S p i r i t u a l i ty

The Paul I Know

As the Church recalls the contributions of St.Paul, who has practically defined most of Christianity’s
theological systems in following Christ, it is good to feel close to this Apostle who himself claimed
and proved that he was close to Jesus.

T
o me, Paul is the most vibrant, and persecuting the neo-Christians;
influential and exhaustive but once convicted, he undergoes
author of the NT, towering
above the others like “Atlas or
“I have fought the a volte-face, a perfect ‘metanoia’,
and becomes the champion, the
Tenerife far removed”. He is the good fight, I have ‘ambassador in chains’ for the gospel
tallest pillar and the pioneer of the of Jesus Christ. The beauty of Paul lies
Christian Church and the Holy Father finished the race, in the all-out way in which in which
has rightly dedicated a year to the I have kept the he responds to the call of Christ. Not
memory of this great apostle. even the Twelve, personally called
The bulk of Christian theology and
faith. Henceforth by Jesus during his life on earth,
doctrine proceeds from the Pauline there is laid up for came anywhere close to Paul in the
boldness and force with which he
Letters. The book of Romans, a case
in point, has been acclaimed as the me the crown of took the gospel to all peoples. This
boldness was the outcome of the
gateway to Christian doctrine. This righteousness.” divine revelation he speaks of so often
book alone has impacted the life and
in his writings and can be linked to a
thinking of great individuals and saints - St Paul life in the Spirit which again
down through the centuries - early
Patristic Church fathers like Origen he always advocated
and John Chrysostom, great saints (Gal 5: 15, 25).
such as Augustine and Theresa of the
Child Jesus, theologians like Thomas
Aquinas, major Protestant Reformers
like Luther, Calvin and Wesley,
thinkers of more recent times such as
C.K Barrett and Karl Barth, to name
some. It is also of significance that the
Letters are the earliest of NT writings
and were circulated among the various
Christian churches even before the
Gospels came to be scripted. For all
this, it can be seen through a reading
of his letters that Paul was also a man
for all times.
Coming to the person of Paul, one is
naturally inclined to begin with the
dramatic Damascus encounter which,
in one fell stroke, upset the apple-
cart of his traditional and Pharisaical
upbringing: Saul, with the bigoted
zeal of a Bajrangdalist, was pursuing
24 Don bosco march 2009

A prominent trait in Paul’s Letters is
his clarity in stating basic doctrines
and fundamentals of Christianity such
as the oneness of God, the Trinity, the
Incarnation, the redeeming death and
resurrection of Jesus, the sanctifying
grace of the Spirit, the hope of
resurrection and the eschatological
theme. We have picked up from him
the concepts of the gospel of grace,
sanctification and justification. .He
writes on all this and more with
authority and clearness. He also
juxtaposes faith and Law and is very
emphatic in stating that it is faith and
not the Law which can save us - a
teaching which had such an impact
on Luther.
The inclusive spirit encouraged
in the Church after Vatican II was
first manifested by Paul through his
ministry to the Gentiles. As he so
wonderfully expresses it in Galatians
3: 28, “ There is neither Jew nor
Greek, there is neither slave nor free,
there is neither male nor female; for
you are all one in Christ Jesus.” He
says again in Ephesians 3:6, that” the
Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of
the same body, and partakers of the
promise in Christ Jesus through the
gospel.”
The author of 2 Peter, writing about
the end times, says of Paul in 3:15
that he wrote about these matters “
according to the wisdom given him
“.In other words, Paul’s authority
was acknowledged and his wisdom
commended by Peter who was the
leader entrusted with the Church.
Paul himself alludes to the formal
approval given to him by the Elders
of the Church at Jerusalem to preach
the gospel to the Gentile community.
The Paul I know is a man possessed
of an extraordinary zeal for spreading
the gospel; it is his passion and life’s
work. His focus is always on Jesus and
he says in Philippians 1:21, “For me to
live is Christ, and to die is gain”..
The Pauline letters also serve to
reprove, exhort, edify and elucidate.
Paul’s pastoral letters are full of
instruction, advice and admonitions.
Nevertheless he evinces a parental
love for each church and its elders.
This is very evident in expressions
like “Timothy my son”, “Titus, my
true child in common faith”, and in
his description of his relationship
with the community of believers as “a
nurse taking care of her children” and
like “a father with his children”. He is
keenly aware of the needs, weaknesses
and strengths of each church and
is able to write discerningly as he
addresses various situations. Never a
man-pleaser, Paul is able to confront
individuals as well as the community
at large and challenge them to take
the right stand on the different issues
that cause dissension or division. Paul
is always resourceful with answers
to every kind of problem – be it
dress code, eating of certain foods,
observance of special days, sexual
immorality, fair distribution of bread,
or weightier matters like growing
heresies and false preaching within
the church.
Paul’s authority was
acknowledged and his
wisdom commended
by Peter who was the
leader entrusted with
the Church.
I find many verses in Paul that lift
a person out of an ordinary and
futile way of thinking into a lofty
and transformed level. The text in
Romans 12 gives the key to this new
perspective; here Paul appeals to the
believer to “be transformed by the
renewal of your mind.” At the same
time, he is a man who believes in the
importance of working for a livelihood
Don bosco march 2009
S p i r i t u a l i ty
and says, “If anyone will not work, let
him not eat.” In all he said, he himself
set the example and we read many a
verse where Paul is able to ask his
fellow-workers and believers to ‘join
in imitating him.’ – “what you have
learned and received and heard and
seen me, do; and the God of peace
will be with you” (Phil4:9).
We, in the Church today, owe a great
deal to Paul with regard to liturgy
and aid to daily living. The Holy
Mass begins with Paul’s inspirational
benediction in the name of the Trinity;
his letters are very widely used in the
Mass readings. It is Paul who has
furnished a list of the gifts, fruits and
charisms of the Holy Spirit. He has
provided some of the most stirring
and motivating truths and utterances
which help the contemporary believer
looking for assurance and counsel.
They occur in a variety of context of
which a sampling would be:-
1) redemption – “There is now no
condemnation for those who are in
Christ.”(Rom8:1)
2) love – “Love is patient and kind.
Love is not jealous or boastful….
Love bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, endures all
things.”(1Cor13:4-7)
3) confidence – “I can do all things in
him who strengthens me.”(Col4:13)
4) supremacy of Jesus - “He is before
all things, and in him all things hold
together. He is the head of the body, the
church; he is the beginning, the first-
born from the dead, that in everything he
might be pre-eminent.”(Col.1:17-18)
It is but natural that this first and
greatest missionary of the Church
could look back and say of himself,
“I have fought the good fight, I have
finished the race, I have kept the
faith. Henceforth there is laid up for
me the crown of righteousness.”
Manju Pereira
25
 Spirituality

Planet Earth Contest

Prize Winning Article - 4

Development: An Alternative vision

T
he issue of Development – be
it technological, soft, sustain-
able or even exclusively hu-
man, has gained crucial importance
in ecological discourse and envi-
ronmental management. This article
tries to provide an alternative vision,
especially in an intercultural light.
In an ashram in North India, an
American engineer was criticising
the backwardness of India, in front of
a guru and his disciples squatting on
the ground. “We have put a Man on
the moon,” he said.
“But do you know whom you’ve
sent?” was the prompt reply of
the guru. The archetype underlying the
Well, reaching the top of the world is idea of development implies
certainly a great sign of development. anthropology and a cosmology
But getting to the centre of one’s that seems to be not shared
being and existence could equally
signal a significant progress. universally by all cultures and
of the previous colonial attitude
and mentality. also proves inadequate for
But, in our contemporary cross-
cultural human situation, we realise three quarters of the world
The essence of colonialism, as
that both these forms and directions we know, is the belief in the population.
of development, though important, monomorphism of culture. It We also discern a particular kind of
are insufficient to ensure the human considers everything only in terms anthropology and cosmology that
and cosmic welfare. Perhaps both of one culture. Not too long ago, this seems to operate behind the politics
need to serve as “external stimulus” meant one king, one God, one religion, of development.
and even as “pressure points” to one empire. Now this is passé – but It has an underlying anthropology,
one another, so that an intermediary we go on – one World Bank, one which sees man as a bundle of
space may be created by their mutual world democracy, one development, potential needs, which requires
criticisms and mutual concessions. one science, one technology, one only development in order to
network of everything.
A. Cultural Critique: make life happy and meaningful.
After the initial enthusiasm Perhaps we notice here, the encul- Development, in this sense, seems to
regarding development, we begin turation syndrome of development. be the anthropological counterpart
to wonder whether development Development has to be uniform ev- to the biological theory of evolution.
is not a continuation, in disguise, erywhere, to be at home anywhere. Man develops in the same manner
 Don bosco june 2008

as the universe is set on evolution.
No wonder, development leads to
ruthless competition for the survival
of the ‘fittest.’
Death is such a tragedy for those who
believe in development, because one
can never be sufficiently developed.
We are “on the way to development,”
then, death comes so suddenly,
shattering all our dreams and ideals.
We are almost there, then, it comes
like a blow … Can we ever rest and
even kiss our beloved without getting
guilt complex, because we are not as
yet developed, and very incomplete
in all that we are and in all that we
do? Fulfilment while we have not
yet developed and joy while we are
struggling is unattainable. There
is always the mirage to go towards
– further and further.
Development appears inadequate
from a cosmological point of view
too. The idea of development amounts
to believing that the cosmos is simply
an inert physio-chemical body with
properties, which stimulate man to
make the earth a resource for his
own purposes.
But we know that the earth, in the
present situation is exhausted and
is not just a resource for all people.
Matter is not dead and a blind stuff for
many cultures. This of course leads
us to a cross-cultural consideration.
A Cross-Cultural Comment:
To begin with, the vision of
development is monocultural and
is only a particular vision, with a
particular meaning. This vision
may even be right and beneficial,
but is not the only one. The
archetype underlying the idea of
development implies anthropology
and a cosmology that seems to be
not shared universally by all cultures
and also proves inadequate for three
quarters of the world population.
People are on the
way not just to
development, but to
awakening. Awakening
would represent a new
awareness concerning
the meaning of life, the
reality of the earth and
the sense of the divine.
Don june
Don bosco bosco2008
june 2008
Spirituality
And we may well affirm that not
all cultures have seen life as a
“progression,” where the goal or
destiny is kept outside of life, to be
reached somewhere else. For them,
life is not development – but a
constant creation, a constant surprise,
which does not go through a highway.
Again, not all cultures have the idea
that the human being is a kind of
instrumental wheel going towards
the New Jerusalem or Heaven or
anywhere…. the quicker, the better.
A Cultural Innovation:
The cultural innovation that is
suggested, therefore, would imply
throwing in another word instead of
development: Awakening. People are
on the way not just to development,
but to awakening. Awakening would
represent a new awareness concerning
the meaning of life, the reality of the
earth and the sense of the divine.
Awakening, in other words, would
amount to perceiving better with
our ears, eyes and mind, discov-
ering the invisible dimension of
things. It is not just the privilege of
the few who have “made it” because
they alone are “developed.” Awak-
ening would also imply waking up
from the dream, even nightmare,
of the technocratic world and over-
coming the technocratic trance of
modern civilisation.
On the other hand, on the part of the
traditional cultures it would imply
waking up really and fully to the
hard realities and life-threatening
conditions of the last and the least,
the unsolved plagues such as the
appalling predicaments of the dalits,
the dire poverty of the masses, and
so on. This awakening could well
be triggered and stimulated by the
human face of the technocratic
civilisation with its focus on human
development and progress.
J. Arokia Arun Kumar

 Spirituality
Planet Earth Contest
Prize Winning Article - 5
Destiny in Our Hands
I
n 1854 American President
Franklin Pierce asked the Red
Indians to give a big plot of
forest land to build a factory. The Red
Indians were totally upset for they
considered earth as their mother. So
they replied to him saying, “Shinning
sky and the purity of the earth can’t be
bought and sold. It is a mystery to us.
The newness of air and the brightness
of the water are not ours then how
can we sell it to you? We’ve seen the
carcass of thousands of buffalos shot
by the white people while passing on
the train. We also kill animals but
only to sustain our lives. I wonder
 Don bosco july 2008
how gun became more precious to
you than the buffalos. As blood binds
all family together, earth binds each
thing to one another. We might give
you our land if you consider earth
as your mother and animals as your
brothers.” This shows how we have
to take care of the earth which is very
precious and important to us.
A Lesson from Hiroshima
In 1945, August 6 at 6.45 am, a great
ball of fire fell on the surface of the
earth, its gigantic waves swept over
the earth, huge buildings kissed the
ground one after the other, black rain
poured in every corners of the world.
Yes it was the first atom bomb dropped
into the heart of the earth which has
left indelible wounds, some of the
after-effects still continue to this day
even after 62 years.
Today, we have to remove the ego-
self from each one of us and replace
it with eco-self. The Cobwebs that
are created in our minds due to the
improved technologies, fast growing
infrastructures and materialistic
cultures have to be removed to create
“eco-self” in each one of us.
Science and Nature
Man is reaching great heights with the
help of bio-technology and genetic
engineering. The plants developed
with the help of bio-technology
caused the death of butterflies
called “Manark” while they were
pollinating. Hence new comforts
offered by science make man selfish,
a seeker of pomp, exploiter of the
earth and hunter of nature.
“Stephen Hocking” in his interview
to the “China Daily” once said, “The
biggest threat that man is facing
today is not the nuclear weapons but
the global warming”. The atmosphere
is an insulating blanket protecting
the earth. Scientists say we need
to reduce the emission of the most
important greenhouse gas, carbon
dioxide (Co2) from transportation
and industry by 80%.
What must be the pattern of our
development?
We should always protect the mother
earth as it is our duty to leave the
natural land for the future generation.
Unfortunately, today’s development
is based on two things – profit
and authority.
Ecology and Bible
“We, of this generation, are the
stewards of the land in which we live.
The next generation will call up on us
to give amount of our stewardship.”
(Charles Eliots)

Christianity is often blamed for
pollution extinction, wastefulness,
and the poor ecological state of
our earth. In 1967 “Lyon White”
a historian from the University
of California published an article
entitled “The historical roots of our
ecological concerns”. It stated that
When Columbus reached America it had 80 crore acres of
forest land but today due to development and the growth
of cities it has reduced into 5.5 crore acres of forest land.
At the time of independence, India had 33% of forest land
but unfortunately today it is only 11.
the root causes of our ecological
crisis are so largely religious and
the remedy must also be essentially
religious. The world was created for
us and entrusted to us; we are its
stewards (Gen 1/26). We are created
in the image of God and should feel
the responsibility of protecting and
nurturing the planet.
During the last 150 years the scientific
and industrial establishments have
given us current ecological crisis and
also an evolutionary philosophy. The
natural outcome of Social-Darvinism
defined by “struggle for existence”
and “survival of the fittest” is that
nature is to be ‘conquered by man, not
respected and cared for’. Therefore
the root of our ecological problem
is not Christianity but the heart of
man. Christians should be the best
environmentalists as we consider
how wonderfully god’s creation
displays his handworks and
his glory.
Eco-Care: How to be a Winner?
The rainbow of Genesis 2/13 pledges
God’s eternal covenant with all
creation, while Romans 8/19-22 tells
us that creation itself awaits God’s
full redemption on it. Such “eco-
theology” affirms that the entire
creation is saved by the “Cosmic
Christ” (David S Joolan).
Lethal killers such as global warming,
O3 depletion and environmental
pollution are slowly and
systematically disfiguring the green
earth into an uninhabited grey waste-
land. “Operation saving the earth”
urgently calls for a connected effort
on the part of each one of us to adopt
Don bosco july 2008
Spirituality
a way of life totally imbued with
what I like too call “eco-spirituality.”
Eco-Spirituality
Eco- It comes from a Greek word
“Oikos” means “home” refering to
the cosmic community of life, as
lived especially on earth. Spirituality-
It is an all pervasive life-style that
facilitates the understanding, respect
and relational nature all reality. Eco-
Spirituality reflects “a relationship
experienced personally by an
individual with his environment,
reflecting an equal state of inner
harmony giving rise to knowledge,
inner balance and wellbeing”.
The Aim of Eco-Spirituality is
• To find and to love God present
and acting in all reaction
• To nurture reverence for life in
all its manifestations
• To achieve greater wellbeing and
happiness for individuals, society
and planet
• To assist in activating the inter-
communion of all living and
non living components of the
earth community (Thomas Berry)
Do we consciously experience that
“Earth is crammed with heaven and
every common bush afire with God?
(Elizabeth Barret Browning). Do
we accept the fraternal model of St.
Francis of Assisi?
Each one of us can contribute to the
“saving of the earth,” plant a tree,
reduce the use of plastic bags, keep
the ambience clean. Famous Eco-
scientist Prof. W.A. Turmo wrote,
“We did not acquire this earth as a
heredity from our ancestors but as
a debt from the future generation”.
So let us remember the words of the
father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi
– “There is enough for everyone’s
need; not for everyone’s greed.”
Shibin Varghese

 Spirituality

T Planet Earth Contest

he earth has traversed through
many roads of changes,
explorations, discoveries and
inventions. There are umpteen merits
and de-merits in all the realms. If our
Prize Winning Article - 7

Eco-spirtuality:
behaviour fetches a good atmosphere
for oneself and the cosmos, then it
is laying a highway for maintaining
ecology. Human beings are not just
a minute particle of creation. She/he

a road to holistic life

voluminously takes part in an integral
way, in the happenings of the earth.
FOLLOW YOUR OWN NATURE:
There are thousands of flowers that
blossom differently. Hence, we also
have the right to blossom in our own
way. We are all caressed and nourished
by the wonderful and splendid Mother
Earth. Now a question arises, are we
really responding or reacting?
Consciously, I would say no. The
reason is that we try to play against
nature. We behave in a way that
fortunate only our needs and anxieties.
Sometimes, we fail to be altruistic.
Though there are chunk of news that
flashes out the ecological status, we
are still very slow and naive.
IS IT ECO-SOCIETY OR ECHOING
SOCIETY? The crux of this question
can be understood in this way. We
are all social beings, so much so our
achievements bring us to the lime
light by our total interdependence.
The menacing factor is not that we are
trying to develop a thoughtful eco- ecology. The saddening fact is not that at large. Hence, solidarity plays an
society, but an echoing-society with we fail to respond but, we fail to make efficient role. Instead of manipulating
certain statuesque of individuals. a positive collaboration with God and the ecological standards, we must
others. Turning the pages of the holy consciously work together in creating
In a nut-shell, we can apprehend that Bible, we can highlight the climax of an emerging eco-society.
wo/man tries to control nature by creation. In the book of Genesis we
gulping it under her/his feet. The mere read that God created human beings Still, there is an absence of a
factor is to progressively march upon to be ‘care-takers’ of His creation. So, connection between human beings
the cyber space world. This becomes the aspect of responsibility is framed and nature. Many sages who were
a din that unusually provokes nature very vividly in this regard. concerned about the prevention of
to create some haphazard actions ecological traumas stressed the link.
against creatures. IN SOLIDARITY, WE FIND As the spirituality of human beings.
MORE RESPONSIBILITY: Every
GOD, OTHERS AND I: Reasonably, ability has responsibility. Certainly, ECOLOGICAL SPIRITUALITY:
God, others and I are integrated in the aftermath of any action will not “Spirituality is an articulated essence
many ways to promote a healthy only affect others, but the cosmos of the human condition of a given
 Don bosco SEPTEMBER 2008

time,” says Skolimowski. Great
minds and souls have reflected on it
and presented many deep insights.
Our circumstances and problems are
unprecedented and they require a
new spiritual response, a new form
of spirituality. Within the frame
of ecology, the earth is viewed as
a sanctuary. Naturally, we should
revere our universe diligently.
Whatever our race and religion be,
ecology still connects us all together.
So, the responsibility that we read
earlier is more of religious aspect.
Hence, healing planet Earth is a
spiritual work of our time. This means
to assimilate the beauty and integrity
of the planet.
EXTEND YOUR HORIZONS: All
the awareness that has been formed
presents both practical and spiritual
act at the same time. We become
complacent within the four walls of
our life, family and all that pertains
to it. The need of the hour is to unite
in one accord for the common service
to Mother Earth, in one stupendous
ecological prayer.
Buddha says, “Desire is the root
cause of suffering.” Here, the desire
is attachment to the unsustainable
factors. On the contrary, there
is need for attachment to the
ecological factors. This becomes
more meaningful only when there is
mutual response. Or else, there will
be an appalling chain-reaction.
THE SIDE – REACTION OR
RESPONSE: We already spotted
out that spirituality is the link that
affiliates human beings with the
universe. Yet this relational aspect
needs more response, in an optimistic
manner. Moreover, our spirituality
must be sanctified in an optimistic
manner. This must be sanctified right
away as our life is not too long to
travel and is too short to marvel.
Our life can
be a light for
others…
let there be
light.
Don bosco SEPTEMBER 2008
Spirituality
Ecology can be decked with beauty
and splendour, only by our filial
response. Industrialisation emerges
out, mostly with disastrous discoveries
and inventions. In particular, this
constant action of hoarding industrial
products has corroded the real nature
and the flamboyant beauty of Mother
Earth. So, our life and our spirituality
need a greater attention and also a
deeper search.
THREATENING MILIEU – AN EYE
OPENER: Some up-to-date news
gives us the cause of commotions
found in the nature. In this regard,
Poland is now one of the most polluted
counties in Europe. In the south-west
part of the country there is a group of
cities called ‘triangle of death.’ 25%
of children need special attention of
medicines. Many of the children are
mentally challenged.
This is not a soothing sight for
the blurred eyes, that is, we fail
to recognise and make a concrete
approach towards these unseen
problems of the ecological factor. We
need specific strategies, by making
our spirituality as the ultimate factor
to cure the excruciating pain of the
planet Earth.
LET THERE BE A SMALL
LIGHT…….. Meaning to say, our life
can be a light for others and also for
ourselves. Eco-spirituality of human
beings stands as a factor of living our
life holistically. “God gives us the
face, but we choose the expressions.”
Let our vision be broadened, so that
the planet Earth may be a better place
to live and to love, not only for this
generation, but for the years to come.
Let this not be an empty phrase, instead
let it be an attitude, if we really want
to commit ourselves to safeguard this
gorgeous Mother Earth.
Bro. Ashwanth Alfred, SDB
II Year Philosophy
Yercaud

 Spirituality
Planet Earth Contest
Prize Winning Article - 8
Life in the lap of the mother earth:
A spiritual outlook
M
other Earth, in its primitive
state, is one of the most
magnificent creations of
God. It is no more so. She cries out,
“Save me! I nurtured you, fed you,
and sustained you. But I am now
disfigured, devastated and desecrated.
I have become ugly and barren. Save
me! Yes, concern for Mother Earth is
the crying need of the hour. We are
aware of the acute ecological crisis
challenging the environmentalists of
the 21st century. We have brought
our planet of million years to the
brink of a precipice. An urgency to
preserve and nurture her has been
felt at every level, political, cultural,
religious etc.
The ecological imbalance is man
made. “The earth is raped”, remarks
harshly an Eco-feminist, Rosemary
Redford. Natural resources are
siphoned off to destructive and
nefarious activities such as arms
race, stockpiling of nuclear
weapons. The dumping of waste in
the open, emissions from factories,
fuming trucks, all these pollute the
atmosphere. Deforestation is another
attempt to rape the earth. Chemical
fertilizers and pesticides poison the
soil and contaminate Water.
The violence against nature always
has its repercussions on humanity
itself. Now the Mother Earth reacts.
Newton’s first law, ‘Every action
has its own and equal reaction’ is
 Don bosco october 2008
on operation. The famines, monsoon
failures, vicious climatic changes
and natural catastrophes plague “The earth is
human life.
The treatment of an ailment depends raped”, remarks
on proper diagnosis. The present
ecological crisis is the result of
harshly an
decades of reckless exploitation of
nature and its resources. The malaise
Eco-feminist,
is difficult to explain or to identify in
order to apply the appropriate remedy.
Rosemary
It will necessitate painstaking analysis Redford.
and planning.
All have to confess ‘mea culpa’.
Pope John Paul II wrote “The most
profound and moral implications
underlying in the ecological crisis
is the lack of respect for life”. The
distortion of objectives and baneful
use of modern science and technology
are the major causes of the crisis.
Crass consumerism and indecent
individualism are at the root of the
environmental decay. For government
officials nature is an object which can
be manipulated for human needs.
Our leaders wax rhetoric for a clean
environment in the suicidal. While it
is a question of convenience for the
developed nations, it is one of survival
for the developing countries.
What shall we do?
What shall we vote for convenience
or survival? We are aware of the
ecological vandalism that has been
perpetrated; and know well that

we dare not put the technological
genie back into the bottle. Please be
convinced that there is no wholeness
of human life without an ecological
well being. Our planning should be
for both economic development and
ecological balance. Environment and
development are closely linked. They
are at the service of life.
Modern Science and technology
must be harnessed to achieve
‘Development without Destruction’.
The emergence of new
culture will necessarily
Woman and earth are
This calls forth for ‘Human-Earth-
Centered- Spirituality’. It is to live
in harmony with nature. It is rooted
in an awareness of the divinity in
all life, the interconnectedness and
interdependence of all the things. It
can create a holistic vision of cosmos
to save the earth. This is what Human-
Earth Spirituality means,
Respecting the Divinity of Life
Nothing on earth is worthless.
Everything is endowed with God’s
spirit and purpose. Hence let us not
squander the resources of the earth
with impunity. Hinduism is replete
with texts and rituals that celebrate
the ‘Bhumi’, the atmosphere Bhuvah
and sky Akasha. God and goddesses
are also associated with the earth
Privithi, the eater Ap, the fire Agni,
and the wind Vayu. In 1990, Pope
John Paul II said on the ‘World Peace
Day’, “Peace with God the creator and
Peace with all of creation”. This is the
most telling papal statement ever on
ecology to respect the divinity in each
creature without desecrating it.
The emergence of new culture will
necessarily be dominated by the
symbol ‘Woman’. Woman and earth
are interrelated. The fate of the one
is bound with the other, and has been
perennially respected. Both enhance
the spirituality of humans. St. Francis
of Assisi, the patron of ecologists
be dominated by the
symbol ‘Woman’.
interrelated.
sings, “Blessed are you, Lord, for our
Sister Earth which sustains us and
governs us…” Therefore let us have
a deep respect for the sources of our
life, human mother and earth mother.
Inter-connectedness of All Life
Ash Wednesday liturgy reminds us
‘out of earth we are born and unto
earth we shall return’. Buddhism,
the ‘Religion of Ecology’ exhorts as,
“The entire cosmos is cooperative”.
The sun, the moon, and the stars live
and assist each other. The same is
true for humans and animals, trees
Don bosco october 2008
Spirituality
and minerals. When we realize that
the world is a cosmos, we can build
a noble environment. Our lives must
attest this truth. Our spirituality itself
is earth bound. Not to recognize the
spirituality of the nature would mean
lack of spirituality within. Human
and the earth complement each other.
The state of the world is connected in
a way to our own state of mind. If the
world is ill, it will be reflected in our
psyche. To live peacefully we have to
love nature. The interconnectedness
between humans and earth implies
mutual respect for each other.
Philosopher David Abraham writes.
“Our humanity can be completed
only through a sensuous and fulfilling
relationship with the nature.
Interdependence of Life
Maximum products for the comfort
a few lead us to self-destruction. The
attitude of interdependence heals us.
Nature teaches us the lesson, “Live
and let live”. Jesus says, “Love others
as you love yourselves”. One cannot
be a spiritual person, who does not
love the cosmos.
Ecology demands justice. Can we
deplete the non-renewable resources
and deprive the future generations of
these? Definitely not. It is not enough
that we conduct rallies and shout on
World Environment Day “Pro-Human
and Pro-Earth”. Every individual
on earth ought to be challenged to
do what he/she can do to halt the
denudation of nature. Cosmetic
changes are not enough. Real change
will happen when every institution
educational, health, media, military,
industry, and religions begin to take
‘Human-Earth Centered Spirituality’
seriously. Let us reset our life on the
lap of Mother Earth. We will recreate
certainly the master piece of God,
the Earth.
Arputhasamy. I