In the following text, Nicholas and Philippa laid out a vision that I felt too important to let slip by as simply a letter passed around the web of the internet. I asked if I might publish it here on the Network web pages, and Nicholas agreed. It has inspired me to take that challenge further, and instigate a page for pledges. Please feel free to forward the URL of this page to friends and colleagues, of any religious tradition or none, and that of the Page of Pledges. Bobcat /|\
A Letter to our Friends
Most of you will know that for over three years now we have spent a great deal of our time meditating together on the grievous state of our beautiful blue planet, and searching for deeper spiritual guidance on its future. Like many on the spiritual path, we have felt a sense of mounting urgency as the twenty-first century has unfolded. Also like many of you, we found that global events over the last few years have triggered long-buried memories of the vivid premonitions and visions which we had in the late 60s and 70s. Sadly, the meaning of these visions has finally become clear.
Humanity is only one of what were once millions of species on planet Earth, yet in the last few hundred years it has appropriated the giant’s share of land and natural resources. Now the fossil energy that has fuelled its recent overdevelopment has released so many toxins—above all the greenhouse gases—that a huge imbalance has been created. As a result, the ecosystem is now making rapid changes in our planetary environment that will make it no longer so conducive to our life and that of most other species.
Although much is unknown, as our planetary system is so complex it cannot easily be modelled, a significant majority of scientists are reporting that catastrophic changes to the environment are due within this century. We know that not everyone believes that global warming is caused by human agency, but the odds that we are responsible have now increased to the point where continuing reluctance to change our collective lifestyle would be sheer folly.
Blaise Pascal, a French philosopher and mystic, described the choice to believe in God as a wager in which one could not lose. If there was no God, then one had lost nothing; but if God existed the soul secured eternal life. Similarly, even if humanity is not responsible for global warming, it has nothing to lose and everything to gain from prompt action. If it IS responsible, then to act now brings humanity back in balance with the cosmic order. This secures a sustainable future and thus the renewal of life for our descendants, and also—if you believe in reincarnation—for ourselves, upon planet Earth. If humanity is responsible for climate change, and fails to act decisively now, then our generation will bear a heavy weight of karmic repercussion.
Everyone who has experienced the amazing benefits of a Western lifestyle in the last fifty-odd years must feel more than a slight pang at the thought of sacrificing any of the luxurious privileges we have enjoyed. We don’t regard ourselves as any more virtuous than the next man or woman, but we have felt pushed to make decisions that are slowly—too slowly perhaps—changing our own lifestyle. We now travel less and less, we work and shop locally, we have a small diesel car, we restrict heating to only part of our house, ration our use of water and try to grow our own vegetables or source them locally. Above all, we have decided not to fly again unless it is absolutely necessary.
We feel sure that all of you must be struggling with similar considerations, and we want to urge those of us in the spiritual community who still travel by air, even and especially to spiritual power-points or gatherings, to reflect deeply upon this. The spiritual community needs to set a powerful example by following the path of simplicity at this time, as mystics of all faiths have done in times past. This is a time when we need to connect more deeply than ever with the Earth Spirit in our own locations, in the awareness that others all around the planet are now doing the same. In that stilling of frantic human activity and high speed travel, and in much deeper earth rooting, lies a vital key to the healing of our wounded planet.
In hope and love,
Nicholas Mann and Philippa Glasson
Caer Wydr, Glastonbury
25 March 2007, the Feast of the Annunciation
If you feel you are able to make a vow not to fly again unless it is absolutely necessary, go to our Page of Pledges.
