041-Insect Mortality - Buddhism in daily life

When I remember my youth, there used to be significantly more insects. More bees, more mosquitoes, more beetles, there was more of everything. A mindful approach to all living things requires that we also consider insects to be fully-fledged living beings, and that we protect them (if at all possible).

Insects are by far the most diverse animals, there are an incredible number of species. Some are beautiful and useful, others aggressive and annoying, in any case, the little animals are incredibly important for the entire ecosystem. They eat carrion and organic matter, they plow the soil, they are the food for the birds, they are almost at the top of the food chain. If insects are not doing well, then all animals are not doing well; insect mortality is progressing, the effects for us humans are felt everywhere, the little crawlers are extremely important for us humans. Almost all plant species need insects for pollination (e.g. apple trees), no insects, no fruits, the ecosystems will collapse. Yet still the majority of the population knows little to nothing about insect mortality.

In the last thirty years, the so-called biomass of flying insects has decreased by about eighty percent. These are alarming numbers, we are producing the next catastrophe for ourselves, and no one cares.

In our loveless concrete castles of the cities there is hardly any space left for insects, the monocultures on the fields are destroying the natural livelihood of the animals, we humans are approaching the issue without understanding. What we have to do is to offer the animals an environment, consciously create shelter and nesting places, do not remove the foliage properly, build a stone sculpture for them, just as we hang a birdhouse for birds, so also think of the insects.

It is also important that we feed ourselves regionally and with food produced without the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, preferably from the local farmer, from a part of that community, not from a faceless factory. This is how most organic farmers ensure that there is enough space for insects as well. Also important is to eat seasonally, what is Mother Nature offering in my region right now, without importing from Israel, Morocco or the other side of the world.

And what do you do if a fly sits on your apple pie in your apartment? Do you want to kill it, or do you take the time to bring "the beast" outside? How do you behave towards living creatures described as worthy of protection by the teacher of all teachers?

Do you live (mainly) vegetarian, do you protect the animals? If you buy meat then hopefully such, which is produced without mass animal husbandry?

Without insects we humans have soon nothing more to eat.

The way is the goal!

Looking at life in depth, it is possible to see clearly everything that is. Enslaved by nothing, it is possible to let go of all desires. The result is a life full of joy and peace. That is to live truly alone

- Buddha - honorary name of the Indian philosopher Siddhartha Gautama - 560 to 480 before the year zero

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