Earth Awareness, Conscious Evolution, and Practical Action

Earth Awareness, Conscious Evolution, and Practical Action

What we mean by “earth awareness” and “conscious evolution” is a little different from some of the other ideas out there —which is not to say that those ideas are wrong, or misleading, or unhelpful — but simply that ours are different.

Earth Awareness

“Earth awareness” is absolutely central, not simply as a felt attachment, but more importantly as a grasping of the entire systemic life-nurturing, life-sustaining, and self-regenerating system that the Earth is.

Whether or not you see James Lovelock’s “Gaia hypothesis” as scientifically valid, it reflects a deep and imaginative understanding of the relationship we have with “Mother Nature.” We are, after all, products of, and intrinsically linked to and dependent upon, whatever it is that we call Nature, and this turning, glittering, and sometimes implacable planet we call Earth.

Consequently we need to understand and be vividly aware of our critical life-supporting Spaceship Earth, and make sure that our actions are aimed at restoring its health rather than depleting its resources for a short-term gain.

We can think of Earth awareness in terms of what we know

Conscious Evolution

Similarly, we need to be present to the ongoing evolutionary struggle of our species against its own blinders and weaknesses, and to our effort to bring into being a shared consciousness, the collective conscious self-awareness of the species as the guardians and gardeners of Earth.

Practical Action

We’re into “meditation in action,” not simply contemplation: our economies and indeed the bulk of all of our human activities, need to be focused on the living and breathing biosphere which sustains all of life.

“Imagine”