The Living Universe - Duane Elgin [78]
Imagining Scenarios for the Future? (see Chapter 8)
Combining the four preceding archetypes in different ways, we can construct scenarios from promising to ruinous. As the culmination of a series of conversations, you could ask a conversation circle to integrate these four archetypes into coherent scenarios or stories about how the world will unfold in the coming generation. Are we growing up? Moving through our time of initiation? Becoming more reflective as a species? Recognizing we are participants in cosmic scale evolution? What does “progress” look like with different combinations of archetypes? How important is high-consumption materialism to visions of progress?
How Can Simplicity Support Engaging Aliveness? (see Chapter 8)
Many questions can reveal the value of simplicity in a living universe. Assuming we are immersed within a living universe, how can I bring more of this subtle miracle into my everyday life? How can I reduce the unnecessary busyness, clutter, and complexity that distract me from this ever-present miracle? How can I live with greater balance between inner and outer aspects of my life? How can the core areas of my life—home, diet, work, transportation—reflect my concern and respect for the larger ecology of life? How can I live undivided and whole in my relationship between my work and humanity’s future?
What Are Your Near Gifts and True Gifts? (see Chapter 8)
We face enormous challenges and will have to re-invent the world in which we live—including where and how we work, community life and structure, education, food systems, transportation, and more. Now is not the time for half-hearted contributions—the world needs our greatest talents. What are your greatest gifts? We all have “near gifts,” or things that we are pretty good at doing. In addition, we each have “true gifts” that express our unique talents, interests, and abilities. What are your true gifts? In what ways could your true gifts be in service of humanity’s future?
With reflection, vision, conversation, and action, we can make the journey into a promising future. An extraordinary journey beckons us. What more could we ask for? The universe is a learning system and we are students of eternity. We are only halfway home. Let’s get on with the adventure—learning to live in our living universe.
Notes
Preface
1. The “Warning to Humanity” was sponsored by the Union of Concerned Scientists, 26 Church St., Cambridge, MA 02238.
Introduction
1. Thomas Berry, Riverdale Papers VII, “The American College in the Ecological Age,” Riverdale Center, 1980.
2. Susan Blackmore, see: “Zen Meditation Leaves Consciousness Scientist Skeptical,” Skeptiko, March 5, 2007. See: http://www.skeptiko.com/index.php?id=12.
3. It is important not to equate the idea of a dead universe with atheism. Most atheists focus on denying the existence of an external deity, saying this idea is beyond the reach of scientific investigation. The living universe hypothesis is not focused on an external deity but on the here and now. Whether the universe is living or non-living is a subject for scientific inquiry. This means that someone could be an atheist (not believe in an external deity) and at the same time regard the universe as profoundly alive. Conversely, someone could be a theist (believe in an external deity) and at the same time regard the universe around us as non-living. It seems more likely that someone would be a theist and view the universe as living. However, no particular religious orientation automatically fits persons who regard the universe as alive.
Chapter 1
1. Walt “Whitman, “Song of the Open Road,” from Leaves of Grass, 1900.
2. Bill Broder, The Sacred Hoop, San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1979.
3.