Opening To Greater Life

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Hand-drawn art by Rupali Bhuva
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Tell the [future generations] that something new is happening, a new vision, a new energy, a new sacred story is coming into being in the transition from one era to another.

Tell them in the darkness of this time, a vast transformation is occurring in the depths of human consciousness, which is leading to the recovery of the soul, the earth, the universe and a sense of the sacred …

Tell them that they must develop the inner vision that we need if we are to make the adjustments required for a viable future. Our existential questions must now be: How do we relate to the earth and to the universe? Our most basic issue is how we bond with the earth.

And tell them they will meet great companions along the way, including those that burrow in the soil, fly in the air and swim in the sea…

Tell them to seek their own role in the larger evolutionary process: tell them that humans are always in the process of becoming, always “opening to greater life,” if they can learn to see it. Tell them the greatest need is to develop a sensitivity to recognize the inner promptings that emerge from the depths of one’s own being where the sacred reality resides…

Above all, tell them to practice an intimate presence to the beauty and wonder of the natural world through their intuitive awareness that recognizes the oneness of all life; tell them to stop and enlarge moments throughout their days to become aware of the mysteries and miracles of creation all around them – the movement of a squirrel, the sound of a bird, the pattern of a leaf, changing patterns of light, the sun, the rain, the stars, dawn and sunset. Tell them we are not ourselves without everything and everyone else.

Tell them to remember the great seasons and cycles of life. In moments of intimacy with the natural world they will recover the lost sense of the sacred in the human-earth relationship. And they will be participating in the evolution of a new consciousness on earth that can overcome the mental fixations of our times expressed in radical division between humans and the natural world. A mutually enhancing relationship will then become possible as the communion of all things is understood.

Seed Questions for Reflection

What does 'opening to greater life' mean to you? Can you share an experience of a time you were able to evolve a mutually enhancing relationship through a recovery of the sense of the sacred in the human-earth relationship? What helps you practice communion with all things?

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7 Past Reflections
SI
Silke
Jun 15, 2022
The other day, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iPad and tested to see if it can survive a 40 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed and she has 83 views.
I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
help refuges
DM
Deepak Muchrikar Jun 16, 2022
Why people need sensational acts ? Because of the excitement gets them going
Ultimately everything is related to the pleasant body sensation
AN
Jun 1, 2022
Evolution being manifestation of 'Energy' and we being the 'Energy Generators', it is only a matter of realizing our energy attribute to being associated with entire existence.
PA
Jun 1, 2022
In times such as these Thomas Berry and others offer perspective beyond the brokenness and violence by discovering wisdom in nature. }:- a.m.
DM
Jun 1, 2022
Very encouraging words and noble thoughts
But the reality is devastating
The merciless killings of innocent children is too much to bear! Even if I try to be equanimous, its really very difficult
DD
May 29, 2022
For me, opening to greater life means to become aware that all life is one life, and human life participates in the one life. I began to be aware long ago that all life is one and all life is sacred, and with that my awareness grew that we humans and the rest of creation is essentially and inseparably inter-related, in a mutually enhancing or mutually destroying relationship. When I practice communion with all things, what helps me is awareness that all creation is one, all creation is in communion, and what I or any one or any thing does to any expression of creation, be it to a to the air, the water, another person, or the galaxy, affects all of creation.
JP
May 26, 2022
How do I relate to the earth makes a significant difference in living my life. If I view the earth as a collection of matter to be used for my personal selfish gain the future looks very dismal and dark both for the human and the earth. I was reised to relate to the earth as our mother, matrubumi. Viewing the earth this way changes my relationshp with the earth. The relationship becomes sacred and that way opening to greater life. With the rise of industrialization and commercialization, our earth is exploited and polluted. In the midst of such darkness there is an awakening and hopefulness. There is a chance for opening to a greater life. In that sense, I feel spirit of optimism like the author Thomas Berry. I hope more people get awakened to save the earth, to save the human kind, recover the sense of the sacred in the human-earth relationship. I stay on this path by seeing the sacred realationship between the human and earth. I have a spiritual orientation to life. To me life is ... View full comment