MatriTalks 25
SANCTIFYING
NATURE
Questions
& Answers
with
Han Marie Stiekema Sermes
Climate fears on sharp CO2 rise (BBC
October 11, 2004)
An unexplained rise in levels of carbon dioxide
(CO2) in the Earth's atmosphere has raised fears global warming is speeding up, according
to reports.
In recent decades CO2 rose on average 1.5 parts per million (ppm) a year but went up
by over 2ppm in 2002 and 2003.
'Catastrophic predicament'
Another scientist, Dr Piers Forster of the University of Reading, told the paper any
change in the rate of CO2 increase would be "very significant." "It will be
of enormous concern, because it will imply that all our global warming predictions for the
next 100 years or so will have to be redone. "If the higher rate of increase
continues, things will get very much worse. It will make our predicament even more
catastrophic."
Q. The past 30 years or so, there
has been a growing concern for the environment. However, this has included almost
exclusively actions for "saving the earth". What is the difference with
"sanctifying nature?"
A. Environmental concern is
limited to taking cosmetic actions only. Only those measures are taken, that do not harm
economic interests. An awful lot of money is invested in making people believe, that our
situation is improving. The hard facts speak different language though: e.g. the melting
ice at the poles, the greenhouse effect, the disappearance of biodiversity and the
destruction of the rainforests. Increasingly, scientists are concerned about a major
environmental disaster. The reason, that we are putting emphasis on the spiritual aspect
thus doesn't mean, that we are not convinced of the necessity of environmental action, on
the contrary.
Q. But in the mean time the trees will continue
to die....
A. Everybody has a different
mission here on earth. Our commitment is to start at the beginning, hoping for fundamental
change, rather than adjustment to a situation that is suicidal.
A. First laying the foundation for A New
(Wo)Man and subsequently drawing concentric circles, as has been laid down in your
Transformation Proclamation, is that what you mean?
A. Well, you see, everything
depends on people, who manage to develop a new elan. The current system is burn-out, it
cannot provide such a renewal anymore. Hence, you first should go back to the Source. That
is the significance of the Return of the Mother. She is the Source of "death and
rebirth". First, leaders have to renew themselves as a pre-requisite to encouraging
others to do the same. Only then a truly new "fire" can be generated.
Q. Going back to the beginning, what do you
mean by that?
A. The crucial issue is the
ability to feeling connected to your surroundings. The current indifference is due to the
fact, that people are cut off from reality. How can you feel any concern for something, to
which you are not related? This being dulled has a very long history. That's why I want to
go back to the roots, in order to make clear, where and how our alienation originated.
Q. Do you really feel, that a
historic review will reveal the underlying pattern of our spiritual illness?
A. Let me give the following
summary. The pre-Christian era was characterized by nature religion, something
Christianity called "paganism". In this ancient religion the interconnectedness
of life was sacred, finding its expression in sacredness of trees, springs, groves,
mountains, rivers and rocks. Crucial to the continuation of the world was the combination
of sanctity of nature, fertility, sexuality and women. Even in the first centuries ACE,
fertility goddesses were still widely revered.
Q. You mean, that paganism wasn't backward at
all, considering the latest findings of the interdependency of everything alive, something
we can still observe in a religion like Shinto?
A. That is correct. In order to
fully understand what happened, it is necessary to look at the beginnings of Christianity.
This new faith was confronted by the fact, that in order to be successful, it had to
replace "paganism". And that is exactly what they did. The former deliberately
and purposely destroyed e.g. "adapted" all main features of the old belief.
Because this belief was nature-oriented, all ties with nature had to be cut off, in
particular sacred objects in nature, trees, wells etc.*, furthermore fertility and
everything related to it, sexuality and last but not least women. The destruction of
nature and "paganism" was in fact the first crusade, to be followed by many
others, as you know.
* Even nowadays signs of this are
visible, f.i. the crucifixes on many characteristic nature phenomena, like rocks and
mountains.
Q. The Christians must have had some kind of
justification for it. Where did that come from?
A. Christianity has been
the heir of several elements of dominating culture of those times: ascetic dualism, that
came down all the way from India (Advaita/Vedanta) through Persia and the Essenes, Jewish
patriarchy and classical Greek philosophy. They all were hostile toward nature.
Christianity as the common denominator identified itself with "God, light and
men", while condemning "Nature, darkness and women". This new philosophy
was re-invented by Paul, who, entirely against the aims of Jesus, started to spread his
own (dualistic!) version of Christianity. The underlying fear was the return to the
"barbarism" of nature-worship, not realizing that it were themselves, who were
committing barbaric crimes against their predecessors. Eventually, belief in Christ was
imposed on the entire population, the former as the only one, through whom one could
become redeemed. Even in the 13th century Ambrosius of Milan could declare: "if you
find a blossom in spring, tread on it in favor of God".
Q. So, these are the roots of the problem?
A. Christianity is responsible
for the de-sacralization of nature, as the first step to the "secularization" of
today. Centuries' long oppression and terror finally brought the people on their knees.
Because they were cut off from the Source, they didn't have any other choice, but to fall
back on the ego, having, greed and accumulation. The end of the Middle Ages - in which a
last attempt was made to rescue the old tradition - coincides with the rise of early
capitalism.
Q. Centuries have passed by with further
deterioration. How for God's sake this damage can ever be repaired?
A. Christianity deprived us
from our roots: "Heaven", which means our direct contact with the Divine;
"earth", our being rooted in nature and the "community" as a
self-governing body. This insight is crucial. At least we have a proper examination, have
verified the cause and even have a diagnosis. Knowing the origination, a corresponding
therapy is within reach. It consists of "Restoring the unity with Heaven, earth and
the (new) community"*, which as you know is one of my main principles.
* See also "Community
First!"
Q. Would that be sufficient to overcoming
personal alienation from nature as a pre-requisite to further healing of the environment?
A. We will only be able to heal
nature, if we first become a part of it. You may have an intellectual relationship with
nature, studying all kinds of natural phenomena, realizing that
"interconnectedness" is really where it is all about, that's fine. Even better
is to establish emotional contact with it e.g. you really love the trees, the plants, the
animals and the rocks, feeling really concerned about the disintegration of nature, while
establishing a conscious contact will bring you to ultimate unity. If flowers, the grass,
the creek, the trees become part of your expanded awareness, then there will be
spontaneous compassion for everything around you. "You then love the trees as parts
of yourself". Expanding "your" inner Space to nature is to sanctify it. It
is an act of compassion through which sacredness of the earth can be restored.
Q. What exactly is the
relationship between Consciousness - the Divine - and nature?
A- One crucial characteristic
of God-realization is that the visible world - the universe - proves to be the content of
Eternal Space. The latter - as the Light Body of the Mother - is all-inclusive. During one
of my Great Experiences I was walking in nature. The intensity of contact with everything
around me was indiscribable. Everything was embedded in the Divine. Touching a leaf or a
branch was a sacred act. Everything was breathing supernatural beauty. A spontaneous
utterence came up: "Body of God". That was (is) indeed how I experienced it: the
entire universe as the "Body of God".
Q. Does this reveal some new
light on the centuries' old discussion whether "nature is God" (pantheism) or
"nature is in God" (panentheism)?
A. These kind of discussions
are unfruitful (and eventually very tiring) if they are not based on authentic
Realization. Only in the latter case you KNOW. Everything else is speculation. The
universe as content of Eternal Space (the Divine, Light), which in its turn is the content
of the Cosmic Womb (Vacuum, Great Mother), puts it all in the right perspective. We, our
bodyminds - like everything else in the material world - are "in God", while our
spirit - the Divine Spark within us - is part of God Itself, while both ultimately being
the content of the Mother's Womb.
Q. Please, go on.
A. Everything thus exists in
absolute security. This is true for rocks, clouds, rivers, flowers, trees, animals and
humans. The "center" is unity, while the periphery is diverse. Unity gives birth
to diversity, while diversity continuously returns to its Original Source. Unity thus
embraces diversity. There appears a cosmic balance between the two.
Q. Unity also embracing the
poor, the deprived and the suppressed?
A. The Divine is the innermost
core of creation. It is All-Embracing without exception. Therefore you don't have to be a
Christian in order to believe, that the Ultimate is compassionate without measure,
uninterruptedly "having mercy" for every creature. Once you recognize this,
Divine presence will be revealed to you, making the unbearable light, subsequently
changing course of events. Even in those cases in which no outward relief is offered -
which sadly enough is often the case - the inner Presence will be the decisive
factor, whether one is going to perish or not. "God (the Mother) is with you"
often proves to be the only refuge. That's why the Mother calls us to cooperate with Her.
She needs us to bring additional relief. Being (re)connected with the whole of existence,
our duty should be to work to the benefit of all, nothing excluded.
Q. Is this a belief or a
reality?
A. From the first moment of
opening up to the All-Embracing Mother She starts giving you a new foundation of life.
Realizing this your aim of life will change drastically: from an ego-centric behavior
toward cooperating with Her work of salvation. The latter consisting of bringing an
optimal balance between death, preservation and renewal.
Q. What is the relationship to your initiative?
A. "Sanctifying
Nature" is a worldwide action of those who want to show, that a totally different
attitude toward nature is a must. These are people, who enthusiastically practice my
"Heaven & Earth Exercises"*. They do these exercises in all kinds of places:
on squares, in the streets, in parks, along river banks, public gardens and lanes etc. The
first time we did these exercises was in 2002, whereby a group of people did them in the
famous Vondelpark in Amsterdam, The Netherlands for many months, every morning. The
difference with similar "exercises" is striking. While doing T'ai Chi, Qigong,
Yoga entirely "for yourself", our exercises, on the contrary, serve the aim of
"becoming part of the Whole again". To (once again) fitting in into nature, to
the benefit of both, is upgrading our discipline to an act of service. The outcome
includes inner balance, feeling (bodily) awareness, clarity of mind, optimal energy and
above all: re-integration with nature while overflowing with gratitude, joy and
compassion.
* Go back to Index, click
"The Great Learning", click Step 1, click "The Integral Way", Step 3
Please, contact us for the
details.
Be thankful to nature, of which
you are a part.
Praise the Origin!
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