A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace. CONFUCIUS

Sunday, 20 January 2008

Earth Pilgrim

Practise spirituality in everyday life. MAHATMA GANDHI

We must become the change we want to see in the world. MAHATMA GANDHI

I am an Earth Pilgrim. If I've learnt anything from my journey in life, it's come through wandering this wonderful world. SATISH KUMAR

Hope everyone caught today's Natural World programme on BBC2. The ecologist, writer, thinker, peace campaigner, former Jain monk and Gandhi disciple Satish Kumar gave a spiritual interpretation of Dartmoor in all its seasons. He defined Nature as what is born and what will die - of which we are all a part. Death and birth, winter and spring, are both to be welcomed, both to be celebrated. Both are essential aspects of life's continuum. The changeless cycle of death and re-birth - this is how he understands the meaning of eternal life. The universe is one poem, one verse, one song - a totally interdependent, self-organizing, self-healing system. (Have a look at James Lovelock's books on Gaia for a sympathetic "scientific" perspective on this.) Kumar comments, after walking through Dartmoor's ancient Wistman's Wood: Nowadays people don't get Enlightenment - because they don't sit under a tree.

3 qualities are necessary for a quality life, believes Kumar - CLARITY, SIMPLICITY and COMPASSION.

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