listening to nature-ts convention may 18 2013

8/22/2019 Listening to Nature-ts Convention May 18 2013

1/37

LISTENING TO

NATURE

THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETYREGIONAL (VIZ-MIN) CONFERENCE

17-19 May 2013Betania Retreat House, Malasag

Cagayan de Oro City


2/37

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the way we listen. To discern if we are able to listen,

especially to Nature.

To learn from ways people listen

to Nature. To understand why listening is

part of our Nature.

To develop ways wherein our

enhanced listening can be usefulin these times of climate change.


3/37

ASK SEEKLISTEN

What is Life?

What is it to be Alive?

How does One Fulfills Life?

Tough Questions, makes oneponder.

No easy answers

Learn from AncientTeachingsthese are just inour midst.


4/37

What is Man?


5/37

Our body, made up of SENSES

Smell

Sight

Thought

Hearing

Taste Touch (All of the above senses are present in the Egyptian eye of

Horus)

But which of these sensespredominates?

Can we listen with all senses beingaware?

Intermingling of senses ---synesthesia


6/37

What/Wheresthe startingpoint to listen?And why need to

Listen toNature?


7/37

History has entered the planetary phase ofcivilization in which humanity and the

biosphere are entwined in a common fate.

There are many signs of this transition.


8/37

Age of Information

LIFE GOES ON IN THIS

IS ALL THIS THINKING GOOD FOR US?

Eric Smith, Executive of Google reveals that in

every 2 days, we create 5 exabytes of data


9/37

Age of Globalization

Theres endless stream of information pacifying our senses.


10/37

Age of Accountability

Global Corporate Reporting Output byYear


11/37

Age of Climate Change


12/37

Age of Stupid?

We live in the world like hungry ghostsendlessly

striving to acquire but never satisfied.


13/37

Question . . . . Is it possible for the next Age to be

the Age of Sustainability ?

What must we do differently?


14/37

4 Basic Conditions for Sustainability

Living within the Earths physical andbiological limits

Maintaining a vital, prosperous economy

Supporting social stability, equity, anddevelopment

Making individual opportunity, fulfillment, andhappiness possible


15/37

Sustainability asks us to

look at the world

differently ...

. . . and to educate

differently.

Its time to turn ones

attention from theoutside to the

INSIDE.


16/37

The Sustainability Paradigm

How balanced are we?


17/37

Should I ask myself the same question

AM I BALANCED?

Can Thinking, Doing and Acting be brought into Balance?

After all, we are human beings, not human doings


18/37

KNOW THYSELF.

Ayurveda 3 Types of Dohas

or Constitutional Types


19/37

3 Doshas

Th A d & V di


20/37

The Ayurveda & Vedic

illustration on the link between

emotions, health, tastes, and

seasons


21/37

THE STARIN US


22/37

The symbols we see point to

The Center in our being; the Core of our being

The Heart as the center of our being and personality

Something invisible becomes visible in the moment ofstillness

Looking out, one asks many questions. Looking inside, one discovers more answers.

The Truth of who we are does not need an answer.because all our questions are created by our ego mind.

All the above requires a shift in CONSCIOUSNESS


23/37

How do TribesListen toNature? SomeExamples


24/37

MT. KITANGLAD RANGE NATURAL PARK(A Common Heritage)

(PASU-DENR)

Sacred Ancestral Domain of the Bukidnon, Talaandig & Higaonon tribes

Governed by one of the countrys functional Protected Area Management Board

The 28TH ASIAN Heritage Park 2009

Home of the endangered Philippine Eagle,

Including rare and endemic birds, mammals and floral species

Shelter in times of climate change disasters


25/37

BUKIDNON PRIORITY AREAS FOR CONSERVATION

REMAINING FOREST ECOSYSTEMS OF

NORTHERN MINDANAO (The Ridge

Component)

Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park*

Mt. Kalatungan Range Natural Park

Mt. Pantaron Range a, Proposed

Protected Landscape, together --KKP

Mts. Kimangkil, Kalanawan, Sumagaya

and Pamalihi (KKSP) Ranges

Courtesy of PASU-DENR

I f Ki l d


26/37

Watershed(250T cu.m/hr)

Importance of Mt. Kitanglad HOMELAND OFTHE

INDIGENOUS

PEOPLES

High Floral & Faunal Diversity

Ecotourism potentials

Photo: BENRO

Photo: Haribon

ENTERING Th IP WORLD


27/37

ENTERING The IP WORLD Walking the cultural shoes. Wearing the cultural lens

T

R

I

B

AL

E

X

P

E

RT

S

F

U

N

C

TI

O

N

S

SPIRITUALITY

JUSTICE/GOVERNANCE

ECONOMY/

HEALTH

DEFENSE/SECURITY

HISTORY/EDUC/ARTS

Th El f C l l P li


28/37

The Elements of Cultural Personality(By Datu Migketay Saway, 1995, Co-Founder of KIN)

THE BRAIN Belief System and religious practices of thecommunity (Baylans--Shamans, Healers, Ritualists)

THE SENSES oral traditions, histories, chants, songs andmusic; expressed in the mouth and hands, and receivedby the ears (Gugud, Chanters, Historians, Educators,

Artists) THE HEART customary lawsto strengthen smooth

brotherly relationships (Balaghusay, Arbitrators,Mediators among Datus and Baes

THE STOMACH & INTESTINES farming system,technologies; hunting; food gathering; blacksmithing;handicrafts (farmers, hunters, weavers, blacksmiths)

THE HAND AND THE FEET defense and security systems(alimaong, bagani and paggalad, the tribal warriors)


29/37

Mt. Dulang-Dulang Peak (PASU-DENR)

21 April 2012 Bombing Incident


30/37

Bae Inatlawan Interview with Bukidnon News

the bombing carried out by the military onMount Kitanglad Range Natural Park last month

was a violation of our culture and an affront toour ancestral territory.

Our forests, rivers and other bodies of water,farms, animals, and plants are crying because ofthe conflict and the bombing, Tarino said.

On April 21 the military dropped bombs onsuspected rebel positions in Dalwangan,particularly in Sinukat, Dinanghaga, and aportion of the Sawaga River near the tribesheritage center at the foot of Mt. KitangladRange.

Tarino said that as residents and stewards ofthe mountain range, which is a protected area,they are now asking the military to apologizeand attend a ritual to reconcile with theirancestors and the spirit guardians of theirancestral domain.

If they were only firing guns, it could havebeen less frightening and damaging. But theydropped bombs, it destroyed the environment,

it wasted the territory, she said, in betweensobs and tears.


31/37

Dialogue 28 May 2012 at

Governors Office

Bae Inatlawan on the right in Tribaldress leads a prayer to the spirits of theBukidnon Tribe after the Militaryheaded by Col.Romeo Gapuz of thePhil.Army granted the tribal leadersrequest that they pay --sacrifice animalsfor bombing Mt.Dulang Dulang during

military operations against the NPA.May 28, 2012/Photo by Alex Baluyut


32/37

June 3: Ritual Panastas ha Panlubdas or the cutting of the

thread signified that they cut the bad luck to end the dispute.


33/37

Higaonons Pamumulakaw Ritual

for the Water Spirits


34/37

Sincere Listening

Be culturally aware & sensitive.

Be able to grasp cultural logic (e.g.,

environmental relationships, nature of truth &reality, nature of human relationships, and

human activities, value of time).

Develop Interpretative skills.

Be sincere and clear to express your intentions .


35/37

In the Uphanishads, it is said

Not that which the eye can see,but that whereby the eye can see,

(know that to be the Brahma the Eternal, but not what people hear and adore.)

Not that which the ear can hear,

but that whereby the ear can hear.(know that to be the Brahma the Eternal, but not what people hear and adore.)

Not that which speech can illuminate,but that by which speech can be illuminated.

(know that to be the Brahma the Eternal, but not what people hear and adore.)


36/37

LISTENING, EMPTYING THE MIND

Mental Fasting (Confucius to his student Yen Hui)

You unify your will:

Hear with the mind instead of the ears;

Hear with the energy instead of the mind.

Hearing stops at the ears, the mind stops at contact,

but energy is that which is empty and responsiveto others. The Way gathers in emptiness;emptiness is mental fasting.


37/37

Shall we begin to listen in a different

way?

References:

Daniel Schmidt on Inner and Outer Worlds

Slides courtesy of

Robert Steele ofAtkissons Education for

Sustainability

Kitanglad Integrated NGOs (KIN)

Mt. Kitanglad Protected Area Superintendents

Office (PASu-DENR)

listening to nature-ts convention may 18 2013

Documents