"The problem of restoring to the world original and eternal beauty is resolved by the redemption of the soul...The reason why the world lacks unity, and lies broken and in heaps is because man is disunited with himself. He cannot become a naturalist until he satisfies all the demands of the spirit" (53).Emerson's ideas on the deep, innate connection of man's soul with the natural world is very though provoking. If man's spirit is connected to the world around him, then the world itself reflects the very spirit its related to - the spirit of mankind.
Relating this to today's environmental issues, the earth is still arguably reflecting all of the issues within man. The great oil spill several months ago greatly affected the environment. This is a instance of man's spirit inflicting negative disunity. So the question this leads is whether or not man's morale must change in order for the earth to reflect a better spirit or healthier beauty. Because since the world is strong enough to heal itself from oil spills, fires, or industrial pollution, it has the power over man to retain its beauty (even if we make it sick every once in while).
Never the less, Emerson does say that man must do its part to interact with the natural world in order to help it and to work with it - instead of forcing it to heal itself over and over. So until the natural world and man can harmonize, man's spirit will still be "broken and in heaps" as it forces the earth to be.
Cait! LOVE the blog design! I am new to the whole "blogging" world so I am not quite sure how to go about creating new posts or what it exactly means to "subscribe to a feed" ... but I do love what you mention about man's responsibility to "interact with the natural world in order to help it and to work with it."
ReplyDeleteWe are natural creatures; we are of the earth! "From dust you were created and to dust we shall return," after all. We are unique in that we have a spiritual element to our being as well - our soul - which yearns for something transcendent, something beyond what the earth in and of itself can provide for us. Yet, as natural, earthly beings, we are also intrisically linked to the world around us, whether we like it or not! And because we are part of the earth that we live in, it is our duty and responsibility to care for it and to live in harmony with it.
Further, I feel that living in harmony with the beautiful creation surrounding us is a small way in which we can show gratitude for the incredible gift of creation that has so generously been given to us. And it doesn't hurt that such an appreciation for this world around us will also inspire us to WANT to protect and care for it! A win-win situation!
A single dewdrop!
ReplyDeleteFalls from a petal of the lotus flower
And seeps back into unity
A brief ripple in the water
To what shall I liken my self?
~Gregory Smith
In order for one to succeed in making any worthwhile change, he must first begin within himself. The foolish man attempts to conform nature to his own whims, but wise is the man who conforms himself to the will of nature. If you truly wish to improve the decrepit state of nature as you see it, you must first believe that you are nature. You cannot maintain a separate identity from that which surrounds you. You are inherently linked to the environment. Look deep within yourself and realize that what you consider "human" is actually not "human" at all. Look into the self and discover that it is made of only non-self aggregates. In order to protect humans, we must protect the non-human elements. The fundamental aggregates of the self lack the defining characteristics to consider it a separate identity from the universe. All things are in some way manifestations of the universe. They are in a constant state of motion and change. Flux is its nature. It is time to conform to nature and see the beauty in your self!
The koan is up for interpretation too by the way! hehe
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