Everything is connected to everything else. We’re all connected, all beings. Yes, I strongly believe that, on many levels – experientially, philosophically, existentially. When I go hiking in the Santa Fe National Forest, and when I pay attention to the presence of all the trees around me, a joyful feeling of awe washes over me. There are different kinds of evergreens, and all kinds of sizes – some are babies, looking delicate and fresh, others are gigantic, showing traces of a long life and its afflictions. Some are short and thick, others are tall and thin – and vice versa. Often they grow in family-like clusters. It’s not hard to imagine that they all communicate and that there are many interactive relationships going on.
Please don’t think that this sounds quite nice, but is nothing but poetic fancy. After reading Richard Powers’s The Overstory (I highly recommend it, if you haven’t read it) I did some research and found several scientists who performed rigorous studies about trees and the way they communicate with and relate to each other. There is, for example, Diana Beresford-Kroeger, who studies trees’ chemical relationships which, she says, “...are at the heart of connectivity in nature”1.
Another scientist, Suzanne Simard, professor of forest ecology at the University of British Columbia, studies the understory (the ground of a forest, consisting of a network of latticed fungi, seedlings, ferns, shrubs etc. – I didn't know this when reading The Overstory). Fungi and roots interact and communicate with each other2 and allow trees to share information about water, carbon, and other nutrients. If interested, you can learn more by watching Suzanne Simard’s TED Talk.
Neither do I have any trouble connecting with non-human animals. I don’t eat them or use parts of them because I don’t want to cause pain. Knowing that another creature suffers agony that I have a part in feels awful – it’s that simple. Here where I live, in rural northern New Mexico, I come across countless bizarre creatures, and I find them interesting and fascinating. And my dogs? They’re family and can sleep on my bed.
However, it’s quite a different story when it comes to certain humans. Trophy hunters. People who only care about money and/or power. Gun lovers. War mongers. Those who torture animals for fun. Climate change deniers. Wife beaters and child molesters. People who value cultural traditions more than the beings who have to suffer – spectators of and participants in bullfighting, for example. I could go on, but you get the picture. I don’t want to have anything to do with them. And somehow, that doesn’t feel right when – only in theory? – everything is connected.
Maybe I should learn to become more tolerant, but I don’t think that’s the only solution. Essentially, I have problems with people who are too selfish and self-centered, who don’t care about the wellbeing of others. And I was pondering: maybe this is something that should be taught in elementary school. Maybe besides reading and writing and arithmetics, kids need to learn compassion, how to be good. There are already programs that bring animals – cats and dogs mostly – into classrooms with the aim to help young children develop kindness towards animals and all beings. As far as I know, these projects are carried out by non-profit organizations. How about incorporating something similar into a regular school curriculum?
When I still lived in Berkeley, I heard about a master gardener (I don’t recall her name) who regularly visited St. Quentin State Prison to teach gardening to the inmates. Prisoners not only were able to grow their own vegetables and learn valuable new skills, they also, maybe for the first time in their lives, really took care of something. Better yet, of something alive – something with an instant feedback mechanism that tells you whether you treated it well or not. Apparently, the recidivism rate for inmates who went through such a gardening program is way lower (10%) than the normal rate where more than four in ten offenders return to prison within three years.3
This makes total sense. I remember how shocked I was after I moved to the United States and witnessed this throw-away mentality: people would visit fast-food outlets where meals were served on paper plates and in styrofoam cups, all of which ended in the trash. I wondered… if people never learn to take care of something, if none of the things in their everyday life has any value, how would they value their own lives or that of others.
Maybe this should also be part of a new curriculum: how to regularly care for everyday objects. How to treat simple things with respect.
And I have a request for all the many therapists and therapies out there. Usually, they always focus on the individual, on their past. I’m sure this is absolutely necessary for people to overcome childhood trauma or PTSD. But the many personal development coaches and “feel better” counselors: maybe they could develop strategies to help people “get out” from themselves and connect with the world around them? Instead of focusing on “me”, focusing on “us” where “us” includes rocks and clouds and flowers? Again, I’m not talking about either/or; there are many people who need to work through their past, who need to focus on the “me” that got so deeply hurt. But how about a group that people can join, where the facilitator helps them to take a vacation from themselves so to speak; where they’re being encouraged to deeply connect with the seedling of a bean, for example – watching it every day, noticing the changes and growth by drawing it at least once a day, giving it enough light and water so it is doing well. Actually, there IS already something like that, related to artistic therapy, practiced in a group setting – maybe that’ll be the topic for another newsletter entry.
Here, I wanted to throw out ideas about helping people to become better human beings. Please add your own thoughts in the comment section.
Humans can be hypocritical, and we can especially be so when it's and issue of selfishness/empathy.
I might justify myself - I was running late this morning because I slept poorly, lost my keys, couldn't find the right address- but react poorly to another - the other person was late because they didn't prioritize well and don't value my time. I work hard to very intentionally put myself in someone else's shows, to push against easy hypocrisy. I think about whether the other person has had barriers and bumps and issues. For me it takes practice. I easily feel my own hunger, but looking at another person their hunger can feel abstract. So I practice practice practice being outside of my Self, outside of Me. A lot of intentionality there.
Your beautiful post made me think about practicing being outside of the walls of Me.
suzanne simard is a hero of mine / i've watched her TED talk multiple times and read her book / you present alot of good ideas / i would include a 'media awareness' class so maybe we aren't so brainwashed by the media we watch and read for our 'news' / so many things that need to change / last night i was at the sunset communion service at a church in our neighborhood / when we started singing about 'this little light of mine / i'm gonna let it shine' i almost cried / actually i did shed a few tears for 'how great thou art' and i'm not religious / maybe that's why i felt it so acutely / the connection between humans and the divine within us and around us (although i don't know if it can be taught) somehow needs to be prioritized in our way over commercialized world / what is wealth really ?? it's actually a feeling not a number / a feeling of peace serenity connectedness as you say and we all have access to that for free / thanks for the great post