Humans are part of the system, we are not *the system*
I think we sometimes forget that we are a species being supported entirely by nature; not the other way around. Just like every other species on the planet, we need favourable natural conditions to survive.
Traditionally, the Earth’s spiritual function is known as the ability of the Earth to have an intrinsic recreational, psychological, aesthetic and spiritual value for humans.
But this is ignoring something. Humans are one species. There are about 8.7 million species living on Earth.
When we focus only on the value of the earth for our own human ends, we are like greedy kids taking more cake than we’re allowed while the rest of the kids at the party cry and suffer.
Around 17% of the Amazon rainforest has been destroyed, and much of it in the last 20 years. At the rate we’re going, WWF estimates that 27% of the Amazon rainforest will be tree-less in 2030.
What’s even more saddening is that much of this deforestation is done for cattle ranching. About 70% of the Amazon rainforest is cleared to raise cattle for slaughter. Most of it is to grow soy to feed these cows, many of whom end up on Big Macs.
We are destroying around half of the world’s tropical rainforest – and the home of around 3 million species – to raise and kill other animals.
This is just one example of humans doing things to hurt the earth in the name of modern conveniences. There are others, like fracking and coal seam gas. It seems that we have taken advantage of the earth’s ability to provide for humans, at the expense of not just us – but other animals.
Going beyond statistics
A true appreciation of nature is not found in statistics on environment destruction, as alarming as they are. If you’ve ever seen a bird gathering materials for her nest, there is something so beautiful about it.
The way a bird carefully selects the right materials, gathering the right ones in her beak, is resourceful and loving and purposeful. In that moment, you can look at a bird and remember how to live – in the present moment, with purpose, and loving dedication to the task at hand.
We can give lots of logical reasons why we need to protect the environment. Many are important but still a little self-serving. We are worried about the survival of our own species, and of future generations of humans to come. If this is as far as we can look and strive for, then that’s at least something.
But what about all the other species, who are not consciously damaging the earth, but must suffer the consequences of what humans do to it?
The very reason we need to protect the earth and other species that live on it with us it is that they are innocent in all this. They did not choose this. None of the environmental damage is their doing. Yet animals suffer the most.
The sheer beauty of diversity, and being able to witness an animal who is not controlled by ego just living their life is a blessing.
Animals are not distracted by the abstractions of self-concept and memory. While these things have arguably made humans great, with our civilisations and our progress, too much of it makes us miserable. Overthinking, anxiety, depression, an obsession with perfection and needing to control all our circumstances even when we can’t, are things we do that animals don’t.
Animals are not just here for us to use for our own purposes. They give us the gift of remembering our true nature, which is actually underneath all the ‘greatness’ – the ego – and is love.
We cannot keep destroying the earth because as we do, we forget that what the planet gives us are gifts, not endless bounties to be used and abused.
As we destroy the earth, we lose connection with ourselves, and with other animals we share the planet with – who represent not a baser nature, but a purer one. As we put our species before all others, we lose a part of ourselves.
Saving the planet will require a shift in consciousness that goes beyond just caring for future human generations. We are part of a wider ecosystem when it comes to consciousness, and it’s time humans stopped acting like the greedy kid at the party that thinks everything belongs to them – presents, cake and all, and learns how to share.
