Often when I’m thinking of an idea of how people can live together in a harmonious way I forget about things like hills, rivers, beaches, woods/forests, weather, the general geography. The effects the land have on a population are immense, a way of living might work in one place and be disastrous in another. I also suspect the land has effects on the collective subconscious thats probably why certain types of religions seem to flourish and even reemerge in certain places. I find things like small water falls, trees, rocky ledges very calming, the effect these elements have on the psyche is huge and can direct the will of the general public and their mood more than introducing government power to shape the public (government seems to be like that determined body that wants to beat the tide and puts so much energy into it that it destroys itself from exhaustion, but in the mean time keep on carrying on). I guess the simple introduction of plants, rocks, hills, mountains, beaches and water, like creating and nurturing a beautiful garden will be more powerful than imposing a will onto bodies like indirect well being assistance from our allies of the elements of the world, maybe in such environments wisdom of living arises quite naturally (maybe our subconscious is merging with these calming earthly elements).
It seems that humans (not just governments) feel compelled to ‘make things better’, either by fighting the tide, promoting religious doctrine, nurturing a garden, or genetically modifying crops so it’s easier for low-tech populations to grow food.
It’s hard to stop people actively doing things they think will make the world a better place. If one person wants to ‘just let it be’ (e.g. leave the waterfall as-is) but another person wants to ‘improve it’ (e.g. actively building a hydroelectric power station), then the active person seems to get their way more often than not.
Capitalists are very active, and very disruptive to simple pleasures. Buddhist monks are very ‘just let it be’, but have little input into governmental policy. Arguably, both are trying to create a world in which they are happy to live.
That’s an important point about capitalists and others I guess who are highly agitated with simply being alive and need constant distraction. The presence of trees, flowers, water falls, bird song is simply over looked, maybe its an insecurity thing where one is constantly needing attention from others (like the ego it needs constant feeding but it can never be satisfied). Every flash car looses its shine, every new tech becomes out of date, the latest fashion quickly becomes unfashionable, it’s like a relentless energy of more, more, more and always fighting the “now” by distracting itself away from itself. Maybe the great mirrors of our world (suffering and time to ponder) will help the collective to dispel this scatty chaotic energy towards more calming shore lines. Maybe, just maybe the pain people experience will help to water a land more calming and give more abundance towards peace (but is this just a dance that’s part of life, heaven arises from hell just as heaven can descend into hell, the natural occurrence of maturity from pain and immaturity from pleasure)
Interesting observations. I suspect that we need, ideally, to find a way to enjoy the benefits of both kinds of people. I do like those who can get things done (when I want something done) as well as those who can let things be (when I’m happy with things the way they are). Some better way of discussing the potential benefits of whatever scheme the overly energetic are dreaming up. I mean the next generation of cellphone might not be worth the effort, but inventing the automatic washing machine is something I can totally get behind. For me, the question is how to direct the energy usefully, while avoiding manic activity that isn’t very helpful.
Hello there Judy, I appreciate your thoughts here. I guess maybe the answer to the question you’ve put forward is flowing with the way, learning from Lao Tzu. Maybe flowing with nature like a dance we weave our being in tandem with the world, the ease and grace that this world provides in bountiful abundance we can often fight against as we struggle against our own collective nightmares that come to light simply because we dare not face ourselves. But yea the automatic washing machine sounds like a goer.