Think about it. If one wants to bring more love to the World, that includes everything. Bucky used the term "Universe" without "the" in front of it. He chose to do this because using "the" separates Universe from Us. Universe isn't separate, it is everything, all inclusive and we are fully integrated with it and influenced by it. (Whether we are aware of this or not—think eco-systems—eco-systems have always existed, even though our awareness of such integration is a very new development.) Viewing ourselves as separate (from Universe, Nature, others) is dangerous.
Here's an example. In practical terms, if I want to bring more love to the World, and I really stay present to that thought, I am far less likely to eat things that are bad for me. Filling myself with unhealthy food is not an expression of love (for myself, in this case). Serving unhealthy food to others is similarly inconsistent with my overarching desire for my life to bring more love to the world.
And there are ripples from shifts like this.
There is a Community Supported Farm not far from me. The weekly dinners we would have with friends when our vegetables would arrive were the medium for cementing a friendship that is a strong as ever even though these friends live half a country away now. A decision to eat organic food led to community and friendship, not to mention the benefit to the farm and the good works that they extend themselves in to.
Thinking about being more loving and aware is a lot more appealing and motivating to me than "I will lose 10 pounds."
When you are guided by your values, self-abusive habits like spending money you don't have, failing to take your body out for some fresh air and exercise, participating in gossip—all those actions will start to fall away because they aren't consistent with WHO you want to be.
This doesn't mean that you have to become self-righteous. (Master Chang said this week that if he walked around 'acting enlightened' all the time, his wife would have divorced him long ago!) You have to live in the world. This is why I love the idea of this being a great experiment. You can approach this gently. It's just keeping the question alive here. How can I be more loving in this situation? How can I be more creative here? How can I bring more peace to this situation?
Article comments
1 - Orin
Totally Awesome! I came to this perspective indirectly by reading a book called "The Road Less Traveled" by M. Scott Peck. The concept has changed my life...and I'm glad you discovered it too! I'm going to link everybody to this entry for inspiration. :)
2 - Laura Young
Thanks, Orin! The Road Less Travelled is certainly a classic. Tell everyone to feel free to jump in on the conversation! I'm knee deep in this topic here and neck deep at my blog so if you'd like to keep kicking this around and invite more people to the party, there is definitely a place to play!
3 - DrPat
Peck's book is certainly worth reading, and I recommend it all the time to younger friends. His perspective is less approachable, I think, once you've got a certain amount of anno domini behind you...
4 - Sebastian
Thanks for sharing this article Laura, its a bit of synchronicity here as Buckminster Fuller made an impact on me back in grade school and also at this point in my life I'm reading things such as TRLT and trying to beat a depression and am constantly on the search for more meaning. Great stuff on your home blog as well. Take care!!
5 - Laura Young
Thanks, Sebastian! Glad to have you joining in on the search.
Dr. Pat, loving the "certain amount of anno domini behind you". I'll have to use that...
6 - BreccasDad
I've read lots about Fuller. My dad knew Bucky Fuller personally. He is the most amazing man of the 20th Century. And if more people took stock in what he says about Spaceship Earth, we would not be in the situation we have today with the energy crisis, and the middle east. Read his stuff, and be enlightened.
7 - Laura Young
How did you dad get to know him? How cool is that? You must have had some very interesting discussions. Would love to hear more!
8 - David V.
I am delighted to see that Bucky is still being read. I highly encourage anyone that appreciated Laura's findings to pick up "Utopia or Oblivion" or "Operating Instructions for Spaceship Earth". Bucky lays it all out for us. I particularly like that Bucky challenges our 'money motivations' and offers us a different choice- to be motivated by what will be best for the world around us, what will advance humanity.
He was a brilliant thinker.