LEAD MAGAZINE | 2019
back to their huts in the village. The forest is
dying – the hillsides stripped of their vegetation
– the rains rush down the bare slopes taking the
topsoil away – eroding – not having a moment
to soak into the earth – to replenish the water of
our Mother. And I cry.
The children hold out their grubby hands on
the train station – and are pushed away by the
crowds. They shepherd each other along – a 6
year old the carer of the 3 year old – where is the
mother? And I cry.
What is all this crying – what is the use of it? What
is it about ? Sometimes I am crying at the least
trigger – a glimpse of a beggar – the sight of a
woman washing her ragged clothes in the water
scavenged from a broken pipe on the road – next
to the rushing traffic. Pounding her wash on a
stone, to some semblance of cleanliness – to be
hung over the roadside posts to dry in the dust
and dirt of the passing cars and trucks. And I cry.
One day I receive a gift – I am listening to a
podcast by Andrew Harvey – teacher and spiritual
activisit. I am on a train – jammed between
hundreds of people – no chance of finding a seat
– at least I shan’t fall as the crowd is too great
– and I listen to Andrew on my headphones. He
says: “In order for you to really see, your heart
must be broken. Unless your heart is broken
you will not change.” And suddenly I know why
I am crying – what the tears are all about .. my
heart is breaking open. And all I have to do is
allow it. Allow my heart to break so that the veils
can be stripped from my being and my eyes and
I can see what is really happening around me.
And as I begin to see the tears still come – but
now I know what I have to do. I am no longer
living for myself – but now I am living for the
Earth and those who’s lives are so precariously
balanced between life and death. And not only
for the people, but also for the nature – for the
water flowing between the banks of garbage, for
the trees in danger of being slashed and cut for
firewood. Now my eyes are opened. I can’t close
them any more. I cannot ‘unsee’ what I have
been privileged to see. Now I have to act. broken are our eyes truly opened. And when our
eyes are opened we see what is ours to do. Then
and only then can we turn the tide of this gallop
toward extinction into a river flowing clear to the
ocean of freedom.
This is the ‘why’ – here is the ‘why’ – because it is
mine to do .. I cannot see the suffering and the
pain and the depth of destruction of our land
and not do something – anything – to change
the flow of sorrow. “What can one person do?”
– I ask – and many ask the same question. This
bit.. this piece, this that is mine to do. And as the
story grows and becomes my life, I am pushed to
share it .. to write it, to speak it .. to stand up for
what I know.. to shout from the rooftop that it is
time – it is time to act – it is time to break open
our hearts and see. For only when our hearts are So a TED talk.. why not – if sharing my ‘why’ in
this way can open the ‘why’ for even one other
person – then that is mine to do!
Shazar has lived and worked in India for much
of the past ten years where she has had
direct experience working with local people in
villages and farms giving access to water for
their crops and livelihood. She is passionate
about creating new paradigms of working
together to achieve a healthy planet and
respect for all our human family. These days
Shazar is focused on spreading awareness of
the essential need to care for our water and
her message creates powerful interest.
She has play a crucial role in saving farmer
lives and rebuilding communities through
supplying abundant year round water
supplies. Shazar believes that access to clean
water is crucial for our survival and is a basic
human right. Her Water Harvest Foundation
is working on rain water harvesting and the
restoration of ground water. All water/rivers
should be given the status of a living entity
with full legal rights. In the past ten years,
she has volunteered first with the Shikshan
It is no longer a choice – no longer this or that –
it is simply mine to do. The way is clear.
I put my foot on the path – and the path opens
before me.
Shazar Robinson
Gram Shelter for Children in Maharasthra and
currently in Karnataka with Sankalpa Rural
Development Society.
Shazar’s background is that of a health
professional educating people to take back
responsibility for their health and well-
being and assisting others to reach their full
potential in all ways. She does web design and
maintenance, and specializes in promoting
inspiring projects. As an international speaker,
she educates audiences on water, and ignite
their interest in setting their feet on their own
path of purpose. Shazar is also active as a blog
writer, journey organizer and spiritual guide. .
Join Shazar to India in October 2019 for an
eco-sustainability tour like no other!
[email protected]
www.shazarrobinson.com
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