The Spiritual Foundations of an Ecological Civilization and The Rights to Nature

Notwithstanding the importance of many other dimensions, the emphasis here is be on “The Spiritual Foundations of an Ecological Civilization”. This is to say: to realize that “the non-material dimensions of life”, in all their expressions, is the kernel of “transitioning” to an ecological civilization. The paradigm shift suggested here is not just about the material dimensions of our lives. Nor, it is about offering more ideas and programs within a paradigm that is outdated and collapsing. To do so, is like pouring more water to a cup that has a hole at the bottom.

I have spent my life asking: why is it that it takes so long to move swiftly into a transition to an ecological civilization? why is it that most narratives about this ecological civilization have not yet bloom or go viral in such a powerful way to completely transform our life on earth? No doubt that, part of the answer, has to do with the nature of power and politics in our societies, in relationship to the ownership, access, use and management of our Common Good.

No economic, social and institutional system has successfully dealt with this issue yet.

To me, the debate on transitioning to an Ecological Civilization is all about human consciousness. For an ecological civilization to surge, there must be a specific form of collective planetary consciousness that paves the road. Why planetary? Because is the first time in human history that we are living in a Planetary Society. It is this consciousness that will bring, to their maximum expression, a coherent and balanced well-being among human beings, sentient beings and nature. This requires first, that we find a right form of livelihood, and that we embrace at least two important spiritual laws: The Law of Interdependence and The Law of Correspondence. And, second, that this civilization must be the one that cares about the betterment of all manifestations of life. This means that the transition towards an Ecological Civilization requires much deeper inner-transformations than most people realize. This is a civilization that is to be constructed not simply by ecologically enhancing programs; but, more importantly, by an essential set of spiritual, ecological, human, social values and laws. The values of caring, sharing, mutuality, justice, love, compassion, harmony, conservation …to name a few.

It is a great mistake to think that civilizations are only organized around money, economics and material prosperity. We already know that, when they have done so, such civilizations have been very short lived. A solid and lasting civilization must be organized around shared values and beliefs, and around experience, consciousness and heritage. However, those values are not just words; they are States of Being. States of our inner being — individual and collective. And, as such, they must be self-realized. And, it is in this particular process of self-realization where the level of human consciousness plays a vital role. Thus, the transitioning to an Ecological Civilization must open spaces and create instances for the self-realization of all forms of life: human beings, sentient beings and nature.

Many people think that the transitioning to an Ecological Civilization is just about attaining some sort of a “physical balance” or “physical forms of equilibrium”. This approach has served as a powerful form of atomization. No atomization by physical attributes should be allowed in the transition. I say this, notwithstanding the importance that those balances and equilibriums have, like the water cycle, temperatures and global warming… The debate must go far beyond that. Furthermore, an Ecological Civilization is not just about attaining external (outer) balances and equilibriums. It is also about inner (internal) forms of balances and equilibriums.

This is why an Ecological Civilization should not be understood as being governed only by “Human Laws” and “Natural Laws”. The Ecological Civilization must also be governed by Spiritual Laws. As I mentioned earlier, one of them is “The Law of Correspondence”. This law states that “The Inner is like the Outer and the Outer is like the Inner”. Thus, the civilization we live in, right now, is the exact mirror-image of our Inner Collective Self.

The present civilization has surged as a result of our present state of Collective Consciousness. Today’s Collective Consciousness does not possess the attributes of an Ecological Civilization. In particular, an Ecological Civilization cannot arise out of a paradigm that advocates individualistic materialism, for example. An Ecological Civilization is based on a different type of wisdom. Thus, all our efforts must go in the direction of creating the conditions for a new state of Collective Consciousness, which is capable of containing the attributes of the Ecological Civilization. One of those attributes is that our human, social, political, institutional, and ecological challenges are all mutually interdependent. This is not an intellectual or an esoteric statement, as it may have been several decades ago. To change the map of the world for the transition we are looking for, we must be in sync with that of Creation and in sync with the co-equality of all forms of life.

This co-equality is a fundamental pillar of the ethics that this Ecological Civilization should embody. It is this ethics that would enable us to move away from “us changing nature” to a situation in which “nature is changing us”. In this ethics, all expressions of life must be considered to be SACRED, so that an Ecological Civilization leads to the betterment of all forms of existence. The above leads to a number of Ecological Responsibilities. One of them entails avoiding unacceptable forms of theft, like through the unnecessary over exploitation of nature. Another entails a shift from a market-designed and governed economic system, to a nature-designed economic systems and principles.

We must understand that: life is an act of mutuality, which enable us to withstand a planetary shared future. This implies a complete change of narratives. This implies a complete change in our social grammar. Also, any change in paradigm must push the existing political limits. For example, at the planetary level, these political limits have been strongly pushed to better manage our Global Commons. Global Governance is weak or non-existent; which demands a tremendous reform of the United Nations System. The UN must become a planetary organization. Otherwise, we will never see this Ecological Civilization.

In this context, it is imperative to create a form of Planetary Governance that ensures a high-quality development and transformation for all forms of life. The unit of account of this planetary governance must go beyond the self-interest of individual countries. In addition, any form of Planetary Governance for an Ecological Civilization, requires the construction of an Eco Planetary Democracy. It is this form of democracy that will ensure the surge of Eco-Efficiency, Eco-Competitiveness, and Eco-Accounting. This is the only path through which we will be able to attain a balance between “Ecological Collective Consciousness” and “Ecological Livelihood”.

This is why I dare to say that as we reach the threshold of development, we do not only need more ecology but, more importantly we need more consciousness. It is the nature and quality of such consciousness that will determine whether we will embrace a Right Vision and take the Right Action towards an Ecological Civilization

The Eco-Democracy must empower citizens, everywhere. Empower the grassroots movements and institutions. Without this empowerment, no transition to an Ecological Civilization will be possible. It is this empowerment that will ferment a new Identity. An Identity that will shift away from a homocentric-based civilization.

Let me advance some preliminary conclusions: “an ecological civilization is the only destiny of humanity”; “the transition is all about a spiritual awakening”. It is the quality of our spiritual being which will determine the needed awakening to embrace all aspects of nature. It is the relationship between nature and human consciousness will determine the future of the human race. Those call for new forms of discernment and powerful forms of communication and communion with nature. for the moment, we only feel communion with other humans and not with nature.in part, this is explained by our utilitarian purpose in relationship to nature.

The future rests on love and mutuality. In my experience, without loving mother nature, it will make it impossible to love other human beings. Mutuality and Communion form the fundamental scaffold of true Justice in all its dimensions. A justice that would work for all forms of life. To talk about love, compassion and wisdom is not an esoteric proposition, as they are always linked to the foundations of all forms of rights and responsibilities.

Why am I talking about rights? Because: Rights are not only legal instruments; Rights are also moral imperatives; and Rights have also their spiritual dimensions. For a start, the whole set of Human Rights represents a powerful Normative Value System that is not only to be advocated but to be self-realized. In particular, notions of rights to life, right to justice, right to nature, right to future generations…have all a corresponding reality in the realm of the spirit. Thus, Human rights are not assigned to our bodies but to our souls; Justice cannot actually express itself without the self-realization of love and compassion, as examples; and Collective rights make sense only in the realm of societies that exalt their interdependent reality and, where this interdependent reality, is linked to the material and the spiritual livelihood of every human being and nature.

Most people talk about human rights as if humans were superior to other forms of life. Consequently, other forms of life are excluded of rights and of the debate on rights. Today, human rights are extremely anthropomorphic, leaving the rest of Creation as a subjugation of human beings. We have to address the rights of animals, nature, and all sentient beings, that form one holistic reality with human beings. Not in a relation of superiority and inferiority, but in a relationship of mutual interdependence.

We need an enlightened way to experience reality, to be aware of all forms of interdependence and, thus, assume the full responsibility for all actions and outcomes. Therefore, we do not need to destroy nature to do human good. This is why the notion of “inter-being” is so important: “I am because You are and You are because I am”. Those civilizations that only have human focus have failed. To me, there will never be a human spiritual path without nature because our true spiritual being is deeply anchored in nature. We have a natural body and a natural mind. This awakening will enable an Ecological Civilization to become a transformational path for humanity and all living beings.

Equally important, a planetary view void of spirituality is a suicidal path to humanity. I feel we are already experiencing a great civilizational change, either by design or by default. I feel we are longing for an Eco-Spirituality. Eco-Spirituality as ‘an important decree’ within the path of being. Eco-Spirituality will awaken us to several self-realizations:

1. THAT THE EARTH IS NOT A THING BUT A LIVING BEING. This represents the essence of a new worldview. It’s not just respect. It is not just goodwill or philanthropy. It is much deeper than that. That Mother Earth is a living being means that she has: energies, behavior, memory, and consciousness

2. THAT WE HAVE A NATURAL MIND AND A NATURAL BODY.

3. THAT THERE IS NO DIFFERENTIATED INTELLIGENCE BETWEEN HUMAN BEINGS AND NATURE. ‘Superior and inferior’ relationship has led us to exploitation and destruction, and excess extractivism.

RELEVANT ECO-SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES.

The Totality of Life. All forms of life have an inherent right, not just human beings. This right is given only by the fact that they are part of the matrix of life of this planet.

Total interdependence. All beings and all forms of life on our planet are interdependent. They are not independent. This type of interdependence has purpose and meaning; in other words, it is not random or spurious. Therefore, breaking the chain of interdependence means that many forms of life will not be able to evolve and transform as they initially correspond.

Take care of what is created. We have received the planet in a very well defined way, in terms of quantity and quality. We have received a portfolio of species and life forms. We cannot deliver to others a planet whose state of life and well-being is inferior to the one that has been delivered to us. Human beings have an obligation to care for and preserve creation.

We do not own the planet. We are part of the planet, with rights and responsibilities over everything that exists here. To conquer the planet is to conquer ourselves. Conquer higher levels of consciousness and responsibility. It does not mean enslaving other sentient beings.

The Rights of Future Generations. Future generations are intimately linked to us, as are past generations. We, the present generations, cannot limit the possibilities or the abilities of self-realization of said future generations. It is a violation of their development and transformation rights. And, it is in this sense that these generations are subjects of law.

There has never been the Right to Destroy. There is no right to destroy. There is no civilization, unless it has been sick, that accepts destruction for destruction’s sake. We must all be in favor of life with diversity and the great identity that it has.

The Spiritual Being Lives for Himself and Others. Many of us wonder how to achieve salvation, or how to achieve enlightenment. The most accurate recipe is to dedicate oneself to the service of the other. And if it is a spiritual service, even better. In Buddhism this is called being a Bodhisattva: for whom his Buddhist path is the Buddha of all, including all life forms.

The World as A Collective. We are not an island. We are a WHOLE. The world is not the sum of individuals. We are more than that. We are a collective of life, including human life. But it is very difficult for us to identify, design, evaluate, and implement the collective. Today is the era of collective spirituality. The spirituality of the other. Where my spiritual path is defined with and through the path of the other.

Spiritual Values Matter. Everything needs a great revolution of values. Moving from individualistic and materialistic values to spiritual, humanistic, and collective values: love, compassion, cooperation, solidarity, interdependence, justice, etc. These values are not words but states of being. You have to do it yourself. The bird learned them without having gone to university.

All Sentient Beings Are on the Path of Enlightenment. Not only the human being is on the path of enlightenment; of the maximum expression of him in this earthly experience. All forms of life are in the same process. Everything is a collective illumination. We are all on that path. A path of total mutuality: I am because you are, you are because I am. You have to walk together, without inflicting suffering.

The Law of Karma. The Law of Karma is generally identified with the law of cause and effect. However, this law is also defined as the law of infinite equilibria; that is, ‘in the end’ all accounts must be settled. Therefore, the destruction of the planet, or of lives within the planet, has to be addressed. It is not a phenomenon outside of us but a reality within us. This is part of a new Eco-Morality and making peace with the environment.

Spiritual Justice. Human justice is not like the so-called divine justice. But there is also a spiritual justice: entering the process of self-realization of the opposite. If I cause damage with the extraction I must self-preserve. If I cause damage, death causes damage, I must self-realize life.

CONCLUSIONS

Everything goes much further than simply an empathetic connection with Mother Earth. If The 10 Commandments were to be rewritten, I think there would be one about nature and the respect for all creation. If the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were to be rewritten, I think there would be the Right of Nature and of all Sentient Beings. The relationship with Mother Earth is a relationship of mutuality. A relationship of mutual care. That is why today I dare to propose “THE ECONOMY OF CARE”, based on most of the spiritual principles that I have mentioned above. The content of today’s economics is not really inner transformational. The essence of today’s economics is just to ‘correct’ the so-called “negative external effects” of the old/traditional neoliberal paradigm; but, the old paradigm remains almost intact, presenting more of the same.

We have a tremendous opportunity to bring to the fore a dialogue on both, “the material” (what it is in the concept note now), and “the spiritual” dimension (totally absent) of “harmony with nature”. Everything is about The Role of Consciousness. The current debate is void of the role of consciousness to design future strategies and find possible solutions. The Buddha taught a very fundamental (universal) principle: “everything that surges (which, in turn, has causes and conditions) has a perfect interdependent correlate with a unique level of consciousness. If that unique level of consciousness is not there, “that” will simply do not surge. This applies to all States of Being. I say this because “Harmony” is a State of Being and, as such, it must be self-realized. Judging from the results, and from personal experience, the consciousness of politicians, business owners…will be too far from the ultimate expression of harmony with nature, we are all looking for.

But there is something even more important. The self-realization that nature is a living being and not a “thing”, like ecological economics and earth centered law treat Her. It is imperative that we experience Her energies, behaviors, memory and CONSCIOUSNESS. We must self-realized that all expressions of life are equal in the broadest sense; as they possess all the exact same attributes. We are not superior to nature, and will never be, and vice-versa.

Creation does not bring unequal intelligence! The only solution for humanity’s future depends on the pure, crystal clear, meaningful and proper “dance” of human collective consciousness with the consciousness of nature.

An Ecological Civilization is not founded on a nature-centered-approach. The dilemma cannot be expressed as choosing between to extremes: human-centered versus a nature-centered approach. That will immerse us in what I call ECOLOGICAL FALSEHOOD. A Nature-Centered Paradigm is not the path. It is imperative to find a Metta State of Reality. A state that surfaces from a new form of spirituality and wisdom. Spirituality is at the center of such state. Our great mistake has been to separate spirituality from ecology, or, vice versa.

We must avoid a ‘veiled form’ of environmental capitalism. Here, three ingredients are crucially important: Right Action, Right Behavior and Right Effort. Our level of human effort now is pitiful. We continue demanding that nature takes care of what we throw away into the environment. This is not an economic problem. This is an ethical and moral problem. An Eco-Morality where each one must be responsible. The great criterion of this Metta State of Reality is the right to nature. To deny The Right to Nature is tantamount of validating irresponsible ecological behavior. It is like running a race blindfolded. It is to condemn our natural DNA to attrition. A “new path demands nothing less than a consciousness shift”.

The issue is not “to do” or “to have”. The real issue is “to be” and “to become”.