“Was not their mistake once more bred of the life of slavery that they had been living?—a life which was always looking upon everything, except mankind, animate and inanimate—‘nature,’ as people used to call it—as one thing, and mankind as another, it was natural to people thinking in this way, that they should try to make ‘nature’ their slave, since they thought ‘nature’ was something outside them” — William Morris


Thursday, August 4, 2011

Integral Ecology 5: Mr. Grumpy Vomits about the Ecosage


If the ecosage truly sees everything as a display of emptiness-luminosity (as specified in Integral Ecology chapter 9), then she is without doubt weeping with pain. As Pema Chödron once pointed out on a retreat I was on, the "higher" your realization the more acute the sense of suffering. Her precise words: "This is the level on which the Buddha weeps."

This is of all things certainly not the level on which the Buddha spouts truisms anyone can find in National Geographic about the ending of geological cycles, and the sad yet knowing fare-thee-wells we must fondly bid our fellow lifeforms, as we mournfully consign them to extinction.

Even hate would be more positive than this sickeningly "wise" indifference.

"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.

"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.

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