Dear Envirocare Coordinators, Go Green Champions and Eco Explorers,

This month, we remind ourselves of the importance of devotion-filled human efforts to: overcome the pulls of the mundane world and place a ceiling on desires; aspire for an eco-spiritual life lived in harmony with Nature; and yearn for satwic qualities to eventually transcend the human experience. 

Every object (sun, moon, rivers, trees and all of God’s creations) in Nature performs its specific function ceaselessly. None can plumb the depths of Nature’s mystery as the secret of creation is known only to the Creator.

However, Nature welcomes and supports our earnest and persistent endeavors to respect her and live in harmony with her majesty. We should continue until we reach our destination. Ultimately, we can rise to the heights of supreme wisdom and realize that man, Nature, and God are One. 

Coconut (cocos nucifera L.)¹, a member of the palm tree family, is the earliest plantation crop domesticated in Sri Lanka, in fact since the 8th century  (King  Agbo’s era  at the  Anuradhapura  Kingdom). All plants in Nature have unique characteristics and so does this one. It provides food, water, shelter and much more. 

The tropical climate of the island country of Sri Lanka is suitable for coconuts to germinate, mature into coconut palms, and start fruiting within a few years. 

The coconut is versatile and the kernel, coconut water and coconut sap (a product of coconut flower) provide a rich ingredient for many recipes. This highly nutrient-dense edible delicacy appeases hunger and quenches the thirst of thousands of people in the villages of Sri Lanka. 

Countless culinary and cosmetic uses exist for its coconut milk and oil. The husk of the coconut is strong due to its fibrous texture. It is used to make rope, brushes, upholstery padding and can be used as a source of fuel. The fronds and leaves make effective brooms, and the trunk of the coconut palm is useful in building such structures as huts, bridges and canoes. The roots can be used to make dye and they also have medicinal uses.²

A study conducted in 2016 by the Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka (CRISL) researched the uses of this predominant crop and quantitatively analyzed that Sri Lanka produces around 2,800 million nuts annually and is self-sufficient; local  consumption  is  only  around  2,200 million  nuts / year.³ However, the emerging population is consuming more and this creates the need to cultivate more coconut palms. Certainly, these palms can be sustained for more than 60 years⁴ and be cherished by the future generations while nourishing Mother Earth. 

“A coconut has three constituents. The outermost constituent is the hard fibrous cover. Inside it is a very hard shell. Inside the shell is the pure copra. To remove the fiber, you need a sharp knife. To break the shell, you require a stone or some other hard instrument. After breaking the shell, you get at the pure white kernel. 

The symbolism behind the offering of the coconut should be properly understood. Our body itself is like a coconut. The outer body made up of the three gunas is comparable to the fibrous covering of the coconut, it is the gross body. The subtle body, which constitutes Avidya or ignorance of the Real, is comparable to the hard shell of the coconut. To remove the fiber of the physical body, you need Vairagya or detachment. The subtle body represents the mental process. To eliminate the limitations of this mental process, you have to engage yourself in good deeds and entertain good thoughts.” – Sri Sathya Sai Baba, March 17, 1991

“Transmuting humanity into divinity is the task allotted to humans; his thought, word and deed are instruments for this unavoidable destiny. By unremitting practice, this has to be achieved.” – Sri Sathya Sai Baba, October 2, 1968

The Northern Region of Sri Sathya Sai International Organization of Sri Lanka, Zone 4, initiated the plantation of more than 1,350 tree saplings across the northern region of Sri Lanka in November 2020. The tree saplings were planted across several villages between Mannar and Jaffna Peninsula. At the very onset, 300 families in the community of Thevanpitty in Mannar received coconut saplings. Approximately 900 coconut saplings were distributed and are thriving in the organically cultivated land of Sri Lanka. 

The Sri Lankan Sai volunteers planted some coconut palm saplings in the yard of Thevanpitty Primary School and Vellankulam Government Tamil Mixed Secondary School. As the plants grow, its green foliage beautifies the village and the school community.

Coconut trees not only generate food but also income that sustains villagers’ livelihoods. As the plantation project progressed into phase II, intercropping (growing multiple crops in proximity at the same time) was promoted to diversify the farmers’ sources of income.

A total of 450 fruit saplings, consisting of mango, coconut and lime saplings, were distributed among 150 households, the Kevil Primary School, and a community center, all located in the locality of Kevil Muliyan in Jaffna District. Each sapling was nurtured with love, awaiting to reap a bounteous harvest.

WATCH and read the associated article HERE to explore more on trees’ spiritual and ecological roles.
VISIT the Environmental Sustainability Hub for more insights, go green tips and resources

With Sai Love and Care,

Environmental Sustainability Committee 

Sri Sathya Sai International Organization

¹ Oscar K. Moore. “The Coconut Palm: Mankind’s Greatest Provider in the Tropics.” Economic Botany, vol. 2, no. 2, New York Botanical Garden Press, 1948, pp. 119–44,

² SFGATE Newsletter: Coconut Palm Tree Information 

³ Meegahakumbura, Muditha & Perera, Chandrika & Perera, Lalith. (2016). RESEARCH TOWARDS FUTURE PROSPERITY IN COCONUT INDUSTRY IN SRI LANKA. 

⁴ Manual on Standardized Research Techniques in Coconut Breeding, edited by G.A. Santos, P.A. Batugal, A. Othman, L. Baudouin and J.P. Labouisse