[EcoDharma] ACTIVE HOPE - Chapter Five

[Heiso]

Hi everyone,

I'm sorry I've not been around much to join you over the last month or so, I've had an incredibly busy period at work but hopefully things have eased off a little and I'll now have a bit more time to contribute to this group and the wider sangha.

We are now entering part 2 of the book which kicks off with Chapter 5, 'A Wider Sense of Self'.

In this chapter we are reminded of how the Na'vi view our interconnected world but how we as individuals often feel isolated and powerless to take on the great task of talking the environmental crisis alone. Following a theme that will feel familiar to those of us who practice Buddhism we are asked to consider who that lonely, detached self is and to explore the many types of 'I' we carry around even if we only think in terms of the ego self.

So, following the first exercise in the chapter tell me who you are? And keep going until you have ten different responses.

The chapter goes on to develop this idea widening the scope of who the self is and linking it to the many different roles we all have in society. Joanna quotes Arne Næss who said that in early life we do not prefer to eat the big cake alone, we share it with our family and friends but I'm not sure how that fits with my observations of my own young children who are big on saying 'mine!' especially if there is cake involved!

Joanna writes about how our self-interest depends on which self we identify with and draws a distinction between moral and beautiful acts, arguing that when our connected sense of self is well developed we are more inclined towards the latter. I wondered here how our Buddhist practice fits into this, is this a manifestation of our Bodhisattva vow?

The chapter argues that when we lose a belonging to family, community (and I'd add place) we lose resilience and gives rise to an extreme individualism that is harmful to our personal, community, and planetary well-being. It is here that the chapter shifts further from the self to the interconnected whole. Joanna argues that this interconnectedness is not the loss of our individuality as finding our role in community makes us feel more strongly part of it.

Have you felt this? Do you have an example of how you have played a role in a bigger community and did it give you more purpose?

The chapter continues with examples of how a wider sense of identity in the whole of existence can shift out view from being an individual shouting into the void to a manifestation of our wounded planet trying to protect itself, that we are our planet feeling through us. Joanna goes on to compare competitive neo-Darwinism to co-operating endosymbiotic theory (which sounds great but I don't know enough about to really comment on) but it did conjure images of the inter-linked mycelial network or wood wide web. It is here that we are asked to consider how this model of connected consciousness and resultant intention to act for the well-being of all life can be compared to our Buddhist concept of Bodhichitta.

Joanna then explains the Tibetan Shambhala Warrior prophecy and explains how the warriors practice with the two weapons of compassion and the insight of radical interdependence. We are invited to consider the teaching and to ask ourselves 'What if...' What if you were to following the exercise, how will you apply it? And how does is re-cast your role in the world?

The chapters concludes with a warning of how the most harmful beliefs are those that dismiss the power and significance of our behaviours. What if we all took a single positive step and one two friends or family members did the same and their friends followed etc etc?

I'll conclude by asking you what you have done this week to make a positive impact on the environment?

Thank you all for joining me.

Gassho,

Heiso

StLah

[Kokuu]

Thank you, Heiso.

I agree with Joanna that our narrow view of self causes huge problems and this is especially seen in how we can ignore environmental damage by seeing ourselves as separate from nature. I recently saw a quote from William Shatner reflecting on his trip into space in later life and expecting to be exhilarated by the achievements of humankind, and instead feeling an overwhelming connection to the planet he saw below. I can feel similarly out in nature, with our deep connection to the world becoming clear and obvious.

As far as the 'Tell me who you are' exercise goes, I have noted how easy it is for me to shift my own story of who I am depending on the circumstances and what is needed. When writing author bios for poetry journals or Buddhist magazines, the answer is different. If someone asked me the question about who I am, my answer would vary depending on who they are and why they are asking. Perhaps the best answer is the one attributed to Bodhidharma when asked by the Chinese Emperor "Who is it who stands before me?" - "I don't know".

The Zen koan 'Show me your face before your parents were born' asks a similar question, and my answer would be that it is the same face that I wear now, and that I will wear after I have died - everything that has ever been and will ever be. Nothing is separate and all things that arise are a product of the totality of all that is. If we all knew that, and felt it deep in our bones, you would think that the environmental catastrophes currently unfolding would not be happening but humans are very good at using their sword of wisdom to cut things into separate pieces, and not so good at using it to chop down the walls of division.

Indigenous tribes seem rooted in knowing the interconnectedness of all things, and the way they live their lives often reflects that, even as we in 'developed' cultures label them as 'primitive. Macy looks at this with the example of the mountain people of Ladakh who lived a simple and satisfying life until they were seduced by the promise of 'more'. The interconnectedness and caring for each other that they had now seems lost.

The individualism of modern western culture seems to be th antithesis of the community based living of Ladakh but, as Joanna points out, being free individuals does not preclude feeling part of something larger and coming together as communities to tend to each other. It is an often told story that looking after others is done at the expense of something but yet we see that not looking after others comes at a greater cost to us all.

Finding ways to bring people together in community to address the issue of environmental collapse, and also problems of poverty and marginalisation, seem the greatest one of our time. How can we all develop a wider sense of self? In Zen this is hopefully something we all work towards. How we work as Shambhala warriors in life seems harder to determine, but my feeling is that a large part of it is in creating networks and communities and showing people that their interdependence and caring for others is a strength not a weakness.

When I was doing my PhD in biology, the paradigm was still in looking at competition for resources (something I worked on myself in relation to plants) but there was a shift even in my university department as two groups of researchers joined us who were looking at the importance of symbiosis. This viewpoint has definitely gained in importance, and demonstrates that major turning points in evolution came about through symbiotic interactions and that co-operation in the natural world is far more prominent than we thought. In fact around 90% of land plants work with a fungal symbiont in mycorrhizal relationships, and species and individuals help each other in numerous ways.

One of the problems is that individualism works well for the top 1% of society who benefit from competition and setting people against each other. A significant turning point would be to show people that for most of us co-operation is the key and it is not migrants and marginalised groups who are the threat to how we live, but people who take the most resources and keep advocating for Business as Usual (it may be said, however, that in business terms, they recognise the power of networking and of being part of bigger trading blocks all working together). The Great Turning is nothing if it is not seeing our wider self and acting on that knowledge. By doing that, we can all do better, including the environment, but it is not an easy fight.

Apologies for length.

Gassho
Kokuu
-sattoday-

[Naiko]

Thank you, Heiso (and Kokuu). I enjoyed this chapter, especially this quote by Arne Naess, “Unhappily, the extensive moralizing within the ecological movement has given the public the false impression that they are being asked to make a sacrifice—to show more responsibility, more concern, and a nicer, moral standard. But all of that would flow naturally and easily, if the self were widened and deepened so that protection of nature was felt, and perceived as protection of our very selves.”

I was resistant to playing the who are you game. I was feeling it would be too painful because my circles have contracted so much since Covid. But what this exercise and the Shambala story have opened up for me is a wider notion of what it means to be a climate activist. What if I approached all interactions as an opportunity to rebuild connection? If the climate crisis is indeed a symptom of a larger spiritual crisis, then all of my practice is a must be an offering.

What have I done to help the earth? Not as much as I would like, but I attended the Elders Climate Action monthly national call, and hopefully will be able to participate in some of their Earth month initiatives.
Gassho,
Naiko
st

[Tairin]

Thank you Heiso.

As a musician, I was drawn to the discussion about jazz musicians improvising together. Over the past 1 1/2 years I have been playing in a group with five other musicians. While we don’t play, jazz we do improvise together and bring a jazz sensibility to our music. In this group, learning to play together and to connect is a skill we are working on. Listening and learning how to give space to each other so that we all can contribute without drowning each other out.

The book uses the term hyper-individualized. I think that is a great way to describe Western society. This may be our biggest challenge… getting people to see beyond themselves.

The book also talked about how extensive moralizing within the ecological movement has given the public the false impression that they are being asked to sacrifice. I thought that was very interesting because whenever I consider the changes necessary I think about what I need to give up. I never really thought about what we might gain.

I did do the exercise about who I am. I won’t repeat them here. Some of them are too personal to share on a public space like this. I actually did the exercise twice. First just answering the questions as is. Second time more towards who am I as they related to the environment. It is interesting how my answers change based on the context of the questions (similar observation made by Kokuu). Either way it seemed the answers followed a pattern. Starting with a fairly narrow focus and as I answered the question my focus started shifting and being broader.

One thing that comes out of my “who am I” answers (and this is not new news to me) is my perfectionist tendencies. I know that being a perfectionist gets in my way of getting starting on things. I can see that it is also getting in my way when it comes to the climate and environment changes.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[paulashby]

Immanuel Kant had a foundational insight that applies to acts that protect or destroy
the environment. Kant's categorical imperative would have us ask if our action was taken
by everyone everywhere what would the result be for the future of all life? The key is to
transcend self-centered individualistic choices by considering the impact if it became a
global practice or law.
It is no easy task in consumer cultures where the definition of the self is- I shop therefore I am.
In the U.S when a political leader votes against a new oil pipeline across thousands of miles
the negative ads start saying they are causing high gas prices and are against good jobs, the economy
and your family.
Until we ask questions of global impact connected to the future, the oil cartel will win the argument with attack ads.
I appreciated the insights of this chapter and the reference to Kant's Beautiful acts.
The missing detail...Urge people to vote as if the future of the environment is endangered because that is reality.

Gassho,peace, Paul Ashby sat lah

[andysmitharng7]

I really enjoyed this chapter, interconnectedness is what has drawn me to Buddhism and EcoDharma. The compassion part I still struggle with, while I can feel compassion for those in need, I struggle to feel compassion for ignorance. That being said it is something that took years and years to come around to, in my youth I was very centered on myself an my needs. So, perhaps I should reflect on my own ignorance more and do more to find a way to help people see the harm that is being done.

The Shambhala warriors story does give me hope and I as I look at the generation below me I hope it is them. I see a generation that is better than mine was, more connected to the broader world, more understanding of the needs of others. Hopefully they will learn these lessons much earlier than I did.