of their
pursuit of egoistic interests to open their eyes to the realities of the suffering of others around
them. It is the essence of being human.

Non-Violence

Non-violence is an integral active quality in compassionate living. It means to abstain from all
violent acts and motives. In a conflict, to be non-violent does not mean that you submit yourself
to unjust causes. There are many civilized and democratic ways of struggling against unjust
causes. Mahatma Gandhi demonstrated the power of non-violent action in his struggle for
freedom from the British Empire. He said that only cowards take arms. Non-violent activists
derive their power from truth, justice inner conviction and compassion.

Kindness

This is the state of mind that motivates a person to help and serve those who suffer. Kindness
transcends the ego that seeks reward, profit and benefits in return. You can be kind in all your
responses to other people by the way you think, talk and behave. Kindness naturally extends
to animals as well. Children learn their first lesson of kindness, by being kind to animals. When
children learn not to kill animals, they also learn not to kill human beings.

Consider the following principles of non-violence:

1. 'Hatred cannot be conquered by hatred. Hatred can only be conquered by compassion.'-

Lord Buddha

Good Manners and Right Conduct 1st Sem 2023-2024 LSCagande

2. 'If somebody slaps you on the left cheek turn your right cheek also.'- Jesus Christ
3. 'I respond to those who do well to me by goodness. I also respond to those who do evil to
me by goodness.'-Lao Tzu
4. If someone lives a life of non-violence, he need not perform other religious acts because
non-violent living itself is the highest form of being religious. Thirukkural, The Tamil
Instructional Book of Poetry
5. 'There is no such powerful weapon than Compassion.' -Mahatma Gandhi

Empathy

Empathy is an effective response of concern and tenderness to the joys and suffering
in others. With empathy you share the other person's feelings and experience it as if you have
entered into that person's inner world. Although in psychology it is used in a technical sense,
here, we can use it in a general and practical sense, to mean being sensitive, friendly, warm
and caring. Like compassion empathy encapsulates feelings not only for the fellow human
beings but also for animals and natural environment. Such qualities are necessary for the
survival of the human species.

Equanimity

Equanimity means maintaining a detached sense of calmness in mind and temper, in

face of stressful and provocative situations in life. It also includes being large hearted and
forgiving. The most effective way of fostering compassion in children is to provide opportunities
to experience it through action. Such actions are:

▪ Understanding (others)
▪ Feeling (for)
▪ Providing support/helping/serving
▪ Tolerating
▪ Expressing warmth
▪ Loving
▪ Caring/consoling/counselling/comforting
▪ Listening
▪ Respecting
▪ Giving
▪ Being friendly

This aims at developing these types of behavior in us in such a way that they could be
observed in our daily interactions with others. (Balasooriya, 2001)

Good Manners and Right Conduct 1st Sem 2023-2024 LSCagande