YOU AND I ARE CONNECTED WITH EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING

 

São Tomé and Príncipe

Our world would be a better place if we all realized how intrinsically connected we are. You and I are connected, to everyone and everything —to all the creatures, fauna, flora, and ecosystems on Earth. You may not physically see the connections, but they are present, and will always be. There is no getting away from them.

Last night, I was thinking, if only we were all taught this from when we were toddlers. Like the early men and some natives in untouched parts of the world still recognize. If only the pastors, Imams, preachers, and teachers of all religions/faiths emphasized it more than anything else. Because all the religious Prophets/leaders/philosophers: Mohammed, Jesus Christ, Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, Guru Nanak, and Lao Tse (Laozi) to name a few knew it, and included it in their teachings. Today, there are only a handful of religions or belief systems that still emphasize this, like Odinani, Ifa, Sikhism, and Buddhism.

We must never ignore the threads that connect us. In some books, it simply says "Love your neighbor as yourself" The question is who is your neighbor? Your neighbor is everyone and everything here on earth, the rivers, the mountains, the trees, the Asians, Africans, Europeans, North and South Americans, all humans, the soil, the insects, and all the animals. All living things and everything that emits energy, and, believe me, everything here on earth is alive. 

Simply put, love everything on earth as yourself. Treat everything on earth as you'd treat yourself. It's as simple as that. because if you do not, you will get what is coming to you. There is a natural law. that maintains harmony and balance at all times. It's just the way things are. It's the way of the universe. As a wise man once said, these laws are eternal, absolute, and universal. Whether you know they are or not; they exist, and whether you accept that they exist or not, —and they influence your life, whether you know that they do or not.

Many of our ancestors understood this, it was natural, and they learned from nature all around them. They were keen observers. They would ask for permission before they touched a tree or climbed a mountain. They acknowledged all that was around them. Before they drank water, they gave thanks and showed gratitude for the water. They treated every living thing with respect and kindness. I'm sure you know the water we drink has life and nourishes us with life too.

Recently I watched a documentary, about the Saan people of Southern Africa, sometimes called the "Bushmen tribe", indigenous hunter-gatherers, and was intrigued by how they respected and treated their environment. When they kill an animal for food, they thank the animal for giving up its life to sustain them, and in gratitude, return something to the earth. The man who killed the animal cuts a lock of his hair and buries it. A symbol of give and take.

Life is "Give, and take"

Life is "Ying and yang"

Life is all about balance. It is a natural way of the universe. If anything or anyone upsets the harmony, nature resets it.  So, how can we live a peaceful and fulfilling life here in our world? Simple, recognize the way of the universe and everything flows accordingly. If you tip anything out of balance, nature swings it right back where it belongs,  to harmony.

Treat everyone as you'd treat yourself. Be kind to everyone. And if they are unkind to you, never mind, they would get what is coming to them. The universe never forgets. Nature never fails to restore balance and harmony.

The movie "The Elephant Whisperers" which just won an Oscar, for Best Short Documentary, reminds us of how we should relate to nature. We are part of nature and should spend more time in nature.

Porto Alegre, a village on São Tomé island