[FutureBuddha] My Book: Not Predictions about the Future, but a Compass ...

[Jundo]

I just added a paragraph (the first one below) to my new book, 'BUILDING the FUTURE BUDDHA,' to be published around the holidays. It is important to me that this be understood ...

~~~

More than mere predictions about the future, I intend this book as a compass pointing in good and needed directions. I do not wish to, and cannot, predict a certain future, but instead, I suggest roads we might take so that wonderful outcomes have a greater chance to be. The future is not fixed, but is instead a realm of possibilities in which we may exert our plans, will, ethics and vision to bring about a better world. The future does not unfold itself independent of our actions and wishes, but is like a flowing river influenced and guided by our actions and wishes. Let us work toward a beautiful future, not simply wait for it to appear.

I believe that Buddhism expresses certain wisdom, and the core of that wisdom is timeless.

Our way is home to insights, teachings, and practices that go right to the heart of the human condition, to the question of who we are in this universe, and how we best should live within it. I believe that this wisdom might be equally wise for inhabitants of the future, whether fully human or beyond human. Buddhism is the path that I have walked these past 40 years. I believe that Buddhist insights offer a path for creatures to walk—or roll, fly, swim or beam—for 40 x 40 centuries to come. The insights at the heart of Buddhism and Zen are truly unbounded by time.


~~~

Gassho, J

stlah

[Bokusei]

I’m sorry to be so late to such an interesting project. I have looked through the other threads but may well have missed it, so please forgive me if this has been already covered.

Has the very real likelihood of further “development” beyond planetary boundaries (as of this year we have gone past 6 of the 9 required for sustainable preservation of the planets life support systems) been considered in future projections?

In terms of plausible futures, within the next few decades, there is a very real chance of complete or partial world wide ecosystem collapse brought about by biodiversity loss and climate change. This will bring about the loss or radical impoverishment of key ecosystem services such as the provision of food, clean water & air and viable livelihoods to name just a few. This is already happening in numerous places around the world.

Tech-Utopianism and the current, global hegemony will not prevent what some are calling The Great Simplification. As an example carbon capture systems and EV ‘solutions’ have been widely shown to be all about maintaining the status quo for the fossil fuel and car industries respectively, without holistic sustainable environmental benefit. Though admittedly, EV vehicle use does reduce the emission of harmful airborne particulates.

If (or when) this future comes about (which evidence would suggest is already here, just with much worse to come) what role will Buddhism have in a much more localised, resource and crucially energy scarce world?

Buddhist economics offers an alternative model to neo-classical (free market) economics, which arguably is a key driver of our current escalating rates of ecosystem collapse.
In reality of course our current environmental catastrophe stems far beyond the modern growth centric paradigm all the way back to the birth of agriculture, but the rates of environmental destruction now far exceed what we as a species were capable of for most of our time on the planet.

Again, sorry if this has already been discussed, as I’m sure it has. But as this future is a very real possibility, it would be remiss of me not to mention it.

Gassho
Bokusei
sat/lah

[Jundo]

Hi Bokusei,

Oh, it is all in there! There is a chapter on Buddhanomics (really, more than one chapter), and my comments on space travel ... for example, that we had best solve our Earthly problems and squabbles before we head to Mars and they just become our Martian problems and squabbles.

Some of my suggestions are quite radical, going right to the heart of human nature (that we have to overcome our existing biological and psychological tendencies to over-acquisition and over-consumption before earth's ecological crisis can truly be overcome.) I propose ways to do that which are free of coercion, while respectful of human choice, human autonomy and human rights.

I look forward to your reading it and your review.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[Bokusei]

Thanks Jundo. I felt sure you would have included this already. I look forward to reading your interpretations. To be honest it will be a welcome change to have an optimistic vision of the future for once. In my work as an ecologist I am constantly reminded of the bleak and downright apocalyptic portents of current behaviour. I refuse to give up hope, no matter how pointless. But I admit there are times, particularly when I think of the world my children are inheriting, that despair seems like the most appropriate response. However, to paraphrase Greta, at a time of crisis, despair is a luxury we cannot afford.

gassho
sat/lah

[Doshin]

Thanks Jundo. I felt sure you would have included this already. I look forward to reading your interpretations. To be honest it will be a welcome change to have an optimistic vision of the future for once. In my work as an ecologist I am constantly reminded of the bleak and downright apocalyptic portents of current behaviour. I refuse to give up hope, no matter how pointless. But I admit there are times, particularly when I think of the world my children are inheriting, that despair seems like the most appropriate response. However, to paraphrase Greta, at a time of crisis, despair is a luxury we cannot afford.

gassho
sat/lah

My work in wildlife conservation has caused me great despair and concern about my grandchildren’s future but I still try to kindle hope which is why I participate in EcoDharma. Thanks for your determination and your work.

Doshin
Stlah

[Kaitan]

To be honest it will be a welcome change to have an optimistic vision of the future for once. In my work as an ecologist I am constantly reminded of the bleak and downright apocalyptic portents of current behaviour.

This reminds me the literary genre called "Solarpunk", is basically the antithesis of the popular distopian future perspective "cyberpunk". There are some good novels out there that I'd like to read. It's basically about an optimistic view of a future society that lives in harmony with nature and at the same time is very technologically advanced, but only uses technology for the most essential matters. The closest I've read was the trilogy of Hominids, where in a parallel universe the Neanderthals live instead of humans and they reached that type of culture; I don't remember exactly the reason, but I think it was because Neanderthals have a different genetic code that makes them less aggressive and greedy. Have you read this novel, Jundo?

Gasshō

stlah

Bernal

Gasshō

[Jundo]

... I don't remember exactly the reason, but I think it was because Neanderthals have a different genetic code that makes them less aggressive and greedy. Have you read this novel, Jundo?

No, I have not.

I do call myself, in the book, a "Luddite-lite." Do you know the Luddites, who attacked factories and machines that were taking their jobs and driving them to poverty in the 19th Century, resulting (alas) in much violence?

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-the-luddites-really-fought-against-264412/

I write ...

Despite what some may think after reading this book, I am something of a Luddite myself, or at least, a Luddite-lite. Better said, I hope for a middle way here, keeping the best of what human beings and our technologies have brought us, but leaving the rest, completely halting or reversing direction in some areas of technological innovation. Not all innovation is good.

We need to stop runaway production of superfluous goods, and develop an economic system based on simplicity, minimalism, and homeostasis. We must appreciate what we have, and cherish it lovingly. We must know the riches money cannot buy, rather than constantly longing for what we do not have that is not truly necessary. We must develop better insight into what is the “truly necessary.” The lessons in simple, frugal, yet nonetheless rich and rewarding living taught by old Zen masters and Zen poets are our priceless treasures. ...

... We need not stop all industrial production, nor abandon our goal-oriented mentality in all fields and endeavors. Let us be Less-ites rather than extreme Luddites. Some areas of progress and technology really do make life better. For example, let us emphasize medical investigation, paying researchers like rock stars, in order to cure the many diseases that cause pain, debility, and death. Let us take the profits derived from robot labor and pay everyone what they deserve to teach children, clean the streets, plant greenery, study dancing, write poetry, comfort the lonely, nurse the elderly and tend the forests. Let us continue our progress in agriculture, until the point at which healthy, tasty, sufficient quantities and diversities of foods can be brought to everyone’s plate with lovely presentation. Let us plunge ahead in our research into the basic sciences, not to discover new ways to make terrible bombs and deadly poisons, but to understand more about this universe and our planet. Let us make theatres, schools, libraries (whether stocked with books of recycled paper or electronic), art, and beautiful handcrafts created for art’s sake. Let us learn to brew a proper cup of tea.

...

Civilization is near the point of declaring “enough” right now, thank you, and we do not really need more. In fact, we have enough right now to make sure that everyone on the planet has enough … if we are wise in defining "enough.” Yes, there are some things that we do not yet have enough of, like cures for still incurable diseases, sturdy homes and good schools for everyone, clean water for everyone, and we should continue to push for these. But even so, when we have produced the bountiful quotas needed to sustain us and meet our healthy needs, when we have produced enough food, enough clothes, enough of countless little things, we should shut off the machines for a while, turn off the lights in the factory, go outside, sit on a mountain or under a tree in a forest, and be satisfied … simply be satisfied. ...

Gassho, J

stlah

[Kaitan]

No, I have not.

I do call myself, in the book, a "Luddite-lite." Do you know the Luddites, who attacked factories and machines that were taking their jobs and driving them to poverty in the 19th Century, resulting (alas) in much violence.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-the-luddites-really-fought-against-264412/

I write ...



Gassho, J

stlah

That sounds like Solarpunk to me! Looking forward to read your book.

Gasshō

stlah

Bernal

[Bokusei]

Thank you Doishin. The same to you. Will need to give EcoDharma more attention.

Gassho
sat/lah

[Guest]

No, I have not.

I do call myself, in the book, a "Luddite-lite." Do you know the Luddites, who attacked factories and machines that were taking their jobs and driving them to poverty in the 19th Century, resulting (alas) in much violence?

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-the-luddites-really-fought-against-264412/

I write ...



Gassho, J

stlah

Nothing immediate springs to mind right now that isn’t just repetition, except to say I’m in complete agreement here. It’s long been my understanding that we already know what needs to be done to address the crisis, what is missing is the will to do so. The Benedictine community model is something that I’ve long been interested in, but really what’s needed is a change of attitude among the majority of us, and in particular those in power. Otherwise we’re just widdling into the wind trying to support an unsustainable system.

Sattlah

Dan