I don’t know about you, but I’ve crossed over from fearing the worst to believing in it. From the sixties onward there has been lots of speculation that our industrial free market system was headed towards some kind collision with the finity of the natural world, kind of like a car veering towards a brick wall. The scientists suggested that if we didn’t change direction, at some point in the distant future we would face dire consequences. Well, the front fender is beginning to crumple and the very real implication is that we are now headed towards a series of converging crises that will lead us to catastrophic change.
It is also true that we cannot as individuals or small groups control the outcome of such vast causes and conditions. The only thing that we can be held to, is that we took our best shot, while being happy and at ease. Plant good seeds by living well in the moment. Plant good seeds that might help deflect the coming storm; and plant good seeds that will benfit those that come after us. With this in mind, I read The Fruitful Darkness by Joan Halifax. Her book is an exploration of shamanism, buddhism and deep ecology told through the lense of vivid personal tales of desert, mountain and wilderness; solitude and inititation and service to human and animal communites.It is organized sround broad themes: the Way of Silence, Story, Protectors, Compassion, Non-Duality and the World Wound. The Fruitful Darkness is poetic, heartfelt and honest. It is a good “jumping off point” for the work that needs to be done highly recommended.
When Things Fall Apart is an insightful and very readable book. It is composed of 22 short meditations about how to be intimate with whatever…read more →
Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness "We can travel a long way and do many different things, but our deepest happiness is not born from…read more →
