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The Dalai Lama recently said
"The time has come to find a way of thinking about spirituality and ethics, that is beyond religion"
I totally agree with this - isn't it true that although, theoretically, most religions value similar moral principles, when it comes to practice, the religious bias so often leads to conflict and strife rather than harmony between people? Perhaps part of the way forward is a more individual approach. For each person to take guidance from their education and backgrounds, but individually to come to their own values and principles which then become like an internal spiritual compass - orientating a person from the inside.
At the same time as this more individual 'hands on' approach, there are so many fundamental issues which are totally relevant to all people....like why are we here on earth? Is there a deeper reason for life beyond the obvious? ....perhaps it is under this larger 'humanity' umbrella that is beyond nation or creed, that we can find the real importances, that provide a solid foundation for a kinder, more compassionate way forward?
So, first research and discover the collective issues, then take an individual stance?
I saw a fascinating program about an expedition by a chap working at Kew Gardens to Kenya. The purpose of the trip was to gather seeds. One of the rather gripping and concerning issues being raised was that it is estimated that 25 % of ALL plants on the planet are currently in danger of extinction. Whilst there is quite a high public awareness of endangered animals like the tiger or panda, not so many people are aware of the situation in the plant kingdom. In particular, seeds were being gathered from a variety of plants which had the capacity to withstand extreme temperatures,both hot and cold, as a preparation for the impact climate change could have on plants upon which we currently now depend. One example of this was in the gathering of seeds from a variety of wild rice.... thought was being given today as to how to avert possible future problems.
I found the fact about the expected extinctions a little shocking, but was encouraged by the practical preparations being made today in readiness for what the future might need. As awareness of our changing times grows, it is just this conscious pioneering of the needs of tomorrow, that, to me, is a brilliant mind set to develop ..... rather than worry over much about the problems, seek to understand the situation as thoroughly as possible, and then volunteer to be part of the solution in whatever practical ways we can !!
I seem to be receiving a lot of emails and links recently from friends about the sensitivity and intelligence of animals. One which particularly caught me was of a monkey rescuing a puppy from high flood water ..as shown here...sorry for the quality of photo but isn't it amazing ? Another was of a video showing one dog risking its own life to pull another dog off a busy motorway and onto the verge after an accident. It makes me ponder to what degree we under-value the sensitivity and intelligence of the non human lives of the planet. Not that this is a new idea..about 2500 years ago, Pythagoras said "Animals share with us the privilege of having a soul"
It feels like a really important part of building a more humane society, to develop a greater value for the fauna life and to appreciate their lives for what they are in themselves, and not just for what they do for us.
I had a fascinating conversation with an old friend recently. He had just returned from Bahrain, where he had been working intermittently over a number of years.
I asked him what was his take on the Arab Spring from his own experience in Bahrain.
He said that he felt nothing could really change long term in the governments unless things changed within families and the gender balance....that the masculine influence was too strong & dominant...the feminine influence too absent. Intrigued, I asked further and he went on to explain that his experience was that behind closed doors, even amongst some of his educated colleagues, the man of the family was a bit of a tyrant...viewing both the women and children as his to do with, as he chose, and that physical violence was still not that uncommon. The autocratic governments which we have seen in the Middle East, he felt, are a like a large scale reflection of this family pattern.
This gave me food for thought....as it demonstrates how change at the ground level, could influence society. So often people feel they personally cannot make a difference, but in fact everybody can and does contribute to the status quo ...either by confirming or changing it. Perhaps part of our changing times is the breakdown of this 'top down' kind of influence and the appearance of much more personal responsibility from individuals....as well of course as a natural and balanced working partnership between the genders.
