Healing ourselves and the environment

Source: http://adrienneelise.com
Love heals life because it connects life.
We live in a disconnected world. Urban environments break our links to Nature and the more ‘civilised’ we get we also notice it breaking our links to ourselves and each other. Man vs animal, good vs bad, development vs environment – it feels like we are constantly viewing the world in terms of opposites. Our reactions are to deny one and desire the other – we take sides and freeze identities in the belief that the path we have chosen is THE right path to take. In the process we disconnect ourselves from the world we live in.
Thich Nhat Hahn, the Vietnamese sage, speaks of how this way of seeing is in itself the cause of our disconnection.

“You carry Mother Earth within you,” says Thay. “She is not outside of you. Mother Earth is not just your environment.
“In that insight of inter-being, it is possible to have real communication with the Earth, which is the highest form of prayer. In that kind of relationship you have enough love, strength and awakening in order to change your life.
“Changing is not just changing the things outside of us. First of all we need the right view that transcends all notions including of being and non-being, creator and creature, mind and spirit. That kind of insight is crucial for transformation and healing.
“Fear, separation, hate and anger come from the wrong view that you and the earth are two separate entities, the Earth is only the environment. You are in the centre and you want to do something for the Earth in order for you to survive. That is a dualistic way of seeing.
“So to breathe in and be aware of your body and look deeply into it and realise you are the Earth and your consciousness is also the consciousness of the earth. Not to cut the tree not to pollute the water, that is not enough.”

Healing the Earth, healing our natural environment is closely linked to healing our perception. If Mother Earth is within us, then the healing has to start from inside.
We need to start by healing the connections. This is the role of love.
“We want to be connected. That is the meaning of love, to be at one. When you love someone you want to say I need you, I take refuge in you. You do anything for the benefit of the Earth and the Earth will do anything for your wellbeing.”
How do we begin?

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