Tags
Communication and Collaboration, Saving Planet Earth, Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet by Thich Nhat Hanh (USA 2021)
Photo Credit: HarperCollins Publishers (USA, 2021)
If you want to save the planet and transform society, you need brotherhood and sisterhood; you need togetherness. Whenever we speak about the environment, or peace and social justice, we usually speak of non-violent actions or technological solutions, and we forget that the element of collaboration is crucial. Without it, we cannot do anything; we cannot save our planet. Technical solutions have to be supported by togetherness, understanding, and compassion.
In order to collaborate, we need to know how to listen deeply and how to speak skillfully, how to restore communication, and how to make communication easier so we can communicate with ourselves and with each other…. Restoring communication is an urgent practice. With good communication, harmony, understanding, and compassion become possible between individuals, different groups, and even nations.
Excerpt from Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet by Thich Nhat Hanh, Edited and With Commentary by Sister True Dedication, HarperCollins Publishers, New York, USA, 2021 (pp. 187-188).
THICH NHAT HANH (1926-2022) was a world-renowned Buddhist Zen master, poet, author, scholar, and activist for social change. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967 by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He remains a preeminent figure in contemporary Buddhism, offering teachings that are both deeply rooted in ancient wisdom and accessible to all.
SISTER TRUE DEDICATION is a former journalist and monastic Dharma Teacher ordained by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Three Worlds One Vision 
Would that this did not need saying
LikeLiked by 2 people
So do I, Derrick. In addition to the usual factors that divide us, now we also have to contend with AI capability to distort reality.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m exploring the fascinating topic of extending community to the non human animals, although community with humans is already a challenge!
LikeLiked by 2 people
There is that, too, Denzil.
LikeLike
Ever since the Club of Rome presented its remarkable report on our environment and the consequences of our economic system 51 years ago, everyone has understood how precarious our situation is. Has anything fundamentally improved since? Hardly too little.
Deforestation: increasing. We now cut down an area of forest the size of Portugal every year. So that we can have precious wood as toilet seats in our second homes.
And as long as a large corporation (online trade) hardly has to pay taxes – although it uses the infrastructure that is financed by all of us, for example – it can easily pound returned goods and dump them on the landfill and still make mega profits. And, and, and.
I’m afraid we’ve missed the time when we could have achieved something by communicating with each other.
Of course, communication is important and could make a big difference, but without a master plan, without a “common language”, but above all the thought of a fairer distribution of resources, it is as powerless as a paper tiger.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Friedrich, we humans have, indeed, wasted valuable time in addressing what has now become a crisis situation. I do not believe in giving up without doing everything that’s within our individual and collective power to make the deep adaptation now required.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Rosaliene, of course we have to do everything we can to try to solve the problems. From my point of view, however, they have meanwhile become so big that it is difficult for us to do it unless something fundamentally changes in our thinking. It will be a painful process. If the ice on the polar caps, which has formed over hundreds of thousands of years, has melted in just a few generations or the extinction of species increases rapidly, this can hardly be reversed and brings with it corresponding changes in our living conditions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Change begins with you and me, Friedrich.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it’s like peace: it also begins within our own four walls 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rosaliene, we seem to be so busy fighting each other in wars and in the streets, that we put the fight to save the planet on the back burner. Out of sight, out of mind.
Thank you for posting information about this book. Cooperation is urgently needed! ❤
LikeLiked by 3 people
You’re welcome, Cheryl! You’re so right about the distractions. I often wonder if this is by design.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing!.. unfortunately most of what one sees in the news today is the negative press, that which makes headlines, negative press about closed minded elements of today’s world societies, denying change and confronting each other… want don’t make the press are numerous folks (like you) who are quietly, tirelessly, working together, communicating, in the background to help make the planet a better place, especially for the coming generations… 🙂
Hope all is well in your part of the universe and until we meet again…
May the dreams you hold dearest
Be those which come true
May the kindness you spread
Keep returning to you
(Irish Saying)
LikeLiked by 3 people
Dutch, thanks for reminding us that what we see in the press is but the distorted vision of a tiny minority of our planet’s population.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In an ideal world, “good communication” would do the trick….
But in the real world, there’s a lust for power I doubt we’ll lick.
“It takes two to tango,” as the old saying goes…
And many of the powers-that-be are intractable foes.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Mister Muse, your poetic response made me smile 🙂 It’s deserving of a similar response:
It’s clear to see the powers-that-be care not for you and me.
Humanity’s future lies in our hands, the majority.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There will never be ‘togetherness’ on this planet. Even the World Wars divided us into three. The ones who fought on (or for) a side and the ones who declared themselves neutral, because it was in their best interest. We, as a species, don’t look at ourselves as one front or a union because we don’t believe we are all equal. The borders are not just on our lands, they are in our heads. We (don’t want to) understand each other, even when we talk the same language.
We believe we are the greatest country in the world, and all others think the same of their country. Who leads the ones who believe they are better than all others? Who sets the rules for all to follow?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Bridget, based on humanity’s track record to date, our future as a species is indeed bleak. Those who are ready and prepared to change their way of being and to collaborate with others will have a greater chance of survival. Consider the millions of European Jews who survived the Holocaust because of strangers who risked their lives to hide and guide them to safe destinations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very few know the art of conversation these days. Everyone has an opinion, their opinion, the right opinion and the opinion they will die for and in the case of climate, they likely will die for it. I thought Covid would bring humanity together in a common cause, but I was wrong, dissention and disagreement is worse than ever. Believing that you are the greatest country, the greatest person, the greatest athlete, the greatest human in the world is hubris to the highest degree and often the way to war. Stay well Rosaliene. Allan
LikeLiked by 3 people
Stay well, too, Allan ❤ I, too, thought that the Covid-19 pandemic would've brought us together. Instead, it revealed the deep divisions between us. As happened then, more people will die than need be as a result of our global climate and ecological crisis. We already lose when we give up the struggle without any resistance.
LikeLiked by 2 people
A great man, without question, Rosaliene. I’d recommend the pocket book of his teachings to everyone.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks very much, Dr. Stein 🙂
LikeLike
Rosaliene,
Allow me to emphasize the positive: We ain’t dead yet. As long as we are living and breathing, there is hope that we can use the wisdom of the past and present to find our way through the shadows into the light. Communication comes through a compassionate heart, no matter what language is (or isn’t) spoken.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I totally agree, Katharine: “We ain’t dead yet.” Thanks for casting some light on all the gloom. I’ll be sharing my reflections on compassion in my next post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looking forward to it. Also, you have inspired me to re-visit my novel, which is a philosophy evolving over time, and about time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s great news, Katharine!
LikeLike
Every thought in that excerpt is 100% correct. The needed actions, though, are beyond the capabilities of many, many people.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Neil, I agree that many people will be challenged to rise to the situation. Let’s remember that we will not be the only ones in distress. When one loses everything in a natural disaster–wildfire, flood, tornado, hurricane, and much more–there is no where else to turn to for help than to the other. We learn quickly under fire.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perhaps AI will resolve humanities problems!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ashley, I wouldn’t count on it. Given the human knowledge that AI has amassed, to date, I think it’s very likely that AI will conclude that humans are the cause of the problems and should, therefore, be eliminated.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Rosaliene, I should apologise for my comment! I agree with you, AI would likely eliminate us! I had just read an article where someone had used AI to create a poem and it appeared that this new technology was being used happily! It is obvious to me that AI is actually dangerous but to some it’s like a new computer game, a toy to be played with! And that worries me, makes me angry and frustrated! So! Apologies! I have read a lot of Thich Nhat Hanh’s work and admire his views. Unfortunately, those with money and the power to change things, don’t agree with you and I. 🙏🙏🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ashley, when it comes to AI, we’re like kids playing with fire. Apologies accepted 🙂
LikeLike
Or they may conclude we would be better off if they were our rulers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tamara, that may well be another possibility! Have you seen the news that Geoffrey Hinton, known as the ‘Godfather of AI,’ has quit his role at Google to warn about the dangers of the very technology he helped to develop?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I saw that. I think that was informing my response!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yet another existential crisis to keep on our radar!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! I figure if I keep writing positive stuff in my blogs, that the internet bots may see it and help to add positive messaging to what they’ll find out there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Even God was sorry that He’d made man on earth according to Genesis 6:6!
As long as the devil is the ruler of the earth, communicaters, manipulaters and war mongers will be sitting around the same table.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true, Zet Ar! Thanks for reminding us about the biblical story of the great flood. Another great flood is in the making, but this time we humans have set it in motion. You’ve made an excellent observation in your second comment. All the UN Climate Change Conferences convened over the years have failed to generate real action, because the masterminds of our crisis “[sit] around the same table.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
The book sounds like a good prescription for contagious peacefulness.
LikeLiked by 3 people
“Contagious peacefulness”
~ Love the way you put it, Rebecca 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Rosaliene. 🙂 🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wouldn’t quarrel with any of the sentiments expressed but I still wonder about finding any “togetherness, understanding, and compassion” among the major polluters….China, Russia, India and all those impoverished corporations in the United States.
The sentiments expressed are very reminiscent of “The Silent Songs of Sonsow” whose blogpost provides a place to read the Dalai Lama’s beliefs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, John: We have a formidable task in coming together to do what must be done. All those who profit from the current economic system will not let go without a fight.
I follow the blog you mention and am familiar with the teachings of the Dalai Lama.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks sharing this terrible time in our world. Covid is so horrendous . Hope.all goes well with us in our future. Anita
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for dropping by, Anita 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thich Nhat Hanh’s quotes helped me to reorient my thoughts, along with some other great thinkers, and that is why I liberally sprinkled their quotes throughout my books, for the thoughts of well-known teachers and philosophers can help each of us to transform our thoughts, and then those become new actions!
Each of these teachers taught that we must first transform ourselves before we can have an effect on the world around us, but when we do, the ripple effect has already started!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tamara, thanks for sharing your own positive experience with the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. I believe that there is, indeed, a ripple effect of goodwill already spreading across our planet that rarely makes breaking news.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with you Rosaliene! There’s much good happening in the world but the dramatic, the salacious, the plain bad news drowns it out and it certainly isn’t something the media likes to get their teeth into!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree that communication is crucial, as is the need to be transparent and loyal to one’s word. Trust is needed in order to desire to communicate and collaborate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true, Dawn. We humans are complicated beings. Thanks for adding to the conversation 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It seems like these communication skills of listening deeply and speaking skillfully, along with honesty and looking for common ground, are slow to improve in our species. Yet, they are crucial. The book is one I’m going to look into. Thanks for sharing it with us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure, JoAnna 🙂 Could it be that we’ve been slow at developing our communication skills as a result of expanding into more complex societies? As these societies collapse under the stress of climate, ecological, and other existential crises, our species will need to catch up on strategies for working together.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree!
LikeLiked by 1 person