Mallorca, Spain. Regenerating ecosystems. Photo captured by Daniel Christian Wahl |
|
Notes from GPIW's Recent Conversation with Dr. Daniel Christian Wahl |
|
 |
GPIW recently hosted author and inspired systems thinker, Dr. Daniel Christian Wahl for an online dialogue on Designing Regenerative Futures. He spoke about his recent book by the same title and offered powerful insights on how the human community can begin to shift our thinking to re-localize and restore our own bioregions. Riddhi Shah, an environmental educator from Mumbai and GPIW young leader interviewed Daniel. During the 90 minute session, he shared with the group his thoughts on building a stronger Earth community, one that is harmonious, resilient and abundant.
Daniel discussed the root cause of humankind's lack of connection to Nature, stemming from the illusion that we are separate from Nature, and from each other. In reality, the opposite is true, but we have forgotten this sacred connection, he explained. Daniel pointed out that modern agriculture is a direct result of this disconnection -- we’ve come to see Earth as a commodity that generates resources for humans, thus exacerbating the illusory separation between humans and the natural world.
To re-engage, Daniel begins by asking himself, “what would it really mean to re-align with the place where I live?” and, “what would it actually look like if humans, a part of Nature, reclaimed our capacity to live in communities that can be designed in such a way that they not only rehabilitate the land but are abundance-generating?”
Daniel expressed how reconnecting with the Earth is in a spirit of togetherness and in community, not in separation or isolation. “We can’t be in isolation, we can only BE in relationship… and affecting change is about shifting to a state of being, rather than doing."
To work more in community, we need to work at a local level, “We can’t heal the planet, but we can heal places”, he said. Daniel acknowledged the pain of many young people who feel they need to save the whole world. Instead he encouraged them to be empowered by what they can do in their local communities. “We need to engage at a local level in a way that nourishes us,” he said. “We need to be with ourselves, but also understand we are part of a larger whole”.
Healing all the damage will take much time. “Rather than seeking immediate solutions we have to 'live the questions' in place. There is a need to slow down and listen deeply to the wisdom of the land. Then we can discover the potential of the land, rather than designing something and putting it in place.” He quoted Thich Naht Hanh, “We have to learn to listen to the sound of the Earth crying”. The work must be felt in the heart and we need to take time to deeply listen. “Let’s not kid ourselves, this is ‘cathedral building stuff’, he said, alluding to the reality that we may not see the solutions in this lifetime, but future generations might.
Listen to the full talk here.
|
|
|
|
GPIW’s Work with Kashmir – Some History and Current Initiatives
|
|
GPIW’s work in Kashmir began in 2008 when Dena Merriam first traveled to the region and met Shahnawaz. He called us to work with him and his organization, Ripples, to convene peace-building dialogues with young people from the region. He also asked GPIW to support his organization with other initiatives, such as leadership training for young Kashmiris.
GPIW followed two tracks. One was an ongoing program with young professionals in Kashmir where GPIW and Ripples brought young community leaders together for 2 day forums in Srinagar. GPIW also created spiritual dialogues between the three traditions that are prominent in the region, Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism. We brought delegations of Buddhist teachers and Hindu swamis to meet with some of the senior Sufi leaders of Kashmir. During those visits, we traveled as a small delegation to some of the more remote regions, visiting old shrines and sacred sites and having informal local dialogues.
Our visits to Kashmir included Ladakh and Jammu where we also met with local religious leaders of those regions. In Ladakh our partner, Buddhist leader and monk Bhikkhu Sanghasenna of the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre organized a Muslim-Buddhist dialogue to explore some of the issues arising in that area. Bhikkhu is much loved due to his extensive humanitarian activity in Ladakh for children, the elderly, and for the environment.
|
|
This week GPIW continues with an online dialogue with several young Kashmiris and young people from other parts of India. The individuals we have had the honor to work with were part of an extensive peace network working on education and environmental issues in various parts of Kashmir. As in most areas of tension, religion is really not the cause of the problem, but rather a mask that often camouflages deeper issues such as access to water and other resources.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
