Sublimity: Pathways to Peace
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Being In Relationship with Nature When human activities, behaviours and attitudes come from a negative place they damage Nature. For instance, in no small measure does the act of war and aggression affect the natural environment. Historically people have not considered the impact of human activities whatever they might be on the natural environment. The attitude that man has dominion over the natural environment and that the natural environment exists to serve our needs runs deep. This has been the prevailing paradigm for centuries. Were our forefathers to have prefaced each action they were about to undertake with a thought to how it could affect Nature we would be in a different circumstance today. As a result of Nature being in crisis, we are more conscious today that Nature cannot handle or absorb anything we throw its way and that negative human activity, behaviour and attitudes reverberates throughout the natural environment. Focus of the Meditation That it becomes second nature for us to consider the question of how a particular action impacts the natural environment and more importantly that this heightened awareness affect decision-making in favour of protecting the natural environment. |
Meditation Reflection
Indeed too long has Nature taken third place so to speak without thought to its vitality or the impact of human activity upon its life force. To now shift this approach will require great effort for even though the view today is towards “sustainable development”, few are willing to make the types of fundamental changes necessary to truly live in harmony with Nature. Reversing the tide calls for placing Nature first as a mother places the needs of her child before her own.
While there is growing awareness of the need to address environmental damage, few are willing to change their forms of recreation, sources of pleasure and daily comforts to accommodate Nature. To be inconvenienced while respecting Nature is an attitude that is embraced by few.
Therefore, place your intentions towards global attitudinal shifts. Put forth your intentions towards a greater opening of loving kindness by the masses towards the natural environment. When each can put themselves in the shoes of the natural environment then can shifts occur. Imagine therefore that you are a fish, a flower, a squirrel, a river, a tree, a mountain. How does it feel to be a part of this existence from that vantage point?