In tune with nature
I learn as I write. I don't really know what I think by thinking. It is through writing that I find out what my thoughts are. Although I have been recycling, composting etc. for many years, I didn't really know what sustainability is and what it means to me. I wrote exactly 100 words about sustainability, and here they are and what I found out:
Sustainability is simply giving back what you have taken. It is replacing what you have used. It is leaving a part of you behind. If you cut down a tree, plant another in its place. Sustainability shows awareness of those who come after you. It is only right.
Sustainability is good manners. It is poor manners to leave a place a mess. It is exquisite manners to leave a place better than you found it.
Sustainability is simple, natural, and thoughtful. If you pick a grape from the vine, spit out the grape seeds. What is so hard about that?
At the spiritual center that Heaven Admin is spearheading, the common ground is a sense of Oneness. It is a sense of looking out for the well-being of everyone. Spirituality is a sense of Oneness rather than separation. With awareness of Oneness comes a desire to serve God and all of God's creation.
Is not the paragraph above talking about spirituality, sustainability, and community all at once? Once upon a time, I had to talk about each separately. Now I only seem to know how to talk about them as one.
Here is a quotation I found from God:
"The Earth is your home. Take good care of it. Bless it with every step you take and every step you don’t take. Bless the Earth every which way. Bless this part. Bless that part. It is all yours. There is not a spot on Earth that you are not responsible for. You are responsible for all of it, and this is your privilege. Your rule reaches far. Grant the Earth you live on your blessings. Love the Earth you live on. Partner with it. Love it well. No exceptions. Simply love, for the Earth is all yours, and all are yours. There is no one who is not yours. Love your neighbor. Love your stranger. Love those who are just like you, and love those who are not like you. Let love from your heart bloom."
How would you describe spirituality? Can you post some ideas right away? In time for a Skype call tonight?
Comments
What you wrote, Gloria, is exactly right to my mind and very spiritual. Yet there are layers to it, perhaps we can call them layers of awareness.
Sense of oneness is not quite awareness of Oneness. The former means closeness and commonality; the latter, well, sameness, identicalness (as outlined in, for example, Heaven #1141). You are aware that you ARE everyone and everything; that everyone and everything IS you, that time and space do not exist.
Sense of closeness, of course, creates a caring attitude, a life according to the principle of sustainability and a lot of creative ideas to implement that principle. In itself, this is a great and wonderful thing, one that has gained a wider recognition over the last fifty or so years. But it does not end twoness.
In awareness of Oneness, nothing is done or planned or spread or looked out for, yet everything happens as it should and well-being is assured.
I'm not ranking sense of oneness and awareness of Oneness, I just want to point out they are not the same.
I have no ideas on spirituality except that all ideas fall short and everyone has different ones.
Okay, one idea in two parts: Oneness is not approached through deliberate steps and yet each and every step is a step toward Oneness.
Steps deliberately taken presuppose (and often cement) twoness; steps taken just like that can be steps of Oneness in Oneness.
Wow! Thanks for responding, beloved Jochen.
I think spirituality is putting Spirit in everything you do. It's not about religion nor about reading and knowing things. It is a state of consciousness, where you are present in spirit in everything you do. I guess it's how the native people used to live communing with the One Spirit in everything. Like God says in Heavenletters: "Whatever you do, you are doing it for Me."
Spirit comes from latin "spiritus" breath, which comes from "spirare" to breath.
Didn't God said that He created the world and us by breathing "Ahhh"?
Shouldn't we simply breath consciously before starting to think?
"In awareness of Oneness, nothing is done or planned or spread or looked out for, yet everything happens as it should and well-being is assured."
I intend to frame this and say YES!
There are layers, layers and layers of awareness, everything is good and appropriate for those who do it, but awareness of Oneness is the end of all stories and also of spirituality.
My Idea of spirituality is " LOVE " Unconditional love. A dog gives unconditional love to its master. It is to me, all very simple. Through learning Love, I became happy. I will leave it at that. Love you all Jack
dearest Jack,
I share your idea totally and also to me it is very very very simple. and... I am sooooo glad to leave it at that !!!! much love. Berit
Spirituality is about discovering everything about the spirit.
Hey! I like to chew my grape seeds!