In all the forums I happen to attended over past three decades on topic of sustainability, the focus has been exploring ‘Why, What and How’ of sustainable living or architecture.
Interestingly the mindset or let’s say the consciousness that promotes sustainable behaviour has remain untouched in most conversations.
Two fundamentals need to be understood for a deeper dive in this realm:
A) What happens within us gets expressed outside
( Yat Pinde Tat Brahmande : As is microcosm thus is macrocosm)
B) #Sustainability is a spontaneous outcome of sense of #Belongingness
(A state of mind that feels belongingness with the world around will naturally embrace all sustainability goals even without any policy, pressure or policing)
This is where meditation plays a pivotal role. Meditation impacts the inner self so tremendously that a person completely transforms into a much finer version of their self.
This ‘finer version’ of ourself connects with the people, place and planet with a much deeper sense of belongingness and our behaviour starts moving in direction of leaving ‘minimal-footprint-behind’ on the planet.
FOUR WAYS MEDITATION PROMOTES SUSTAINABILITY
1- MEDITATION AUGMENTS AWARENESS
Meditation increases our cognition and perception; not only does it create physical changes in the brain's grey matter, but it also allows greater access to areas of the brain involved in higher cognition. As we become more aware of our ‘inner environment’, we also develop a greater awareness of our external environment. (AS IS WITHIN – SO IS WITHOUT!)
When we’re aware, we’re able to see our surroundings in a new light - we’re actually able to ‘see’ the state of the world. A small example is when we drive down the roads. If one is aware, there’s no way that we won’t be concerned with the state of plastic consumption and littering on our streets; however, if we’re lost in the world of self-created or external problems, all the bigger issues are simply invisible.
Photo credits: Kevinrafferty.com
With a greater sense of internal and external awareness, one is able to ‘recognize with clarity’ the global issues facing our world today. Without such awareness, the humdrum existence of life is enough to overshadow everything else. Meditation can help people develop a stronger appreciation for the environment by fostering a deeper connection to nature. By developing an awareness of the interdependence between humans and nature, meditation can help adopt more environmentally friendly behaviour thereby reduce the environmental impact of human activity.
2- MEDITATION AUGMENTS MINDFUL CONSUMPTION
Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room and look at the fundamental reason why we are seeking sustainability in the first place. We are not able to connect two significant dots:
‘INCREASED CONSUMPTION is the root of UNSUSTAINABLE LIVING’
It seems as a species we have become ‘insatiable’. Nothing seems to fulfil us any longer or make us content. Underlying reason is we have started to evaluate the richness of our lives based on material possessions. Advertisements and social media encourage us to purchase more, accumulate more, and desire more. We are led to believe that true happiness and the essence of life can be attained through the abundance of our belongings. Consequently, we continue to acquire more items, believing that our fulfilment and purpose will emerge from the sheer volume of possessions. Eventually this pursuit often leaves us feeling unfulfilled and yearning for deeper meaning.
This global attitude has caused a multi-fold increase in consumption by human beings. The World Bank's Global Consumption Database points following:
Global energy consumption in 2023 grew by 2.2%, which was faster than the average growth rate of 2010-2019.
The average amount of calories consumed per person per day increased by 31% from 1961 to 2013. During the same period, global meat consumption doubled. Further a staggering 931 million tons of food is wasted a year, despite a huge number of the global population going hungry.
Increasing Year-On-Year profit and production is the bottom line of all boardroom discussions. Hence the turnover rates for many products have increased, including fashion, computers, and smartphones in past decades. ‘How much growth target is enough’ is never studied from sustainability standpoint because insatiable quest for profit overshadows all concerns as this is considered the very purpose of any business.
Economic and social progress over the last century has been accompanied by environmental degradation that is endangering the very systems on which our future development and very survival depend. Over consumption has become our bane and following satire depicts this aptly.
Photo credits: Internet
Meditation helps us gain clarity on ‘how much is enough for me’ and it also makes us content with what we have.
Meditation smoothly leads us in a realm where ‘Objects’ are no longer needed to complete us. It helps us develop a knack to savour what we have instead of living in perpetual state of deficiency and seeking. When we feel complete within, our seeking for material objects simmers down.
“Meditation helps us transcend the consumerist consciousness
and sustainability starts at grassroot level”
Meditation also helps people become more aware of their consumption patterns, which automatically leads to more #sustainablechoices.
3- MEDITATION ENHANCES THE ‘SENSE OF BELONGINGNESS’
Besides altering the neurochemical levels in the brain, meditation fosters empathy and connection with the world around us and promotes social and environmental bonding. This bonding is not limited to family and friends; it also encompasses our broader community and society.
For individuals who practice meditation, it becomes more natural to extend this sense of connection and bonding to the Earth and its environment. All ancient culture in India and globally perceived the divine in every facet of creation. This deepened empathy and connection empowers individuals to engage with and support global initiatives.
A beautiful story of #UBUNTU expresses this aptly!
Photo credits: tommccallum.medium.com
4- MEDITATION AUGMENTS CREATIVE THINKING
Meditation fosters creativity in numerous ways. When the mind is liberated from habitual distractions and repetitive thought patterns, #creativity and #innovation can emerge. The practice of meditation soothes the mind and diminishes the frequency of thoughts.
"The aspect of nervous system instrumental in forming new
neural connections is stimulated thereby enabling the emergence of innovative and creative ideas"
The generation of creative solutions and novel concepts is essential for formulating strategies aimed at environmental conservation, whether through the exploration of sustainable energy alternatives or the development of advanced agricultural techniques. Additionally, meditation can enhance values-based decision-making, which can contribute to sustainable development efforts.
Photo credits: hindustantimes.com
By augmenting all aforementioned: Deeper awareness, A sense fulfilment and reduced consumerism, #Empathy and #belongingness with our surroundings as well as an ability to create innovative solutions, meditation offers a four-fold toolkit that is necessary and vital for solving global issue of sustainability facing our world today.
It’s time #architects, #designers, #policymakers and #sustainabilitywarriors in all realms recognize the powerful tool of meditation and use it to become more effective in creating a better world together!
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