Quote from the book: "Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. Practicing spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning, and purpose to our lives."I like this recognition of connection. Since we are all connected, we could say we are one.
"Have you not considered how Allah sets forth a parable of a good word being like a good tree, whose root is firm and whose branches are in heaven?"
— Qur’an 14:24
Hinduism
"I am the fragrance of the Earth, the heat in fire. I am the life of all that lives."
— Lord Krishna, Bhagavad Gita 7.9
Judaism
"When God created the first human beings, God led them around all the trees of the Garden of Eden and said: ‘See my works how beautiful and praiseworthy they are! Think of this, and do not corrupt or destroy My world.’ "
— Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7
Christianity
"What is the kingdom of God like?… It is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the garden; it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches."
— Jesus, Luke 13:18
Shintoism
"Return the thing given to the human as a gift of nature to its original place."
— Ancient Japanese Saying
Native Spirituality
"Great Spirit, help us learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock."
— Native American Prayer
Sikhism
"Air is the Guru, Water is the Father and Earth is the Great Mother of All."
— Guru Granth Sahib p. 8
Confucianism
"Does Heaven say anything? The four seasons pursue their courses, and all things are continually being produced. Does Heaven say anything?"
— Confucius, Analects 17:17
Jainism
"Nonviolence is the supreme religion. One who looks on the creatures of the Earth, big and small, as one’s own self, comprehends this immense world."
— Lord Mahavira
Zoroastrianism
"Who created the waters and the plants? Who yoked the swiftness of the winds and the motion of the clouds? For I beheld Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord) as the primeval source of creation."
— Gatha Ushtavaiti 44.4
Taoism
"In harmony with the Tao, the sky is clear and spacious, the Earth is solid and full, all creatures flourish together…"
— Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching 39 (Stephen Mitchell's translation, 56:13-32)
Buddhism
"Cut down the forest of desire, not the forest of trees."
— The Buddha, Dhammapada 283
Bahá’í Faith
"Know thou that every created thing is a sign of the revelation of God."
— Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings 177
Unitarianism
"We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part."
— Seventh Unitarianism Principle
The Green Rule
Do unto the Earth as you would have it do unto you
Do unto the Earth as you would have it do unto you
I like the Green Rule . If we could all agree on this wouldn't our world be a better place?
ReplyDeleteMe, too, Miz Emily. If people could even imagine "Do unto the Earth as you would have it do unto you," maybe we wouldn't be destroying our air and water and the very soil we depend upon for food. So far, Mother Earth has provided for us what we have needed to live and thrive, but we have become so arrogant that we think we know better than millions of years of evolving into this working relationship of ONENESS. Our mantra should be "We are one with the world and one with each other."
ReplyDeleteYes, one with each other = treat people with respect
ReplyDeleteOne with the earth= treat the earth with respect
One with the animals= treat animals with respect
I like this world view.
Well, that (of course) doesn't surprise me at all, my dear friend! That's part of what I like about you, after all.
ReplyDelete"R-E-S-P-E-C-T ... I got to have (just a little bit) ... a little respect (just a little bit)," as Aretha Franklin sang.
So respect people, respect the earth, respect animals — yep, that's what it's all about.