Heaven is my father and earth is my mother and even such a small creature as I finds an intimate place in their midst. Therefore, that which extends throughout the universe I regard as my body and that which directs the universe I consider as my nature. All people are my brothers and sisters and all things are my companions.
Zhang Zai (1020-1077)
IMAGINE
THE MORNING SUN was already warm on my back. Floating prone on the water, I tasted the salt of the Pacific sea. In the ocean below, small schools of brightly colored fish hurried by; their sleek and muscled forms outlined against the variegated background of the sea floor. Cast forth by ripples on the surface, scattered rays of refracted light bounced across a living canvas, illuminating the coral forest and fish alike.
I worked my way toward a rocky shoreline, near a prominence that separated this small bay from another to the north. In the water below, I spotted a lone fish. I remember it to be of a light bluish-purple color, about a foot and a half in length and rather plumpish, perhaps weighing about a pound or two. I am not sure of the species name, as I could find no such creature matching this description when perusing a chart of native tropical fish. It is still a nice memory.
I am usually conscious of my breathing when snorkeling; perhaps because I hear each breath echoing throughout the tubing. It is easy to imagine that the sea also breathes – rhythmic inhalations draw me slightly out into the depths, and then relax again to carry me back toward the shore.
I continued to follow my purple companion, watching it gently sway in the tidal current amongst splendid coral structures. It noticed my presence, moving slowly away when I drew too near, but allowing me to shadow its movements as long as I kept my distance. It was an honor to intimately share the bay with this magnificent creature, one that had never known anything but these glorious surroundings; this tiny microcosm of life ruled by the inexorable cadence of the tidal sea. Inhale, exhale; repeat.
It is quite fascinating to consider the origins of such exquisite beauty. As a child, an uncle of mine once reminded me that ancient life forms arose out of a sea similar to this – what he liked to call the primordial soup. Each with a purpose, some of these creatures eventually crawled on to the shore to seek a new destiny, while others chose to remain within a watery realm.
Like an immense origami art form, our universe and Earth have unfolded from relatively simple beginnings into unfathomable reaches of beauty and complexity. And the production is not yet complete.
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Scientists say the universe began with elementary particles; the almost infinitely small structures with peculiar sounding names like quarks, leptons, hadrons, and Higgs bosons. Although of course nothing is certain, consensus expert opinion has it that these elementary particles first declared their presence with a magnificent explosion; bursting forth from an embryonic vestibule of creativity smaller than a poppy seed, racing violently out into the emptiness, vanguards of an incomprehensibly vast universe.
Humans were once astounded to discover that plants and animals were made up of a multitude of individual cells. Soon after this discovery, elegant double helical strands of DNA molecules were found in the nuclei of these cells. It was eventually learned that this DNA supplied the code for building other molecular structures, each of which are made up of many different elements, such as nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon. The atoms of these elements are each comprised of varying numbers of protons and neutrons, which in turn are built from the tiny elementary particles introduced above.
And, one may wonder, is it possible that elementary particles are made of structures of even lesser size, which are perhaps comprised of even more minute bits of matter, which could consist of yet even smaller constituent parts yet to be discovered? Maybe infinity can proceed in multiple directions.
And where did elementary particles come from? Could they have arrived from another universe? Was this the beginning, or just a beginning? Maybe there were, or are, an infinite number of universes and beginnings. Or maybe it is only us and our own observable universe.
Atoms are held together by mysterious forces, and each atom possesses intrinsic, abundant energy. Thanks to the genius of Albert Einstein and myriad others, we also now have intriguing ways of describing energy and forces, although quantum and classical physics differ from one another.
But what is energy and what are forces? To note their existence, or describe their properties with a board or screen full of equations, is not to say what they actually are. Maybe these questions will remain unanswered. What is known; however, is that the energy of particles that first arrived at the Big Bang is still present today. The particles that comprise our very bodies have the same energy as at the time of their creation, nearly 14 billion years ago. Energy cannot be created or destroyed. But it can be repurposed.
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Humankind appears to be a relatively late-appearing expression of a creative and self-organizing universe. It is interesting, however, to consider that the characteristic of self-organization does not preclude the possibility of a universe that was grandly designed to be self-organizing, rather than one that possesses an innate creativity of its own making.
At the time of the Big Bang, particles of light and matter dashed away from their center of origin, continuing an expansion that continues to the present day. Counteracting this expansion was the force of gravity, which tempered the outward driving forces and kept the rate of expansion at the precise rate necessary for our universe to form. Incredibly, experts note that if the expansion had occurred a fraction of a second more slowly, or more quickly, the universe would simply not exist. A perfect set of conditions and an ideal balance had to be met.
In the early stages of expansion, neutrons and protons joined together to form nuclei; emitting the first bursts of light. Immense clouds of simple atoms soon comprised the essence of creation. Also generated at the birth of the universe, a series of waves then passed through and disrupted these immense clouds into smaller fragments, which then coalesced into individual galaxies such as our own Milky Way. Each galaxy would act as its own center of the expansion of the universe, each destined to follow its own unique creative process.
The stars of each of these galaxies exist in a constant state of dynamic tension. Within each star, a balance is struck by the opposing forces of gravity, which pulls matter inward, and fusion, which pushes matter outward – creating a tenuous middle ground in a high stakes game of tug-of-war.
We can find parallels to the dynamic tension of the stars, where opposing forces are always at play. Observing an irregular wave form on a computer monitor, we can watch as it moves up and down while traveling across the screen. We may note that it is the duration and depth of the troughs that give perspective and meaning to the duration and magnitude of the peaks; and vice versa.
Our world exists in a persistent state of unbalanced yet somewhat predictable rhythmic patterns of opposite extremes. It is the extremes that provide perspective, and there is no meaning without perspective. Without darkness, one could not fully comprehend the experience of light. Without cold, there is no complete perception of warmth.
Similarly, the human condition bounces up and down between opposite extremes. We may travel out on grand adventures, but soon our tribal nature compels us to return to the familiar comforts of home and family. We may observe the stock market reflect the vicissitudes of human sentiment, sending equity values from irrational highs to illogical lows, and then back again. And as many great philosophers have noted, our brightest moments and greatest heights of joy are often discovered only after emerging from the dark and deep redoubts of pain and suffering.
We fight, we forgive; and then we do it all over again. Nothing is static, and the pendulum never stops moving. There are always opposing forces, and there is no absolutism. Reflecting patterns similar to those present throughout the universe, our very lives are nothing if not living manifestations of dynamic tension.
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It is the destiny of some stars to end their existence as a supernova explosion. In an event analogous to the beginning of the universe, these stars condense into tiny dots of extreme heat and density, as fusion energy is outmatched by the effects of gravity. But the forces of nuclear fusion eventually overwhelm gravitational forces, and in the resulting explosion bits of stellar dust are blasted into space, forging all of the elements presently known to humankind.
The explosion of a star is therefore really more of a transformation than a death, as a large star is eventually reborn into numerous systems of smaller stars and planets, each with their own remarkable potential for self-organizing complexity.
Nearly 5 billion years ago, in what is called the Orion arm of our Milky Way Galaxy, a cloud of cosmic dust from supernova explosions began a gravitational collapse into numerous smaller systems, each structure containing a central star. Our solar system began as such – scattered elements traveling through space, bumping into each other, eventually coalescing into larger and larger structures. Over millions of years, through accretion, stellar dust became the planets of our solar system, including our very own planet Earth.
And through all of these changes, over a span of 14 billion years, the immense potentiality of the elementary particles was present, waiting to one day create a purple fish, destined to meander slowly through an underwater forest of brightly colored coral.
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Our Earth has yet to complete its journey. From early beginnings as molten rock, it has co-evolved with the Sun and the Moon. It has formed a renewable crust through which elements travel via convection currents from the planetary depths up to the surface, and then back again. With the evolution of photosynthesis, the Earth has used the Sun to help create life. And as the Sun has become hotter, the Earth continues to compensate by adjusting its own atmosphere.
In a very braided and collaborative partnership, all creatures – including humans – have also co-evolved with the Sun, Moon and Earth.
Night falls upon a summer evening. The rhythmic hum of crickets welcomes a full moon ascending over the horizon. Rays of sunlight strike the rising orb, and reflected moonbeams balance the darkness of the night sky.
Pale-colored garden flowers are thus illuminated, attracting the interest of nocturnal pollinators in search of nectar. Brushing up against bits of pollen, these nighttime feeders carry their hitchhiking payload from bloom to bloom, inadvertently spreading new flower genes; unwitting collaborators in the plant kingdom version of love and romance.
Out on an evening stroll, two lovers gaze upon the moonlit blossoms – and then into each other’s eyes. Romance is in the air. Blissful slumber will wait.
When daylight arrives, sunrays penetrate through glass windows; and sleepy closed eyelids as well. Nerve cells in their retinas are now alerted, sending messages to the pineal gland in their brains. Sleep-inducing melatonin levels begin to wane and, in opposite fashion, mood enhancing serotonin levels start to rise. It is time to wake up; and it looks to be a very good day.
Enjoying breakfast on the porch, the couple feels the warmth of the new morning sun; perhaps unaware that its rays are creating vitamin D in their skin, helping to strengthen their bones for the tasks of each day. They amble back to the garden, responding to visceral yearnings to work the soil. They harvest fruit and a few vegetables to eat later that day. Stopping at the garden perimeter, they observe a bumblebee alight upon a purple coneflower. They are drawn toward a deep primeval closeness with our Earth, the dust from which their very bodies were formed.
If they are lucky to live so long, after nearly a century of adventure their human lives will come to an end – the requisite creative destruction of an evolving universe makes no exception for human immortality. An Earthly journey complete, their bodies are gently returned back into the soil.
The spark of Life, the gift of Providence, the indescribable force that harnesses the energy of coalesced elementary particles to breathe individual consciousness into each human creature, is now gone – back to the realm of the stars, perhaps. Yet the potentiality and energy of elementary particles within their bodies will continue to exist, recapitulating the transformational processes of the exploding supernovae, forever reorganizing themselves into new cycles of life and matter.
Eventually, all life forms disassemble into tiny bits of soil – which may then someday enter the digestive tract of an earthworm or insect. An attentive meadowlark soon finds its breakfast, repurposing the elements of the Earth to add sustenance to his delicate form. Soaring high into a cloudless sky, the small creature descends upon a leafy sun-drenched branch. Feathered chest expanding, an exquisite melody springs forth to float along a morning breeze.
Once dwelling within myriad inert and living forms, the creativity of elementary particles is now manifest anew; as a love song, echoed across a grassy meadow to a hopeful mate yearning to fulfill her own destiny.
Ever changing, life moves ever forward. Who could dream of anything so fantastic?
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I wonder what it would be like to view Earth from the International Space Station, orbiting far above the surface of our planet. I imagine that many of our present concerns would appear rather insignificant to an astronaut.
And what if these Space Station astronauts could travel across the universe in search of a perfect place? What would they look for and hope to find? If they could travel at the speed of light, we could imagine that maybe one day their grandchildren's grandchildren could happen upon a true utopia.
When first glimpsing their new home, the space voyagers may be overcome by awe and wonder at the sight of their planet – a brilliant jewel set amongst the stars.
As the travelers alight upon the planet surface, they see sparkling blue oceans teeming with life, and verdant forests crossed by crystal clear streams. Beyond the woods they find a small grassy expanse, stunningly immersed in the color of a million wildflowers. A doe emerges from across the meadow, accompanied by a newborn fawn attempting its first timid steps.
If only there was such an exquisite paradise.
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Throughout the course of evolution, the brains of our ancestors became larger and more advanced, particularly in the frontal lobe regions. Along the way, human beings developed increasing levels of consciousness; evolving from purely instinctual creatures into more sentient forms.
This consciousness has given humankind the potential to counteract our instinctual herd mentality – the remnant subconscious brain circuit of distant ancestors that reacts rather than responds, and that does not always recognize the oft-present lunacy of crowd opinion.
Consciousness allows us to contemplate, to marvel at the immense grandeur of the universe; to be amazed. It gives us the ability to love and to be loved, to fully feel the joys and sorrows of life.
Consciousness allows us to ponder, to question, and to consider. It even endows us with the ability to think about our own thoughts.
Consciousness allows us to recognize beauty, in all of its forms.
Consciousness has also given humanity great power; including the ability to exercise dominion over the Earth and all of its creatures. Regrettably, we are collectively failing to use this power in a consistently just and sustainable fashion.
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We are born equal children of a beneficent universe, each a living manifestation of planetary elements forged in the fiery heat of an exploding star. I am of this Earth. How can I not wish to protect and cherish it? How can I not love all of the creatures, mountains, and streams from which my body sprang forth? My personal health, my sense of purpose, and my happiness are all dependent upon this Earth and all of its inhabitants.
It is often quite difficult to clearly see the world around me. I view a distorted image, peering through the flawed lens of social conditioning; seeing the world as I have been taught to see it. The seductive opacities of greed, power, and fear further cloud the sensibilities of my vision.
Today there are a multitude of economic, social, and environmental issues that threaten sustainable global happiness. Some of us may elevate the importance of financial concerns over that of the environment and the rest of humanity, forgetting that our economic well-being and happiness are intimately dependent upon the health and happiness of our Earth and all of its inhabitants.
It is tempting to default to primitive or overly reductive ways of thinking. Like an outmatched chess player, I may be so intent on protecting a single pawn that I do not see an imminent checkmate. It can be difficult to override subconscious brain pathways favoring self and immediacy, with more rational decisions that consider the whole of humanity and creation, present and future. The tasks are great, and the idealist will surely have his or her mettle tested when lofty principles are challenged by the harsh realities of daily life.
Many of us hurry about with blinders on, oblivious to anything but the complete fulfillment of our own desires – so tantalizingly close in front of us, but nearly always just out of reach. Often caught up in immediate indulgences, we cannot see that we are fouling our own nest.
We ignore the fact that each day it becomes increasingly unsafe to consume fish from our oceans, to eat produce from our farms, or to even drink water from our kitchen faucets. We continue to burn coal domestically and sell it internationally, thus adding more mercury to our oceans, as well as increasing oceanic temperatures and acidity – killing the coral reefs that a large percentage of ocean fish and island inhabitants depend upon for survival.
We continue to allow fracking for natural gas, polluting our aquifers, and emitting methane into the atmosphere – a byproduct that is a many times more potent greenhouse gas than is carbon dioxide. We cover our fields and orchards with synthetic pesticides, damaging our soils and waterways; killing beneficial plants, insects and other creatures, while also putting human health at great risk.
We sometimes focus on what we want rather than what we have. We complain that our standard of living is falling, and that we would like a nicer house and a newer automobile. All the while, there are headlines of massive coral reef blanching, melting polar icecaps, and dying bee populations.
We observe images flash across our high definition television screens, displaying frightened displaced citizens and their children, driven from their homes and countries by civil war or hunger. We see the body of a small child refugee who did not survive the ocean journey from his homeland, washed up alone upon a distant shore. Yet we remain passively indifferent. Hand over the remote, the ballgame is on.
Is this not madness?
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I do not wish to be – or deserve to be – a moralist. The bright light of scrutiny shines in all directions, and my own imperfections and hypocrisies are thus far too well-illuminated. But I do wish for people to plainly see the truth, to see that we have yet to realize an attainable greater measure of global happiness.
America is extraordinarily prosperous. And our greatest riches lie not within our vaults, rather within our history of inclusivity and generosity, and our preservation of natural resources and beautiful lands. This is what makes our America really special. Filling our coffers with even more money at the expense of other world citizens will not make us any happier, or our country any greater. America first? We already are first. An outstretched hand to fellow global inhabitants will bring far greater happiness and riches than will attempting to widen the chasm between us. That is true leadership.
If I choose to not concern myself with the plight of other world populations, living in relative luxury while others struggle and lack basic necessities, I may unknowingly be complicit in turning a peaceable child into a terrorist; one who may one day blow up a crowded marketplace in my own neighborhood. Likewise, if I choose to support unsustainable methods of agriculture, my actions may in part be responsible for killing essential pollinating insects and poisoning our ecosystem; endangering our future food supply and possibly damaging the health of my children and grandchildren.
I wish to encourage all readers to further develop their sense of awareness. I believe that awareness is the ability of a person to self-observe from a distance, to objectively evaluate whether one’s current actions are indeed congruent with their personal values and life goals. Awareness allows us to ask ourselves if we are acting in the interest of the few or of the many, and whether we are elevating our current concerns over those of countless future generations.
It is vital that we widen our circle of friends in the world, to encourage and demonstrate a universal democracy – one not limited to just present, local, or human concerns, but rather one that includes the entirety of our planet and all of its inhabitants, present and future.
There is only one us, one planet that is home to one global body of life. Each individual creature is a unique manifestation of the inventiveness of a common beginning, and each is an essential interwoven part of a greater Earth and universe ecosystem.
On this planet, everyone and everything are inseparably connected. If we hurt but one part, we hurt the whole. And when we improve but one part, we improve the whole. This is the premise, and the promise, of the words on these pages.
Born of the incredible creativity of an exploding star, our Earth continues to unfold from relatively simple beginnings into ever increasing complexity. Every creature plays an integral part in this grand event; however, it is humans that have most fully developed consciousness. We are therefore no longer merely instinctual creatures, helpless protagonists aimlessly adrift in the universe story.
We have the ability to alter the script. Composed of inventive elementary building blocks, we have the power to imagine, and the responsibility to create. We must build a tall sail; and chart a destination of sustainable global health and happiness.
These pages offer a message of hope. Hope that every person has the opportunity to find purpose in this extraordinary universe. Hope that every challenge will bring its own strength – and that courage will catch up to us if we continue to walk ahead. Hope that humankind will honor and protect our Earth, this beautiful blue planet suspended in the heavens.
I encourage you to make the most of what you were given; taking great care of your body and your mind, optimizing your potential, attempting to find joyful moments in each day of your life. I also invite you to develop a panoramic view of the world, bringing joy to others by helping to find innovative and integrative solutions for many of today's issues; improving global wellness. In so doing, it is my hope that you will find great happiness through a rich and satisfying life.