2021/07/01

[얼나의 성자 다석 류영모] 3-100

5개국어 글로벌 경제신문



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[얼나의 성자 다석 류영모] (19)그분은 오직 '사랑'을 말했을 뿐이었다 - 아주경제

[얼나의 성자 다석 류영모] (19)그분은 오직 '사랑'을 말했을 뿐이었다 - 아주경제

[얼나의 성자 다석 류영모] (19)그분은 오직 '사랑'을 말했을 뿐이었다
이상국 논설실장입력 : 2020-02-10

다석 류영모, 톨스토이, 우치무라와 종교 본질에 대한 입장들


[우치무라 간조]

임종 때도 일본 융성을 말한 우치무라

우치무라 간조는 70세인 1930년에 눈을 감으며 "인류의 행복과 일본국의 융성과 우주의 완성을 기원한다"는 말을 남겼다. 예수와 일본을 늘 함께 생각했던 애국적인 신념을 드러낸 유언이었다. 그가 일본을 비판할 때도, 거기엔 깊은 애국심이 바탕으로 깔려 있었다.

그가 남긴 사상인 '무교회주의'는 평생 투쟁적으로 살았던 신앙적 삶의 기반 같은 것이었다. 또한 세상에 남겨놓은 결실이기도 하다. 그는 이런 말을 했다. "무교회주의는 나의 신앙이다. 혹자가 감리교회 신자이고 혹자는 침례교회 신자이고 혹은 성공회 신자이고 회중교회 신자인 것과 마찬가지로 나는 무교회 신자이다."

우치무라의 무교회주의는 다석 류영모가 교회를 탈피하면서 주창했던 비정통 기독교와는 어떻게 다른가. 이 문제에 대한 제대로 된 접근은 류영모 신앙이 지닌 독보적이고 근본적인 가치를 돋을새김하는 길이기도 할 것이다.

류영모는 톨스토이의 신학적 입장과 마찬가지로 '교회' 자체가 성서에는 없는 기업적 시스템이며, 예수의 초인적 면모나 '기적' 또한 믿음을 돋우고자 후세에 덧붙인 가필일 뿐이라는 신념을 지니고 있었다. 그렇기에, 교회를 중심으로 교파를 형성하고 그 밖의 신앙행위를 이단으로 배격하는 서양기독교의 골격에서 스스로 이탈하고자 했다.

그는 정통을 표방하는 교회들을 비판함으로써 이런 생각을 실천한 것이 아니라, 스스로 교회를 나와 성서 속의 기본적이고 핵심적인 가르침을 가려내고 동양적 통찰과 함께 적용하여 그 보편성을 실천하는 길을 걸었다.

우치무라 '무교회'는 서양식 기독교에 대한 반대

그러나 우치무라의 경우, 삿포로 농학교에서 놀라운 형제애를 체험했던 '7인형제의 작은 교회'의 함의를 신앙적 신념으로 발전시켰다. 교회와 목사 중심의 서양 기독교가 아니라, 교인들이 신앙적으로 평등하며 자발적인 형식으로 움직이는 '교회 아닌 교회'를 실천한 것이다. 일본 기독교에 서양 전통을 그대로 적용하는 것이 적절하지 않다는 뿌리 깊은 애국적 주체성의 발로이기도 했다.

그의 무교회는 교회를 반대한 것이 아니었다. 교회의 제도주의와 성례전주의를 거부한 것이다.

제도주의는 평신도와 성직자를 구분하는 계급시스템이다. 믿음 안에서 신도들은 철저히 평등하다는 얘기다. 또 신앙을 형식에 가두거나 교파적 신조가 구원을 독점한다고 주장하는 교파주의 혹은 배타주의를 비판했다. 예수 이후에 생겨난 인위적인 형식과 구분들이 본질적인 신앙을 오히려 훼손하거나 왜곡한다고 본 것이다.

성례전주의는 세례와 성만찬에 대한 새로운 해석이었다. 세례는 죄를 정화시키는 기적적 힘이 있는 의식이 아니라, 그리스도 안에서 다시 태어나는 신앙생활의 상징이라고 생각했다. 또 그리스도의 수난을 기념하는 성만찬은 구원의 조건이 아니라 기독교인들이 형제·자매로 거듭나는 신앙행위라고 해석했다.

우치무라는 말했다. "나에게 교회는 없지만 그리스도는 있다. 그리스도가 있기 때문에 내게도 교회가 있고, 그리스도가 나의 교회다." 그는 새로운 '교회' 운동을 실천하기 위해 성서를 새롭게 읽을 것을 제안했고, 그것이 '성서연구회'다. 기존의 기독교계에서는 성서를 연구한다는 시도 자체가 불경이었다.



[김교신]

조선산 기독교를 주창한 김교신

김교신(1901~1945)은 기독교를 계속해서 새롭게 표현하는 영적인 것으로 이해한 우치무라의 주장들을 '진정한 복음'이라고 믿었다. 복음의 진리를 일본 역사현실 속에서 실천하려는 우치무라는 그에게 진정한 기독교적 예언자로 여겨졌다. 그는 1927년부터 조선성서연구회 5명과 함께 '성서조선'을 발행한다. 이 잡지는 1942년 일제에 의해 폐간된다. 그는 이 잡지에서 '조선산 기독교'를 주창한다.

일본은 그가 독립운동을 한 혐의로 체포해 감옥으로 보냈다. 1944년 전염병에 걸린 조선노동자를 간호하다가 감염되어 세상을 떠났다. 이후 '조선 무교회'는 친구였던 함석헌에 의해 주도된다. 그러나 함석헌은 해방 정국과 한국전쟁의 격랑 속에서 우치무라의 무교회를 벗어나 새로운 역사 현실 속으로 들어간다.

우치무라는 당시 조선에 대해 과감한 우호적 발언을 하기도 했지만, 3·1운동의 일제 탄압과 관동대지진의 대학살에 대해선 침묵했다. 김교신이 조선의 독립문제에 대해 질문하자 "영국과 스코틀랜드 관계처럼 되면 좋지 않겠느냐"는 답변을 하기도 했다. 그는 기독교적 평등관을 실천하고자 했지만, 일본에 대한 애착을 넘어선 보편적 투철함은 지니지 못했다고 볼 수 있다. 이런 까닭에 "우치무라는 조선의 영적인 세계까지 노리는 영적 제국주의의 야심가"라는 맹렬한 국내 비판(김린서)까지 받기도 했다.

류영모는 비교적 우치무라에 대한 말을 아꼈지만, 자신과의 차이를 이렇게 말했다. "그는 외국 선교사에 반대하여 사도신경 정신에 입각해 교회 본래의 정통신앙을 세우고자 했죠. 나와 톨스토이는 (교회를 벗어난) 비정통신앙입니다."



[레프 톨스토이]
나와 톨스토이는 우치무라와 다르다

이 뒤에 이어질 류영모의 말을 대신해준 건 에드윈 헤치('허버트강연집')였다. "예수의 산상수훈과 사도신경 사이는 하늘과 땅 차이가 있다. 예수의 가르침은 불과 100년 사이에 다른 종교가 됐다. 정치화하고 세속화했다. "

레프 톨스토이는 이렇게 말하고 있다. "산상수훈인가 사도신경인가? 우리는 두 가지를 동시에 믿을 수 없다. 그러나 성직자들은 후자를 택했다. 사도신경은 교회에서 기도로 가르쳐지며 읽혀지지만 산상수훈은 심지어 교회에서 읽혀지는 복음 구절에서도 제외되고 그래서 전체 복음서가 읽혀지는 날을 제외하고는 교회의 집회에서 신도들은 결코 듣지 못한다."

이게 얼마나 엄청난 말인지, 기독교도들조차도 제대로 인식하지 못한다. 신앙의 뿌리를 이루고 있는 산상수훈과 사도신경이 이렇게 택일을 해야 하는 선택지인지, 그것이 지니는 논리적 갈등이나 모순이 무엇인지에 대해 치열하게 석명해야 하기 때문이다. 톨스토이는 감히, 왜 저런 질문을 던져 1800년 기독교 역사를 흔들고 있는 것일까.

예수의 참 메시지는 산상수훈

산상수훈은 성경 마태복음 5-7장을 가리키는 말이다. 산상수훈은 '성서 중의 성서'라고도 불리며, 예수가 선교활동 초기에 갈릴리의 작은 산(가버나움) 위에서 제자들과 군중에게 행한 설교다. 이 설교는 예수의 윤리적 가르침을 집약적으로 드러내고 있어서 기본적인 기독교 윤리지침으로 꼽힌다. 내용은 '8개의 복'과 사회적 의무와 자선행위, 기도, 금식, 이웃사랑에 대한 가르침이다. 참된 신앙생활의 내면적 본질이 무엇인지를 간명하게 말하고 있는 대목들이기도 하다.

심령이 가난한 이는 복이 있나니 천국이 그의 것임이요 / 슬퍼하는 자는 복이 있나니 그들이 위로를 받을 것이요 / 순종하는 자는 복이 있나니 땅을 기업으로 받을 것이요 / 옳음에 주리고 목마른 자는 복이 있나니 그가 배부를 것이요 / 연민을 지닌 자는 복이 있나니 그가 연민을 받을 것이요 / 마음이 맑은 자는 복이 있나니 그가 하느님을 볼 것이요 / 평화롭게 하는 자는 복이 있나니 하느님 아들이란 얘길 들을 것이요 /옳음을 위해 핍박받는 자는 복이 있나니 천국이 그의 것이다 <'산상수훈' 중에서>

'복이 있나니'의 앞에 있는 8가지 조건들은 역설에 가까운 것들이다. 우리가 생각하는 복된 삶은 '더 많은 것을 소유하는 것'과 '내가 잘되는 것'이 중심이다. 그러나 이 8복은 모두 남과의 관계를 말하고 있으며, 공동체나 집단의 가치를 위해 헌신하는 것을 말하고 있으며, 자기의 것을 덜어내는 것을 말하고 있다.

산상수훈은 8복을 말한 뒤 "너희는 세상의 소금이며 세상의 빛"이라고 한다. '세상'이라고 표현된 것은 예수의 가르침을 받지 않은 사람까지 포함한 모든 사람들이며, 소금과 빛은 가르침을 받은 사람들이 해야할 역할을 말한다. 소금의 역할은 세상의 부패를 막는 역할과 세상의 맛을 내는 역할이다. 빛의 역할은 어둠의 세상을 밝히는 역할과 모든 존재에게 생명을 부여하는 역할이다. 현재의 역할과 미래의 역할을 겹친 비유로 말하고 있다. 소금이 그 맛을 잃거나 등불을 등경 위에 두지 않고 말 아래 두면 무슨 소용이 있겠느냐면서, 예수는 소금답고 빛답게 사는 것이 기독교적인 삶이라고 말해준다.

사도신경, 신앙 '이단'의 판단 근거

한편 사도신경은 사도(apostle)가 전해준 신경(creed)으로 기독교 공동체가 공식적으로 고백하는 신앙고백과 규범을 가리킨다. 사도는 예수의 제자를 중심으로 한 초대교회의 메시지 전달자들을 말한다. 2세기의 교회에서 정리된 세례의 믿음 고백 형식이 3세기 이래로 전하여 사도신경의 기본이 되었다. 4세기에 접어들면서 처음으로 사도신경이란 이름으로 불렸으며, 10세기에 완결된 형태로 서방종교에서 사용된다. 사도신경은 사도가 직접 만든 것은 아니지만, 그들의 전승에 기초해서 만들었으므로 권위있는 것으로 받아들여졌다. 사도신경은 이단을 판단하는 기초근거가 된다.

사도신경은 이런 형식을 지닌다. (1)나는 전능하신 하느님, 창조주를 믿습니다 (2)나는 그의 유일한 아들, 예수 그리스도를 믿습니다. 그는 성령으로 잉태되어 동정녀 마리아에게서 나셨고, 본디오 빌라도에게 고난을 받으시고 십자가에 못박혀 죽으셨으며 장례 사흘 만에 죽은 자 가운데서 다시 살아나셨고 하늘에 오르시어 전능하신 하느님 오른편에 앉아계시다가 살아있는 자와 죽은 자를 심판하러 오십니다. (3)나는 성령을 믿습니다. (4)나는 거룩한 공교회와 성도와 교제와 죄를 사함과 몸의 부활과 영생을 믿습니다.

사도신경은 '내가 지금 여기서 믿는다'는 실존적 신앙을 강조하고 그 믿음이 전승되어온 것임을 강조한다. 이 강조는 이단과의 차이점을 부각시키는 것이기도 하다. 이단은 예수를 통해 계시해준 하느님이 아니라 개인적인 체험과 믿음 위에 세운 신앙이라는 논리다. 사도적 전승이 아니라는 점이 이단을 가르는 핵심이다.

그러나 톨스토이는 이렇게 말한다. "1800년 전 이교도들이 사는 고대 로마세계 한가운데 이상하고도 새로운 가르침이 나타났다. 이 가르침은 예수라는 사람으로부터 비롯되었다. 그의 가르침은 옛 종교의 모든 규칙 대신 오직 내면적 완성과 진리, 그리고 그리스도의 화신인 사랑을 내세웠다. 이 가르침은 그 내면적 완성의 결과, 즉 예언자들이 예언한 외면적 완성인 신의 나라를 보여주었다. 이 가르침에는 진리, 교리와 진리의 일치 말고는 아무런 증거도 없었다. 이 가르침에는 사람을 변호하여 정당화하고 그를 구원한다는 행위는 없었다." 즉, 예수의 가르침은 산상수훈의 내면적 완성과 사랑만이 본질이었다는 것이다.



[다석 류영모]복음서에는 오늘날의 '교회'가 없었다

사도신경에 나오는 실존적 신앙고백의 핵심에는 예수가 말한 '무욕과 사랑'은 전혀 없고 오직 인간과 다른 초인적인 기적에 대한 강력한 신뢰를 재확인하는 내용들만 담겨 있다는 것이 톨스토이의 생각이다. 이런 그의 생각은 '교회'라는 현재의 개념이 비성서적이며 비기독교적이라는 주장으로 나아간다. 복음서에서는 교회라는 말이 딱 두 차례 나오는데, 단순한 모임을 가리킬 뿐 신앙의 기관이나 시스템을 가리키는 의미는 전혀 없었다. 그런데 가톨릭이나 그리스 정교회의 교리문답은 교회가 예수 그리스도에 의해 설립되었다고 주장하고 있다.

톨스토이가 교회를 문제 삼는 더 큰 까닭은 스스로를 무오류로 주장하고 '이단'을 설정하는 개념으로 활용하여 예수의 진정한 가르침에 대한 추구를 억압하고 공격하기 때문이다. 그는 교회가 자임했던 '사람과 신의 중재자'는 처음부터 필요하지 않았다고 말한다. 그리스도가 스스로 가르침을 인간 각자에게 알려주러 왔는데 왜 또 다른 중재가 필요하단 말인가. 그리스도의 진실에 다가갈수록 교회가 세워놓은 교리들이 인위적이고 형식적인 허구임이 밝혀질 수밖에 없다. 교회에 대해 이렇게 놀랄 만한 발언을 쏟아낸 이가 대문호이자 종교사상가인 톨스토이였다. 이 땅에서 톨스토이의 이 같은 사상을 깊이있게 이해하고 그것을 한국에서 구체적이고 확장적으로 실천하고자 한 사람이 다석 류영모였다.

다석전기 집필 = 다석사상연구회 회장 박영호
증보집필 및 편집 = 이상국 논설실장
@아주경제 '정신가치' 시리즈 편집팀

The Marriage of Buddhism and Deep Ecology - Theosophical Society in America

The Marriage of Buddhism and Deep Ecology - Theosophical Society in America



The Marriage of Buddhism and Deep Ecology


By C. Jotin Khisty

Originally printed in the Spring 2009 issue of Quest magazine.
Citation: Khisty, C. Jotin. "The Marriage of Buddhism and Deep Ecology." Quest 97. 2 (Spring 2009): 64-69.

In 2005, people all across the world sat up in their seats to watch Al Gore's film An Inconvenient Truth. They were stunned to see the environmental degradation and destruction that has occurred and the profound threat it poses to all life on the planet. Then, in October 2007, many of us jumped with joy when Gore and the U. N. Panel on Climate Change were jointly awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. This recognition gave us hope of a way to work through our political, economic, and environmental systems in order to reverse the effects of decades of indifference and damage to our planet.

One of the paramount reasons for this degradation is not hard to find. The organizing principle of society for at least the last hundred years has been: What will make the economy grow larger and produce greater profit? But with a new consciousness on the horizon and a transformation of the human heart all around the world, it is very likely that for the next hundred years, the organizing principle may be: What will make the planet more sustainable? This has to be the new lens through which we look at the world. After all, the voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new vistas but in having new eyes.

This article aims to explore the connections between two important disciplines: spiritual systems, particularly Buddhism, and deep ecology. Spiritual systems are more than a belief in a transcendental deity or a means to an afterlife. They are a way of understanding both the cosmos and our role in its preservation. In this way they are closely connected with ecology, which embraces a cultural awareness of kinship with and dependence on the natural environment for the continuity of all life.

Buddhism, one of the world's great spiritual systems, offers a well-developed philosophy of our connection with nature. Deep ecology is focused on the survival and self-renewal of all living beings. (It is so called in contrast to "shallow" ecology, which is essentially anthropocentric and technocratic.) Celebrating the marriage of spiritual systems and deep ecology fosters a moral and cultural awareness of the kinship of the natural environment and the continuity of life.

We hear of ecological disasters occurring around the world almost on a daily basis. Almost all of these crises are a result of human neglect, apathy, and greed. They range from resource depletion, species extinction, pollution growth, climate change, to population explosion and over consumption. As far back as 1992, the Union of Concerned Scientists, consisting of over 100 Nobel laureates and 1600 other distinguished scientists from seventy countries, warned us of the deepening ecological crisis caused by human activities on this planet. They warned that a great change in the stewardship of the earth and the life on it is required if vast misery is to be avoided and our global home on this planet is not to be irretrievably mutilated (Uhl, 124).

Almost all such warnings have been ignored and ridiculed by our politicians. One prominent source of disinformation about global warning, for instance, has been the Bush-Cheney administration. It has silenced scientists working for the government about the extreme danger we are facing, and has appointed "skeptics" recommended by oil companies to government positions as our principal negotiators. The world has been thunderstruck by the arrogance and ignorance of such political leaders and their cronies (Gore, 264).

The reasons for this disconnection from nature, especially in the West, are not hard to detect. Spiritually and psychologically we live inside a bubble of the "self," as though we are "in here" and the rest of the world is "out there." According to Buddhist thought, this sense of separation manifests itself in the form of the Three Poisons—greed, ill will, and delusion. Examples of these poisons can be seen everywhere in the current ecological crisis. Greed rooted in untrammeled economic growth and consumerism is the secular religion of advanced industrial societies. Similarly, the military-industrial complex promotes ill will, fear, and terror, while propaganda and advertising systems are well known for deluding the public about everything under the sun. A fundamental question of our time is whether we can counter these forces by developing attitudes of respect, responsibility, and care for the natural world and so create a sustainable future.

From its origins in India about 500 years before the birth of Christ, Buddhism spread throughout Asia and is now exerting an ever-increasing influence on Western culture. We in the West are awakening to the fact that there is a more ancient science of mind than our own. The well-known philosopher Alan Watts pointed out that historically the Buddha (563-483 BCE) was the first great psychologist and psychotherapist. He not only recognized the meaning of existential anxiety or suffering that we all experience but offered ways of treating it. Many psychologists, psychiatrists, and scientists regard the discovery of Buddhist philosophy in the West today as a kind of second renaissance (Varela, 22).

Contrary to popular belief, Buddhism is in essence a philosophy and not a religion. Buddhist philosophy over the centuries has been very carefully thought out and documented by some of the best scholars and practitioners across the world. A starting point is the central tenet concerning the interconnectedness of all life—human beings, animals, plants, birds. Buddhist ethical teaching emphasizes that this interdependence comes with a moral component. For humans, that means maintaining a sense of universal responsibility in whatever we do.

The cornerstone of all Buddhist teachings is the Four Noble Truths. The first truth is that of suffering (or existential anxiety), starting with birth and continuing on through aging and then on to the inevitability of death. The second truth is the realization that human craving and greed are at the very root of our suffering. The third truth stresses that it is possible to eliminate craving, greed, and suffering by transforming the mind. The fourth truth is the Eightfold Path, the Buddhist formula of practices for cultivating this transformation, leading to the extinction of both craving and suffering (Rifkin, 101). Buddhists assert that mindful awareness of existential anxiety produces compassionate empathy for all forms of life.

Two other concepts form the bedrock of Buddhist thinking: impermanence and interdependence. All phenomena are impermanent, because everything is in transition. Interdependence refers to the fact that everything is a part of everything else.

The philosophical roots of the deep ecology movement can be found in the writings of Henry David Thoreau, Theodore Roszak, Lewis Mumford, Rachel Carson, and others, going back to Baruch Spinoza and the Buddhist philosophers. But it was in 1972 that the Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess coined the term to distinguish it from "shallow" anthropocentric and technocratic ecology. Since then, Naess has spelled out a comprehensive platform describing the meaning and scope of deep ecology, as outlined in an eight-point summary:


1. The well-being of human and nonhuman life on earth have value in themselves.
2. The interdependence, richness, and diversity of life forms contribute to the realization of these values.
3. Humans have no right to reduce this richness and diversity except to satisfy vital needs.
4. Present human interference with the nonhuman world is excessive, and the situation is rapidly worsening.
5. The flourishing of human life and cultures is compatible with substantial decrease of the human population. Moreover, the flourishing of nonhuman life requires such a decrease.
6. Policies must therefore be changed. The changes in policies will affect basic economic and technological structures.
7. Ideological change is required in order to emphasize quality of life rather than striving for an ever-higher standard of living.
8. Those who subscribe to the foregoing points have an obligation to help implement these changes (Naess, 68).

To imagine oneself as a separate ego, separate from everything else, locked up in a bag of skin, is a hallucination. Everything is indeed connected with everything else. Given the profound similarity of Buddhist thought to deep ecology, it is not difficult to realize that the "egocentricity" of an apparently isolated self needs to be replaced by "ecocentricity."

How can we harness this obvious interconnection between Buddhist thought and deep ecology in order to tackle the urgent problems that continue to threaten the sentient beings on this planet? As Vaclav Havel, the former president of the Czech Republic, wrote: "The only option for us is a change in the sphere of the spirit, in the sphere of human conscience. It's not enough to invent new machines, new regulations, and new institutions. We must develop a new understanding of the true purpose of our existence on earth. Only by making such a fundamental shift will we be able to create new models of behavior and a new set of values for the planet" (Uhl, 307).

Like Havel, scores of philosophers, economists, and politicians have recognized that the advancing human crisis is result of the lack of deep spiritual roots, brought on to a great extent by the divorce of spiritual meaning and identity from life. But how can we wake up to face this human crisis?

Today there is already evidence of an emerging cultural shift as millions of people and their leaders are stirring, as if from a trance, to deal with these issues. Here are some possible avenues of approach:
Collective awakening. Spiritual awakening in an individual is sometimes called the "opening of the third eye." When this awareness occurs collectively, it can be called the "opening of the fourth eye." Evidence of this collective awakening started in the 1960s and has matured in subsequent years, dealing head-on with problems as diverse as postmodern anomie, free-market globalization, and global terrorism.
Building sustainable systems. The great challenge of our time is to build and nurture sustainable communities—social, cultural, and physical. This goal is best attained in four steps: (1) introducing "ecoliteracy" in order to understand how ecosystems evolve for sustaining the web of life; (2) moving toward "ecodesign" by promoting organic farming, energy- and resource-efficient industries, nonmotorized transportation, and low-cost housing, and by reducing energy consumption; (3) thinking in terms of relationships, contexts, patterns, and processes for ecodesign; (4) striving for resource efficiency, service-flow economy, and energy conservation in order to reduce ecological degradation (Capra, 230-32). So far the records in these areas of nurturing have been deplorable.
Transforming the world economy. According to free-market capitalism, all values are monetary values determined by buyers of goods and services in a competitive market. The prime movers of this system are the transnational corporations (TNCs), whose economic powers frequently surpass that of many sovereign states. To grow, these TNCs must make enormous profits and consume the world's raw materials. TNCs and their advocate, the World Trade Organization (WTO), have been largely able to get what they want because of their influence in manipulating the global market for their own profit. Poor countries and the poorer sectors of the world are the worst victims of the WTO. Today, one-third of all economic activity worldwide is generated by only 200 corporations, which are linked to each other by strategic alliances. While the WTO was initially hailed by nations rich and poor as an organization that would produce huge economic benefits which would trickle down to everybody, it failed to live up to this promise, instead creating fatal consequences such as the breakdown of democracies, the rapid deterioration of the environment, and increasing poverty and alienation.




Consumerism is now recognized as the most successful religion of all time, winning more converts more quickly than any previous belief or value system in human history. Philosopher David Loy has pointed out that the strategies of the WTO and the World Bank have been exposed, with the result that there are regular riots whenever their meetings are held. These two organizations are clearly ill-suited for building a just, sustainable, and compassionate society that can nurture sufficiency, partnership, and respect for life and its values. Naturally, a new kind of civil society, organized to counterbalance globalization is gradually emerging, embodied in powerful nongovernmental organizations such as Oxfam and Greenpeace.
Transforming ethics. Activists devoted to peace and social justice acknowledge that there is a spirit of coerciveness that is present in all cultures, manifesting particularly in violence and crime. This coerciveness can be counteracted by several strategies.

Creative nonviolence in the tradition of Mahatma Gandhi and Buddhist ethics is one well-documented possibility. Essentially this means that one does not struggle against the opponent but rather against the situation. Political and social adversaries are seen as potential partners rather than as enemies. Satyagraha, or nonviolent resistance, also pioneered by Gandhi, is one form of such creative nonviolence. The principle of ahimsa (harmlessness)—the refusal to kill any living beings—has also been put to use in stopping armed conflicts.

It is said that when people saw the Buddha soon after his enlightenment, they were so struck by the extraordinary peacefulness of his presence that they stopped to ask: "What are you? Are you a god, a magician, or a wizard?" Buddha's reply was stunning. He simply said: "I am awake." His answer became his title, for this is what the word buddha means in Sanskrit—one who is awakened. While the rest of the world was deep in "sleep," dreaming a dream known as the waking state of life, the Buddha shook off the slumber and woke up (Smith and Novak, 3-4).

Although the Buddha's wake-up call was issued a very long time ago and has since been repeated time and time again by almost every known spiritual system, it is unfortunate that a mistaken metaphysics has led us to an alienation between us and the earth and between us and other sentient beings. It is essential that we reestablish and restore an awareness of this interdependence. Naturally, such a transformation requires profound reeducation at every stage of our lives. Private foundations, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, academic institutions, and religious organizations have an equal stake in setting priorities in this endeavor. In this context the advice of the Dalai Lama is particularly poignant:


The Earth, our Mother, is telling us to behave. . . . If we develop good and considerate qualities within our own minds, our activities will naturally cease to threaten the continued survival of life on Earth. By protecting the natural environment and working to forever halt the degradation of our planet, we will also show respect for Earth's human descendants—our future generations—as well as for the natural right to life of all of Earth's living things. If we care for nature, it can be rich, bountiful, and inexhaustibly sustainable.

It is important that we forgive the destruction of the past and recognize that it was produced by ignorance. At the same time, we should reexamine, from an ethical perspective, what kind of world we have inherited, what we are responsible for, and what we will pass on to coming generations (Hunt-Badiner, v).

References

Capra, Frithjof. The Hidden Connection. New York: Doubleday, 2002.
Gore, Al. An Inconvenient Truth. Emmaus, Pa.: Rodale, 2006.
Hunt-Badiner, Allan, ed. Dharma Gaia: A Harvest of Essays in Buddhism and Ecology. Berkeley, Calif.: Parallax, 1990.
Jones, Ken. The New Social Face of Buddhism: A Call to Action. Boston: Wisdom, 2003.
Loy, David R. A Buddhist History of the West: Studies in Lack. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2002.
Naess, Arne. "The Deep Ecology Movement." George Sessions, ed., Deep Ecology for the Twenty-First Century. Boston: Shambhala, 1986.
Rifkin, Ira, and David Little. Spiritual Perspectives on Globalization: Making Sense of Economic and Cultural Upheaval. Woodstock, Vt.: Skylight Paths, 2003.
Smith, Huston, and Philip Novak. Buddhism: A Concise Introduction. New York: Harper Collins, 2003.
Tucker, Mary Evelyn, and John A. Grim. "Introduction: The Emerging Alliance of World Religions and Ecology." Daedalus, Fall 2001.
Uhl, Christopher. Developing Ecological Consciousness: Paths to a Sustainable World. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield, 2004.
Varela, Francisco, Evan T. Thomson, and Eleanor Rosch. The Embodied Mind: Cognitive Science and Human Experience. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1991.
Watts, Alan. Buddhism: The Religion of No-Religion. Boston: Tuttle, 1995.

C. Jotin Khisty, Ph. D., is professor emeritus in the department of civil, architectural, and environmental Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology. He has published extensively in the areas of urban planning, transportation engineering, and systems science.

The Marriage of Buddhism and Deep Ecology - Theosophical Society in America

The Marriage of Buddhism and Deep Ecology - Theosophical Society in America

Deep Ecology: Living as if Nature Mattered by Bill Devall | Goodreads

Deep Ecology: Living as if Nature Mattered by Bill Devall | Goodreads





Deep Ecology: Living as if Nature Mattered

byBill Devall,George Sessions
3.92 · Rating details · 205 ratings · 18 reviews
Practicing is simple. Nothing forced, nothing violent, just settling into our place. "Deep ecology," a term originated in 1972 by Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess, is emerging as a way to develop harmony between individuals, communities and nature. DEEP ECOLOGY--the term and the book--unfolds the path to living a simple, rich life and shows how to participate in major environmental issues in a positive and creative manner.
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roduct description
From the Inside Flap
Contents Preface Nothing Can Be Done, Everything is Possible Minority Tradition and Direct Action The Dominant, Modern Worldview and Its Critics The Reformist Response Deep Ecology Some Sources of the Deep Ecology Perspective Why Wilderness in the Nuclear Age? Nature Resource Conservation or Protection of the Integrity of Nature: Contrasting Views of Management Ecotopia: The Vision Defined

From the Back Cover
Deep Ecology explores the philosophical, psychological, and sociological roots of today's environmental movement, examines the human-centered assumptions behind most approaches to nature, explores the possibilities of an expanded human consciousness, and offers specific direct action suggestions for individuals to practice. Widely read in it first printing, Deep Ecology has established itself as one of the most significant books on environmental thought to appear in this decade.

"Deep Ecology is subversive, but it's the kind of subversion we can use." --San Francisco Chronicle
"This book is an attempt at codifying a scattered body of ecological insight into a philosophy that places human beings on an absolutely equal footing with all other creatures on the planet." --Stephanie Mills, Whole Earth Review
"Difficult and (to some) unfamiliar insights on nature and human beings presented with simplicity and clarity, Deep Ecology rattles a cage full of occidental presumptions and yet it all seems almost like common sense." --Gary Snyder
Bill Devall has studied the social organization, politics, psychology and philosophy of the environmental movement for fifteen years. He teaches at Humbolt State University in California and is active in many environmental groups including Earth First! and the Sierra Club.

George Sessions teaches philosophy at Sierra College California. He was appointed to the Mountaineering Committee of the the Sierra Club in 1962, has served as a philosophy consultant to the National Endowment for the Humanities, and is editor of the International Ecophilosophy Newsletter.

About the Author
Bill DeVall has been a guest lecturer and featured speaker at universities in the United States and Australia and at national and international environmental conferences.

No Information Available.
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Paperback, 267 pages
Published January 19th 2001 by Gibbs Smith (first published 1985)


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Jul 07, 2009Gayge rated it liked it
You know, I kind of feel bad giving a book on deep ecology only three stars, especially where deep ecology is really central to my politics. But, one, I think this book would have been much more meaningful to me years ago - the principles of deep ecology are second nature to me at this point. And two, there's a lot of racism in this book, mainly referring to indigenous peoples of the Americas as "primal peoples" and viewing them as all the same, and massive, massive creepy appropriation and romanticisation of several Asian cultures.

If you aren't already well-versed in deep ecology, and you're up enough on anti-racism to know that this book is really racist (and, yes, portraying POC as special magical harmonious with the rest of Nature people and not involving actual current POC voices is hella racist), this will give you a clear intro to deep ecology. But especially given the racism that is part of some sections of the radical environmental movement, I'm looking for a better introduction to direct people to. (less)
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Jan 04, 2020Atticus rated it really liked it
Shelves: ecology-and-primitivism
At its core, this book is quite simple; everything present within it is, more or less, an accompaniment to the principles of Deep Ecology that it outlines. I would consider this to be more of a handbook than an actual book, and really it resonates with me more as a piece of aphoristic literature than anything else. There are a plethora of good quotations and sources and interesting bits of related artistry (Snyder's Smokey the Bear Sutra stood out for me, quite a wonderful piece), but in terms of the actual message the book is better suited as an introductory work. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but don't expect a "deep" reading from it. Still, it is good to consult and look over every now and again, as it is a pretty good introduction and does encompass a lot of important talking points. (less)
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Sep 18, 2017Brett rated it liked it
Shelves: environment, philosophy
It takes this book 200 pages to say that people need to refocus their conception of the world away from being human-centered and toward a conception that places humans, other life, and even natural environments on the same level.

I consider myself to an environmental advocate, but I'm not really willing to go as far as Deep Ecology wants to me to go. It may be possible for humans to live deeply satisfying lives with much reduced technological convenience but I don't think the vast majority of humans are seriously interested in trying this out. There is just very little grappling with the details of what the philosophical changes the authors want us to embrace would mean in actual effect. Instead, there are lots of sweeping statements and generalizations. Some of it is compelling; some of it not.

The authors also intersperse lots of snippets of other books, essays, and poems throughout the text, aiming for a general introduction to other thinkers and writers on the topic. In some ways, this is useful for those of us who are new to the topic, but in other ways it seems to prevent the authors from fully fleshing out their own thoughts. They introduce a topic, and insert the appropriate quote from another writer, then leave the topic. For a book that seems to want to be a comprehensive treatment of Deep Ecology, there is surprisingly little meat on the bones.

Rather, there is a lot of spiritual flim flam about the importance of nature and how mountains or rivers are living things that deserve to be valued intrinsically, even at the expense of humans. Nature is of course extremely important and by preserving nature, we greatly increase the odds of preserving the human race as well, but the fact of the matter is that mountains and rivers themselves are not living, and that humans will need to make informed, thoughtful, far-reaching judgments about development. To say that development is unacceptable in the vast majority of circumstances doesn't seem like a tenable position in the debate to me.

One other detail that seems strange, but has to do with when Deep Ecology was published in 1985. There is no mention at all of climate change in the book. Climate change was not understood of course in 1985 the way it is now, but it feels odd to read a book on environmentalism that doesn't speak at all to what has become the pressing environmental issue of our time.

I've been pretty hard on this book in this review, but there were several parts I greatly enjoyed, and I'm not even closing myself off entirely from the position advocated by the authors. The fact is that we are coming to a point in human development where we have greatly jeopardized our position on the planet through mindlessly burning fossil fuels, even decades after it became incontrovertible that doing so was causing serious harm. In the discussion of what it is that we can do now to try to stave off disaster, there is a place for someone to make the Deep Ecology argument. But I hope they can do it more effectively than this book does. (less)
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Jul 08, 2009Joshua added it
Shelves: hippie, summer09
This is a good overview of the philosophical underpinnings of Deep Ecology. It does a better (more polished) sales job than Naess's books, says something deep (better than Berry's book), and at least attempts a synthesis (unlike Milbraith). I particularly enjoyed the discussion of different types of ecotopias that have been proposed/presented.

This would make a good starter book to get someone interested in DE. Once they are hooked, then point them to Devall's "Simple in Means, Rich in Ends" for some practical advice.

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Feb 05, 2008Jessenoah rated it really liked it
Recommends it for: budding biophiliacs
lots of good quotes and standpoints regarding environmental philosophy. examining the myriad ways of looking at current issues, through the lenseseseses of poets and scientists alike.
check it out on the toilet.
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Aug 02, 2020Brandon rated it did not like it
I don't know who this was written for, but it wasn't for me. I got 2/3rds of the way through before throwing in the towel. I wanted to learn what deep ecology meant/stood for, but I walked away having learned little to nothing.

The organization and structure is terrible. The book is a hodgepodge of jumbled together thoughts with little rational order or flow, frequently interspersed with bulleted asides or excerpts that detract from any sort of cohesive argumentation.

The ideas presented are so vague and immaterial that they don't offer any real insight into what deep ecology means. Perhaps in the last 3rd of the book they actually lay out and develop this idea. The first 2/3rds of the book consisted of supremely self-sanctimonious finger wagging at every other section of society except the authors and indigenous peoples. And indigenous peoples are treated as a monolithic mystical nature cult who all live in complete harmony with the natural world and had solutions to all of life's problems - i.e. the authors are spouting the same racist 'noble savage' bullshit that Rousseau was spewing 200 years ago, only dressed up in new wave garb.

Relatedly, the authors never develop an argument that convinces the reader of the soundness of their position or the demerits of the so called 'professional ecologists', whom they depict as a bunch of number crunching nerds who don't understand the soul of nature. They frequently state that they are in the right and that corporations and foresters are in the wrong, but they never actually do the work of developing an argument and supporting it with evidence. This is lazy, self-righteous environmentalism at its worst and does nothing to actually promote conservation. The authors clearly weren't trying to convince anyone, so I suppose this book was intended to be a primer for people who already believed that a mystical ecology was the proper direction. Even in that though, it fails (b/c of the aforementioned vagueness).

I'm still interested in the concept of deep ecology, but won't be circling back to it for a while thanks to this drek. (less)
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May 17, 2021Mauro rated it really liked it
Deep Ecology is still our only, albeit tenuous, hope to survive the Anthropocene.
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May 09, 2018Emma rated it really liked it
Indeed the book's terminology is dated, as is the formulation of some ideas, however it's of its time. I don't think that this should detract too much from the neat and accessible means of introduction Sessions provides into deep ecology thinking. It is fairly comprehensive, drawing together key contributors of the time, and providing impetus for further thought... It is interesting to consider the sense of urgency three decades prior, the predictions/fears for the future, and how, unfortunately, so little has changed by way of dominant ideology that parts could almost have been written today. (less)
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Sep 19, 2008Jake rated it really liked it
Great stuff. This book is a natural extension of the mass self-loathing we all deserve as destroyers of the otherwise perfect Earth. Well, it wasn't really that sort of book, but it does discuss the emotional implications of a nature-centered life. I think we could all benefit from a more thoroughly realized sense of community. Technology is a good thing, but what's the hurry? A more deliberate path would allow us to maintain the wisdoms of the past while integrating those of the future. Utopian? Of course, but why the hell not? (less)
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Dec 20, 2007Kelly rated it really liked it
This is a great book. I originally read it to use in an environmental justice paper, and found that it provides a good basis for the environmental movement in general. Parts of it tend toward a self-righteous tree hugger mentality, but I liked it. It's inspiring. It's one of those books that I bought for school but have actually picked up since. (less)
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Jan 27, 2010Kate rated it liked it
Shelves: environmental
Parts of this book I really love—some keen insights on how we relate to our world, and to the non-humans (creatures, landscapes) that share it with us. But then other parts are intensely policy heavy and don't add much to the discussion, and then some parts a lil too new agey. So certain parts definitely 5 stars, and worth the read. But I have to give it a 3 stars overall. (less)
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Nov 30, 2014Ruth rated it it was ok
I'm not sure why I picked this book up again after reading it sometime in the 90's. It's very cut-and-pasty and weirdly written with all these quotes and bullets. I think I liked the appendices the best, because they were actual reprints of articles and a little easier to read. (less)
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Nov 08, 2010Lorelei Yang rated it really liked it
Shelves: philosophy-polisci
As a philosophy, deep ecology is both compelling and perplexing: hence the necessity of reading this volume.
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Buddhism and Deep Ecology: Henning, Daniel H.: 9781403370068: Amazon.com: Books

Buddhism and Deep Ecology: Henning, Daniel H.: 9781403370068: Amazon.com: Books
Buddhism and Deep Ecology Paperback – December 11, 2002
by Daniel H. Henning  (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars    3 ratings


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276 pages
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Buddhism and Deep Ecology

it was ok 2.00  ·   Rating details ·  5 ratings  ·  1 review
Buddhism And Deep Ecology (the latter can be considered the spiritual dimensions of the environmental movement) is approached on a holistic, consciousness, and value I basis. It presents basic ideas, knowledge, experiential exercises, examples, public participation aspects, and a Dhammaecology glossary on how Buddhism and Deep Ecology relate to each other and to protecting natural forests and the environment. The essential teaching of Buddha are related to Deep Ecology and visa versa, especially under Oneness, ecocentric, and spiritual orientations, for awareness, compassion, loving-kindness, and care for all living beings, including trees, for a wide spectrum of readers. (less)

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Top review from the United States
toronto
3.0 out of 5 stars OK
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2011
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This is an ok book on the subject, but scattered and somewhat self-indulgent. On the other hand, the author is a serious participant in this difficult world, so his opinion is worth weighing. There is so little on the subject that the references are also useful.
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MR B AITKEN
5.0 out of 5 stars Thisbook is a delight to read esp if you believe in the first ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 8, 2018
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Thisbook is a delight to read esp if you believe in the first precept of doing no harm to All sentients. An uplifting book , a book of interconnection and compassion Buy it you won’t be disappointed
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Deep Ecology Movement: An Introductory Anthology: Drengson, Alan, Inoue, Yuichi: Amazon.com.au: Books

Deep Ecology Movement: An Introductory Anthology: Drengson, Alan, Inoue, Yuichi: Amazon.com.au: Books


Deep Ecology Movement: An Introductory Anthology Paperback – 15 July 2011
by Alan Drengson (Author), Yuichi Inoue (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars    9 ratings

Deep ecology, a term coined by noted Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess, is a worldwide grassroots environmental movement that seeks to redress the shallow and piecemeal approache of technology-based ecology. Its followers share a profund respect for the earth's interrelated natural systems and a sense of urgency about the need to make profound cultural and social changes in order to respore and sustain the long-term health of the planet. This comprehensive introduction to the Deep Ecology movement brings tgether Naess' groundbreaking work with essays by environmental thinkers and activists responding to and expanding on its philosophical and practical aspects.Contributors include George Sessions, Gary Snyder, Alan Drengson, Dll Devall, Freya Matthews, Warwick Fox, David Rothenberg, Michael E. Zimmerman, Patsy Hallen, Dolores LaChapelle, Pat Fleming, Joanna Macy, John Rodman, and Andrew Mclaughlin. The Authrs offer diverse viewpoints- from ecofeminist, scientific, and purely philosophical approaches to Christian, Buddhist, and Gandhian-based principles. Their essays show how social, technological, psychological, philosophical, and institutional issues are aall fundamentally related to our attitudes and values toward the natural world
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julian ortleb
5.0 out of 5 stars Versatile and inspiring
Reviewed in Germany on 18 November 2014
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Very successful compilation of basic texts on depth ecology, which go both in breadth and depth. Most of them written in academic style, so English skills are required. Nevertheless, the lyrics are not dry, but really inspiring. Many important and wise considerations, according to which we would ideally all align our lives.
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Surajit Das
5.0 out of 5 stars Collections of well written articles
Reviewed in India on 15 January 2021
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It is an excellent anthology. It will help for the students and researchers of environmental philosophy. It covers the areas of ecology, ecofeminism, and some other environmental issues.
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Arkady
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on 23 January 2016
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great
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Jane Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars The Deep Ecology Movement
Reviewed in the United States on 11 September 2013
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Great to Deepen your experience and awareness of all things Ecolo - from the beginning to the now and onward, be it! be in it!
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==

Aug 20, 2017rated it it was amazing
I haven't been inspired by a book in the same manner since I read "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" by Jack Herer in 2012. Born and raised in California, my youth revolved around National Parks filled with redwoods, whale watching on the Pacific Ocean, elephant seals and banana slugs, and so much more that I didn't fully appreciate were special to this place and time. As a teen I was inspired by movements that I never truly knew the origins of, such as the grassroots movement, green peace, NORML, and the Green Party amongst others. This introductory anthology discusses the Industrial Age spanning from the 1800's to the 1980's (in which this book was written), but also discusses how many of those movements and political parties became what they are. It's interesting to see the projected world view of that time and what people hoped the future would hold. It's equally interesting to take into account how much of their aspirations have come to fruition and which are still being struggled over. Commercial Industry moves slowly into the Green Age, fear of loss holds many back from utilizing the deep ecology philosophy and the residual stigma of the antiquated "war on drugs" + "war on terror" keeps all industries dancing to the primitive tune of violence and exploitation of resources from all levels of life rather than choosing what is best for existence as a whole. Even our ISS has a problem with waste disposal. Already we pollute space, and we are only speculatively present in that environment. Nature is unpredictable and can be unyielding to human needs, so humans synthesized much of nature to the point of removing us from it. This has been done in the name of profit but is done under a guise that the alternative option leaves us exposed to too much risk of the unpredictable. Labs are unpredictable as well. The REAL ONES of The World always have known that we've been robbed of a richer existence, stripped of our cultures, and ultimately silenced through violence and oppression. It's the same today, but perspectives are so skewed that people become overwhelmed by PC social standards and struggle to see how they can implement change. So we see the bizarre mix of events where one person might "rescue" a dog from a shelter and become a SJW for it.. and where another person in another country will be starving to death because they didn't find any strays to bring home to cook that evening. The second person can't relate to the first, vice versa.. and yet who is right? Should people starve to death in developing countries in order for people in developed nations to view them as morally equal? Second order evil vs. first order evil, which is worse? Is there a difference? And if so, who causes a greater hurt to the ecological systems in the long term? When logically thought through, many of perceived evils to the environment viewed from a 21st century 1st world point of view, is just not truly in touch with the reality of all things. Each One Teach One, Stay Blessed. Peace & 1ove

RIP Jack Herer

"There's something that's missing, they don't understand. It's like a limb blown off and left to rot in a foreign land. How can I get to the root of the problem? When none of my predecessors want me to solve them. Covert Ops and a conspiracy of silence. More violence begets more violence. The whole world's buzzing about a war against drugs while my mind's buzzing on these drugs that are against war. Cannabis Sativa, you fuccin stupid hhhooore, before you go to pulling my stashie out the drawer, I wanna see us all unite to raise funds for more. Not just the re-cop tho, I'm looking to the next level. Cannabis' future lies in better funding for scientific testing. Do your part, spread the fuccing message. Be an advocate, be an activist, but don't be a coward groping around in the darkness. Illuminate your mind or eliminate your thoughts. With or without you, this message is something I believe. Not only that, but it's something deep. I remember being hopeless and alone when I was living good AND when I was homeless in the cold. Anywhere I am, I'm a problem. Narcissistic views, I'm kind of guarded. Neurotic Nightmare and the night hasn't started. Who will explain me away when I go insane? There's something that I'm missing, like a conscious, like a brain. I drank from the negativity and infected my brain. Now my hands shake and I feel anxious every day. Smoke supermelts till the pain melts away. Left alone with a heart less world, no where to go. I wandered so many nights past so many blank faces. Houses that I can't call home, people I don't want to know. Swallow your guilt, Swallow your pride. These are lessons I've been taught by a lot of devilish women in my life, hear it in my tone. I'm totally not kidding. There's something missing but you won't find it out there, and you most certainly won't find it in me. It's something DEEP."
S.D.
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Andy
A mixed bag here. Some of the essays including the introductory material about what "deep ecology" is as compared to regular ecology is instructive. It doesn't necessarily jibe with my thoughts on the issues but we all have different takes on things. Maybe my own views on ecology run a bit deeper than the norm which is something I can accept. I start to run into problems with the essay on feminism and deep ecology (written by a man) and then The Council of All Beings pushed me over. New age, hippy, whatever you want to call this goofiness just bugs the hell out of me and gives the green movement so many problems because so many have a hard time taking people chanting or talking about their totem animals seriously. Maybe it helps Julia Butterfly or Woodchuck or whatever someone wants to call him/her/itself be in touch with nature but people on the fence read or hear this stuff and shake their heads. This is too important of a movement, too important of an issue for people like this to be out there chanting and trying to lead something. I want to say they should let the adults run things but these are adults who, for whatever reason, seem to think their free spirited expressions are going to change minds. They aren't. This is worth a selective reading but, depending on your take on things, some essays are best left alone. (less)