For many years I have carried a small figurine of the Buddhist deity, Maitreya, in my pocket. He/she represents the enlightened future. I didn’t know who this deity was until later but always felt a strong connection and experience this image as a source of guidance, support and protection. She/he represents hope, a paradigm shift, and it’s only becoming clear to me now how necessary this is. For many years this hope was primarily self-focused, but as I have become more aware of the the world around me and how interconnected we all are my vision has expanded to include all life. The critical step was becoming vegan. My decision to become vegan arose from an upwelling, an opening in my heart, that could feel the pain of animals. This desire to not harm was greater than my habits and desires.
In order to consider healing the planet I have needed to turn my energies inward; this has created an inner space and refuge that fosters healing. I bring all of who I am to my meditation practice, my struggles and pains, and allow them to exist in a place that is larger, more impersonal and kinder than my limited world view After many years of meditation I have a certain confidence in this process and realize how essential and foundational it is. The more I am simply with who I am the more my heart opens … and this ultimately affects the world around me, even if I’m “not doing anything.”
Walking in nature is essential for my well-being. I live in Oregon and am fortunate to have beautiful grand trees around me. As I walk I start to feel the cobwebs in my mind unraveling and disintegrating. I breathe deeply and feel so grateful for those firs, oaks and maples, like steadfast sentinels, that nourish and oxygenate me. The variety of birds, deer, rabbits, chipmunks and squirrels makes me smile. If people connected to animals in their natural environment more there would be less need for carnivorous pets. Maybe, if pets are desired, bunnies would increase in popularity!
And even farm animals could be viewed as companion pets (and provide fertilizer as well) instead of food. To permit cows to be cows and allow their natural instincts to flourish, as well as all other farm animals, would truly be a transformation. We need to be curious about who they are as individual beings – their food preferences, relationship needs, and general likes and dislikes. Recently I’ve been imagining a documentary that focuses on farm animaIs in their natural state, sort of like a wildlife documentary where the focus is solely on the animal. Maybe this would help people view them with more compassion. I also remember hearing about a place in the Netherlands that provides therapy to people by hugging/cuddling cows. Apparently, some cows are open to allowing people to hug them for long periods … this is very healing. Wow, what a change, to hug cows rather than eat them! It’s also a very powerful message of forgiveness – with all the pain we inflict on them they are still willing to give.
I live a small and simple life. My home is 800 square ft but I feel abundance – my own little palace. Since I have a small house I’m limited to how much I can put in it which causes less strain on the environment and, importantly, less dusting! Everyone needs a home and it would be possible if we all lived within our psychological means, within a natural balance of not too much or too little.
Creative expression is essential for all life. Humans have the capacity to imagine and bring to fruition – what an amazing gift! And we all have our own unique way of doing this, our own contribution. I enjoy painting and use it as a way to see myself more clearly and deeply. What I see is sometimes opaque and intransigent but the friction of this causes me to keep going so that eventually something unexpected opens up. This is the nature of things, frustration gives way to something new. You cant push; you just do the best you can. Art makes us more sensitive to our surroundings, both outer and inner, and prompts us to be more honest. And ultimately we learn to see that the greatest work of art is our precious planet.
I try to minimize packaging and transportation in my food choices. I use a local CSA for fresh produce and am starting to grow some vegetables as well. I reuse plastic bags at the store and buy in bulk whenever possible. I consider where food is coming from and whether it is seasonal, and mostly make decisions based on what is best for the environment. I envision garden communities in our future that take care of all inhabitants, human and nonhuman. We do not compete and hoard – we share.
There are many unknowns on this path to healing our planet, as our knowledge is constantly expanding and evolving. If we have good will and intend towards a reduction of harm our beautiful planet will heal. This transformation is really a transformation of the heart, an opening to the beauty in the world around us and in us. Our heart says, “we are nature, take good care.” In order to do this we must look within first … then unexpected miracles occur. So this is the humanity I see in 2050, a population that is more reflective and willing to feel what is in the best interest of their bodies and mother earth’s body. This has to be the primary motivation for true transformation As each person opens to this relational way of being others will be drawn in and it will spread and spread and spread.
I’m aware that I did not follow the directions of this assignment exactly. We were asked to give specific things we would do starting in 2024 that would help heal the planet. Since I do not have a plan at this point, I just focused on what Im already doing, with the intention of strengthening and deepening this and remaining open to what may arise. Thank you very much for this course; information combined with compassion is rare and uplifting for me.