Our Environment Is An Integrated Whole
by Ganoba
[Listen to Audio!]
 We have a very special relationship with our environment. The sooner we realize it, the better it is for all of us.
Life as we know it came into being because of the environment. Having given birth to it, it has nurtured and supported it and provided the playground for its evolution. It continues to do so in spite of the ravages caused to it by the modern man.
The environment in our living experience appears in five principle forms, namely the earth, water, air, space and energy. These five individually and in conjunction with the others take on millions of forms. For example, earth appears as dust, sand, boulders, hills and mountains; water appears as vapour, moisture, rain, streams, brooks, rivers, ponds, lakes, oceans, snow, glaciers etc.; energy appears as heat, light, sound, electricity, magnetism and so forth. Air is a subtle element and hence we can only experience it in its various forms and moods. Space is very subtle and so we sense it when it is missing or crowded out. Together they create this wonderful universe. Similarly life has taken on zillions of forms; the amphibians, the reptiles, the worms, the bacteria, the birds and beasts, the trees, the creepers, the bushes the algae and so forth.
Because of our reductionist ways of thinking and perception, we do not see that our environment is an integrated whole. We also do not see the oneness of life. We have cut it up into meaningless and lifeless shreds. We have also missed the wonderful relationship between life and the environment. Many people, particularly the indigenous ones, see the environment as the mother, playmate, lover or companion. They respect and love it, at times even worship it. Modern man sees it as a wild beast to be tamed, domesticated, mastered and then enslaved.
The environment, taken as a whole, is our primary resource for living, play and evolution. When we break it up it loses life and meaning. That is what has happened with money. It is not part of the natural environment. It is a creation of man. Progressively it has become more virtual and artificial. Money does not fulfill any of our needs, either of sustenance or evolution. But we have come to believe this myth. We are living with many other myths. A most pernicious one is the existence of the individual independent of the environment.
Let us identify all these modern day myths and drop them. Then we can live truly as human beings playing our rightful role in the natural scheme of things.
Latest Community Insights  |
Our Environment Is An Integrated Whole
What do you understand by our environment being an integrated whole? Can you share a personal experience where you saw the oneness of life? What modern day myths are you practicing dropping from your life so that you can live truly as a human being? |
| Ann wrote: The third paragraph disturbs me, however it could cause one to question themselves, by saying “Do I do that?” I agree with what he said about money, though I don’t think it should be demonized, but r… |
| david doane wrote: We are part of the environment, not apart from it. Our DNA and the DNA of a plant or animal are much more alike than different. As Deepak Chopra says, the air is my breath, the rivers and… |
| Kristin Pedemonti wrote: Our environment being an integrated whole means to me it is all interconnected and deserves to be honored and respected. I’ve experienced the oneness of life on many occasions, but several stan… |
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Editor’s note: Happy Holidays everyone! We hope that you are enjoying the holiday season and taking time to spread some love and kindness through your community. We’ve really enjoyed reading all the 21 day challenge posts and look forward to reading about all the different ways that kindness is blooming into the new year!
Sangha of Auspicious Companions 