“Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.” —screenwriter Ted Perry, inspired by the words of Chief Seattle
Global food systems sit at the heart of the climate crisis. Responsible for an estimated one-third of human-caused emissions, industrial agriculture is destroying our soil and water, our biodiversity, and the ecosystems that keep the planet in balance. Consumers and farmers are left dependent on multinational corporations whose business model places profit above protecting the environment and feeding the world.
The story of author and environmental activist Vandana Shiva is one of empowerment and hope. Her message to support and advocate for local, regenerative and fair-traded food systems lights a path forward that can mitigate climate change, restore biodiversity, and build food security and democracy in our communities. I’m excited to share more with you about Vandana Shiva, her mission and her foundation, Navdanya, navdanya.org.
“Being a planetary citizen does not need space travel. It means being conscious that we are part of the universe and of the Earth. The most fundamental law is to recognise that we share the planet with other beings, and that we have a duty to care for our common home.” —Vandana Shiva, Oneness vs The 1%: Shattering Illusions, Seeding Freedom
Perhaps our greatest teaching from the global pandemic is that we are indeed interconnected, interdependent beings. We live on the same planet, we breathe the same air, walk the same lands, swim in the same oceans and rivers, we are recycled dust and atoms. When a butterfly flaps its wings in the Amazon, its resonance is noted on the beaches of Bali. We can breathe as one, love as one, connect as one—we are intimately, divinely and empathetically connected.
Let’s try this “Interconnected Dip Into Bliss” meditation together now. Find a quiet, comfortable sitting position, gently close your eyes, relax, let go. As you read each quote that follows, regardless of your faith, allow yourself to ruminate on the words and the deeper power of their meaning. Get ready to embrace your sacred breath, your Divine, unbounded connection to all beings. Let’s begin:
Breathe in…exhale.
Christianity
“In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
— The New Testament (Romans, 12:5)
Breathe in…exhale.
Islam
“People, We created you all from a single man and a single woman, and made you into races and tribes so that you should recognize one another.”
— The Qur’an (49:13)
Breathe in…exhale.
Judaism
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
— The Old Testament (Proverbs, 27:17)
Breathe in…exhale.
Baha’i
“The Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”
— Baha’u’llah, Baha’i prophet
Breathe in…exhale.
Hinduism
“Those who possess this wisdom have equal regard for all. They see the same Self in a spiritual aspirant and an outcaste, in an elephant, a cow and a dog. Such people have mastered life. With even mind they rest in Brahman, who is perfect and is everywhere the same.”
— The Bhagavad Gita (5:18–19)
Breathe in…exhale.
Buddhism
“The hand and other limbs are many and distinct,
But all are one—the body to be kept and guarded.
Likewise, different beings, in their joys and sorrows,
Are, like me, all one in wanting happiness.”
— Shantideva
Breathe in…exhale.
Modern Science
“When I look up in the universe, I know I’m small, but I’m also big. I’m big because I’m connected to the universe, and the universe is connected to me.”
— Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist
Embrace your sacred breath, your divine, unbounded connection to all beings, your limitless interconnectedness. donnadcruz.com; IG @donnadcruz1; Thursdays 5PM EST with @cristinacuomo on IG LIVE