The Eco Learning Camp Foundation http://www.ecolearningcamp.org/ in Bandung, Indonesia was established to develop educational activities, conservation, research, community development, and a variety of other creativity-based activities.
The Foundation has non-formal education programs delivered through nature and environmental discourses, integrated with knowledge about the relevant science and culture to raise awareness that leads to active participation in protecting nature and its environment.
Image: Eco Camp
Shierly Megawati, the Chair of Eco Learning Camp Foundation runs the Eco Camp wholeheartedly with her team, welcoming thousands of individuals and groups to the camp. Aside from continuous fund raising for camp activities, there is always something creative that Shierly presents.
Image: Eco Camp
Recently she philosophically and physically showed us how to eternally appreciate nature, and the universe, through cup of tea. Here is her insight into a cup of tea.
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A cup of Tea is the Universe
Let us gaze into a warm cup of tea
Its beautiful color is golden brown
Image: Eco Camp
Imagine
This golden color object was once a seed
That would enter into the dark soil
It breaks and begins struggling to penetrate the ground
A cup of tea is hard work and partnerships
Minerals, soil, worms and microbes make seeds sprout into seedlings
The sun gives itself to help the seedlings
steadily grow into tea plants
Image: Dodo Hawe/123rf.com
Tea farmers nurture them
Until in the early morning mist when the tea plants
and their kindness are ready to be picked
by soft hands
A few juicy young leaves
The goodness of the universe,
processed, dried,
and brought by traders into the kitchen
Image; Lakov Kalinin/123rf.com
A cup of hot tea is a gathering of clouds
Changing themselves into drops of rainwater
Seeping into the ground,
purifying and emerging
to the surface of land into water springs
The life throughout the universe
Acquired and warmed
united with the young tea leaves
Enriched into a cup of tea
Image; Butsaya Ruengpen/123rf.com
Let us gaze again into a cup of tea
Feel its warmth
Inhale its delicious aroma
Smile for a cup of tea
Appreciate to the good of the universe
the goodness of the Creator
Slowly sip
Taste and feel all the senses
Afterwards,
look into the empty cup
Image: eco Camp
A cup of warm tea is gone
A cup of compassionate hot tea is within us
that will soon turn into us
And, now it is our duty
to continue the struggle
to spread kindness throughout the universe
Thank you universe.
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Contact Yayasan Sahabat Lingkungan Hidup (Eco Camp) to appreciate nature through a cup of tea
Jalan Pakar Barat No.3. Bandung 40399
West Java, Indonesia
Telephone +62 22 251 7644, +62 22 251 7647
Mobile +62 818 0953 0395
E-mail: eco.learningcamp@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.ecolearningcamp.org/