Living primarily in the future could make us psychologically “extinct” long before climate catastrophe does so biologically. It’s time to ask ourselves whether there is life before death, says Carolyn Baker.
Living primarily in the future could make us psychologically “extinct” long before climate catastrophe does so biologically. It's time to ask ourselves whether there is life before death...
For if not, we are as good as dead.
As the conversation about Near- Term Human Extinction (NTHE) grows increasingly deafening, I notice many people behaving as if they are already dead---and in fact they may be. Do we have 15 years, 20 years, 50 years? Should I move to another location? What’s the point of doing the job I now have? Why even have health insurance if I’m not going to be here anyway? And on it goes…
I have no problem with preparing for the future. I’ve been writing books on that topic for about six years. The future has come to meet us and smack us upside the head on just about every level imaginable. And…living primarily in the future takes a terrible toll on us in current time. In fact, it strip-mines our lives in the here and now and guarantees that we become “extinct” long before NTHE does its dirty deed.
Recently, I was watching an interview with mindfulness teacher, Jon Kabat-Zinn. When asked what he believes about life after death, Kabat- Zinn responded by saying that he doesn’t think about it much because he’s much more intrigued with whether or not there is life before death. If there isn’t life before death, he said, then we are already dead.
So how do we reconcile living life fully in current time with NTHE? The simplest response I have is: Give them equal time. Read the science, keep current with the news, talk about it with people with whom it is safe to do so, but give the present moment as much time as you give NTHE.
Giving the present equal time means committing to several necessary practices.
Denne historien er fra October - December 2016-utgaven av Eternal Bhoomi.
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Denne historien er fra October - December 2016-utgaven av Eternal Bhoomi.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The Sharing Economy: Capitalism's Last Stand?
Is the sharing economy the first part of a New Economic Paradigm or is it capitalism’s latest trick to survive at all costs? Arthur De Grave shares his views.
Embrace Nature by Climbing Trees
When was the last time you climbed a tree? Or have you ever climbed any tree in your life? Meet Verhaen Khanna, a young Delhi resident who connects people with the environment by teaching them how to climb trees, hug them, plant them and a lot.
Is There Life Before Death?
Living primarily in the future could make us psychologically “extinct” long before climate catastrophe does so biologically. It’s time to ask ourselves whether there is life before death, says Carolyn Baker.
Walking Is A Metaphor, As Well As An Act!
Satish Kumar walked over 4000 miles from India to UK and the US in the early 1960s. He still loves walking and says that thanks to walking he lacks no energy, enthusiasm or passion...
The Refugee Crisis
The world community will be facing an ever-increasing stream of refugees. Is it a sign of a Planet in trouble? asks David Korten, the famous author of “When Coporations Rule the World”.
The Growing Importance Of Eco - Feminism
The central tenet of Eco - Feminism is that social and environmental issues are not seperate and it is therefore best to view them collectively. Jessica Schmonsky writes about Eco-feminism - which she believes is a new term for ancient wisdom.
Women Tales From Tehri - Garhwal
Meenal Tatpati wrote this article because she was riveted by the fact that all the villages she travelled to in Uttarakhand had one particular thing in common. There were no men! There were only women of all ages, as they worked at home and on farms, tended cattle and looked after the family.
Piplantri Story
A powerful story of transformation of a village brought about by a systemic approach and a committed community.
Women: The Unsung Heroes Of The Environment
As we waver on the cusp of various global crises, the services women provide to environmental protection become more indispensable every day. Bianca Jagger traces the deep connections women have had with the Earth from time immemorial.
In Search Of A New Ethic To Live By
“Though a new term, it is embedded in ancient wisdom. Archeological evidence suggested that there were many ancient societies where women were not considered subordinate to men; where Earth was treated with respect and reverence and not as an object to exploite and dominate. ”
