Just listened to an interview with Brian Swimme (http://evolutionaryspirituality.com/audios/ third from bottom). Each paragraph is an idea that stands alone, though the first two are related a bit.
He makes an interesting point about the mental models (or lenses) we use to take in and interact with the world. He notes that in our green movement we talk about wanting to "conserve resources," and points out that with an attitude of "those are resources" towards other life (animals, plants, minerals..), we are interfacing with those elements from an elevated position. That is, those things are there to serve us, they are our resources to be consumed... we just have to manage them.
He goes on to highlight that although we think of ourselves as very different from other life (and even other humans, with individualism), the science of genetics tells us that we're basically the same (our genes are) as all life. Yes, we're almost identical with a chimp, but we're also pretty genetically similar to a carrot, or a clump of broccoli. Something to appreciate.
Two more things...
If we use our industrial minds to shape the future, we'll colonize other planets, experiment with genetic modification, seek more, and never be happy with what we have. This mind will not lead to a sustainable world (or society).
Practice gratitude. Learn about life, evolution, and how incredible it is that we are alive. Reflect on that daily. We are miracles. Nature, every piece of it, is a miracle. The universe is a miracle. He said, "It's completely astonishing that I exist."
Amen... I like this line of thinking, you gotta get right before you can project it out.
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