Of the five elements in the story of life – Bhumi, the lithosphere; Jal, the hydrosphere; Vayu, the atmosphere; Gagan, the sky or cosmos; and Agni, the Sun – the first three belong to the Earth and the last two are extraterrestrial. While the terrestrial elements make up the matter of life, the non-terrestrial ones represent the vital cosmic energy imparting dynamism and consciousness to life.
Life originates from the environment through three phenomena of the biosphere: nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, and chemosynthesis. Nitrogen fixation leads to protein synthesis by vegetation. Photosynthesis infuses solar and other cosmic energies into life. This energy makes the matter work. These life processes, of course, are controlled by DNA. We attain our existence owing to these phenomena of life controlled by the DNA of our parents.
The well-being of the environment has a bearing on our well- being. Being the human face of the environment, we have to restore its health and integrity, and ensure the conservation of our environment, for our own health, happiness and sustainability.
