The earth, sustainability, cultural traditions and world peace

Yet, what is peace building except that it changes hearts and what best way than to change one heart at a time. Again, why disciplines such as peace building have failed is because it tries to cater to the psyche of the masses. It is well and good if a large number of people are changed towards love which is easier than hate. But if that seems tough the power of one heart at a time should not be under-estimated 

 By Surya Vishwa

All world cultures and traditions evolve from what is upon the earth. The diet pattern, medicinal knowledge, environment protecting mechanisms, many faith traditions, dance, music, poetry, literature, all hark back to what the earth has chosen to grant man. This bestowing is different from location to location as the earth is indeed an artist of vicissitude. Some weeks back we wrote about dance and how dance forms connect the human ecosystem with that of the planet.

The link of humanity to all of the earth

The link of humanity with all of the earth’s life is such that it would be impossible to separate  spirituality, art, culture or heritage from the veins that run through planet earth and the cosmic consciousness because the luxuries of nature are interwoven with all that man has created. 

In this sense, if one sits quietly, distancing one’s mind from all what one has been conditioned to think, we would be able to come to a different and free realisation that is earth centric and not trapped within human limitations.

Let us take the olive tree. The olive branch is a sign of peace just as the olive tree growing in abundance in Middle East soil including territories of Israel and Palestine signifies the core of life. In Judaic, Christian and Islamic traditions the olive tree is a sign of hope, sustenance and abundance. The olive tree is described as a sacred life generating plant by religious traditions such as, Judaic scriptures and in everyday life, for example, for the Islamic Palestinian people it would be unthinkable to use olive oil however fancy the brand is, except from trees from their soil. Making of the olive oil is a family and community tradition. This is the same for Jews, Palestinians or Christians in that region. There is ample poetic verse, folklore and religious reference on the significance of the olive tree.

In the territories of Nepal, India and Sri Lanka the Bo tree is a sacred tree, associated significantly with Buddhism. Historically, it was found in all premises where yogis and those committed to spirituality made their home under its ample leafy shade. The Bo tree is well known to have been part of the journey of enlightenment of the Buddha. Similarly, just as the olive tree is for the Israelis, Palestinians and Middle East dwellers, the Bo tree is sacred for Sri Lankan Buddhists, Hindus, Indians and Nepalis. Imagine the countless   initiatives of solace that could be generated innovating on how to use such sacred trees in a world of strife? If these trees could talk, is it not what they would appeal for?

Relating to the earth and lifestyle, until modern household manufacturing and construction caught up with us, the homes that humans lived in, what we consumed, how we cooked our food and what we sat on or slept on was decreed by nature’s varying gifts found in different parts of the planet. This is how mats, chairs and stone and clay constructions survive to date in several parts of the world as they still do in various locations in Asia, Central Asia and Africa.

Many of the knowhow associated with these aesthetics, engineering and crafts are dead now. There is however, a fragment of opportunity if we wish to globally resurrect this knowledge as it is directly linked with the much yearned for sustainability. We can link its revival to world peace and mould this knowledge into global peace building models, filling a great vacuum in the theory of peace building taught the world over as an academic discipline. 

In a recent discussion with a senior US based peace building practitioner, the problem of conflicting parties, wherever in the world, not having heartfelt desire for peace building models mostly funded by Western countries was one of the issues focused on. Often, agendas are imagined affiliated with the funding entity because there isn’t much local relevance and the peace building theoretic being more externalised than internalised. 

We speak of climate change but hardly emphasise the impact of toxic pollution of wars happening around the world to nature, bio diversity and the climate at large. It is not clear if the harm done to the earth as a result of emissions from bombs and gunpowder has been adequately collated, or if such a thing can be practically done. Even as we spend enormous amounts hosting seminars to speak on climate change due to human action, we are yet to come up with one global policy that connects the dots in a meaningful manner

A key issue of modern education and problem solving is that we look for solutions in an isolated and polarised manner. We speak of climate change but hardly emphasise the impact of toxic pollution of wars happening around the world to nature, biodiversity and the climate at large. It is not clear if the harm done to the earth as a result of emissions from bombs and gunpowder has been adequately collated, or if such a thing can be practically done. Even as we spend enormous amounts hosting seminars to speak on climate change due to human action, we are yet to come up with one global policy that connects the dots in a meaningful manner. 

The land, climate change, peace and tradition 

Many of the wars across the world today are fought for rights to land. Often when listened impartially, the arguments of any warring side across the world could be logical or justifiable. It depends on the perspective, how much information one has and how it is being used in the argument. 

However, holistically deconstructing such issues, a genuine peace builder would see a victim in every perpetrator, because when people or a community feels victimised they revert to violent means towards what they see as their right. Hence, although political rationalism based peace building would stumble upon many a spot, the holistic, unbridled empathy based route of extreme love for the earth and human which looks at human rights and earth based tradition and culture as non judgmental routes to re building, the broken bond between people could be mended.

At times it may appear naïve to suggest that culture, heritage, tradition and earth based links of peace building would work in the face of the extremity of killing, hatred and violence that we see today. Yet, what is peace building except that it changes hearts and what better way than to change one heart at a time. Again, why disciplines such as peace building have failed is because it tries to cater to the psyche of the masses. It is good and good if a large number of people are changed towards love which is easier than hate. But if that seems tough the power of one heart at a time should not be under-estimated.