A new book called "The Soul Solution" by Bob and Linda Harrington is out.
Bob lives in British Columbia, and a box of his recent book arrived in the
community here.
The message of the book is about taking personal responsibility for the
restoration and conservation of all planetary resources which include
natural, spiritual, and human resources.
The example of Ahimsa is noteworthy. The Harrington's write that:
"In years long past there was awareness of a form of sin which lay at the
very heart of all other sins. This sin, "attavada," is known as seperation
or dualism. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Ahimsa," an ethical
principle of "non-injury" which was subscribed to by most Hindus. Ahimsa
involved recognition of all living beings as kin and therefore forbade the
taking of life. Because of this, no animal food was eaten and warfare was
rejected. The principle also led to behaviour such as that of the Jainists
who swept paths before them that they might refrain from crushing even
insects, and who strained to remove minute beings."
"Although we would for the most part reject the food habits dictated by such
an ethical stance, we are aware of mounting scientific evidence disclosing
the close relationship between all life forms. While it once would have
seemed ludicrous to ask if a cell can think, advanced opinion admits that
consciousness exists at many levels. It may be that there is no lower or
upper limit to consciousness and that perhaps awareness and life are
synonymous. It is therefore comprehensible that the root of all sin or error
can thus be traced as Ahimsa suggests, to the underlying cause variously
named duality, seperation or attavada as it was called by Jainists and
Bhuddists. Indeed, application of the Golden Rule to all life, thus having
respect as the core of our behaviour toward all beings, would be a source of
wholeness we do not yet enjoy."
The Contents includes chapters on:
What is Soul?
Soul - The Root of Life
The Miracle of All Life
The Economy it is Death to Ignore
The Great Chain of Being
The Problem of Seperation
Self Restraint
Turning in to the Creation
Re-Engagement: Reflection
Life as Challenge and Privilege
Walking on the New Path
Needed: a Theology of the Earth
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|