Spirituality and Regeneration

Is spirituality the key to a regenerative world or the opposite: a meaningless distraction that allows us to continue consuming and emitting? A debate.

This text is a translation of a debate that Marius Hasenheit and I had three years ago for “Transform Magazin”, discussing the role of spirituality in sustainability. Although it’s Marius’s arguing with me, it might as well be me arguing with myself. I couldn’t agree more with his arguments. And my own. There is also - from where I stand now - so much more to say. Something that I want to explore in more depth in the near future. Consider this an introductory glimpse.

M: Climate crisis, throwaway society, loss of species. The world* is full of challenges that we must face immediately. If we wait for enlightenment first, I'm afraid it might be too late for the polar bears.

J: The ecological crisis of our time is just a symptom. Of course we can continue to tinker with the effects. But the deeper causes remain. The design of our society reflects our inner attitudes and values. If we want a different world, we first need a new awareness of the inner processes of our existence. Spirituality is exactly about that: exploring inner processes and taking on a new perspective. Spirituality enables a reordering of the self that transforms relationships with ourselves, others and the world. We humans are less conscious than we think, we often act and think based on subconscious processes. Take, for example, how and what we shop: Research from neuroscience shows that behind it is often the need to feel connected. We shop as substitute satisfaction. In order to change our behavior and live more ecologically, we have to become aware of this. We are not thrown into the world unchangeable. To achieve something sustainably, there is a general need for more awareness of the inner dimensions of human existence. This also means that we have to bring spirituality back into the public and political space, instead of meditating in our bedrooms. At the moment politicians are acting as if we were purely rational beings. But the model of Homo Economicus has already been refuted many times.

Meditation: Good for People, No Matter the Climate?

M: I see it differently. It doesn't take spirituality to dethrone homo economics and to deal more consciously with the environment. On the contrary: spirituality is often a hindrance. Let's take the consumer. A few years ago, 100 people took part in mindfulness training as part of a study. They meditated for several weeks and exchanged ideas and feelings. The result? The new meditation fans were happier with themselves and those around them. They had also gained an increased awareness of ecological problems. However, their consumption patterns remained the same - they just shopped more enthusiastically. If you're looking for reasons why many people believe they need a new outfit every few weeks or only feel safe in an SUV, you don't have to concern yourself with spirituality - consumer psychology suffices. It's great that spiritual people go through life happier - but that won't necessarily change anything in the big picture. While the spiritualists fly to India for a yoga retreat completely complacent and see “their contribution” in their meditation, what is ultimately needed is a measurable reduction in resource consumption and CO2 emissions. We can't get around that. Do you know what I mean by that?

Spirituality and Reconnection

J: Sure, climate change is an existential threat that requires us to massively adapt our behavior. But this cannot be achieved with purely superficial pragmatism. First of all, it also requires mental openness and the willingness to completely turn our lives around if necessary. This is where ecological transformation often fails. Spirituality can help. For me, that is the pragmatic approach. Spirituality does not mean that we automatically feel connected to the world and, as a result, act “right.” It provides a belief system, a narrative, that we can use to navigate the world. This narrative organizes our value system and guides our actions. What we often find today is a spirituality of “wellbeing”. The focus is solely on the well-being of the individual. But I can also consciously decide to follow a narrative that takes the big picture into account. The Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, for example, speaks of "interbeing", the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze describes the "dividuum", the common idea behind it: we are all part of each other and influence each other. Our thoughts, words and ideas, even our desires, dreams and the idea of ourselves come from our social environment, which in turn has been defined by the larger society. Society is present in every single person.

Spirituality can help us in two things. Firstly, it can help us get a bird's eye view. To recognize at what point my actions are guided by my past and personal experience or by social norms. This can be liberating, for example from supposed pressures to consume. Second, spirituality can help us understand that we are an effective part of this complex society, even if we don't always experience this. Understanding the complexity is not that easy cognitively. Our brain would like to break the world down into a single cause-and-effect structure. But the world is complex. Spirituality can underline the connection between personal, social and political transformation.

Decarbonization Instead of Enlightenment!

M: But seeing the whole thing and acting consciously accordingly is not a question of spirituality. Anyone who relies entirely on their reason does not automatically limit themselves to a certain aspect and ignore all other topics. On the contrary: a focus on the inside and constant self-examination are only a hindrance to sustainable politics that is acceptable to all current and future people. Instead of becoming spiritual: How would it be to live our lives well in this world on the basis of scientific findings and at the same time pursue a policy that is geared towards the future? Ultimately, relevant solutions are needed as quickly as possible. As mundane as the coal phase-out may sound to some compared to enlightenment, I would prefer that. Even the unspiritual brain can process emotions and experiences and does not have to wrap everything up in a cause-effect network. However, long-haul flights remain harmful to the climate system even if passengers tell themselves that no social pressure forced them to take the trip and that maintaining their widely dispersed circle of friends also has an influence on the world. Isn't it too easy to escape from complexity into spirituality?

Mindfulness Promotes Questioning the Status Quo

J: It's not too easy because it promotes mindfulness. This is necessary in order to achieve inner change as a first step. Only when I am aware of what is going wrong can I change something. The alternative is that politics and society determine for us normal behavior. For example: flying whenever we have time. Systemic change begins with questioning, but it doesn't just happen in one place, but in many. And that requires mindfulness. Of course, the outside world has to play a role in this. Society affects me as much as I affect society. Meditation has been proven to reduce our stress levels and to make us more empathetic and responsible. This creates the basis for meaningful questioning.

M: Sure, if you concentrate on your own breathing, your mind will drift less. Studies by the Technical University of Munich showed in 2016: Breath concentration leads to increased control of emotional activity by the prefrontal cortex, the neurological seat of reason. When meditating, thoughts become clearer and emotions become easier to categorize. By the way, writing has a very similar effect. Nice effect, exciting field of research - but not necessarily a reason to light incense sticks.

The question is rather: What real consequences are associated with meditation? If the consumption of sleeping pills can be reduced or anti-aggression training can be canceled through meditation: great. If you feel better or are more tolerable in everyday life: Not bad! Meanwhile, more companies offer meditation circles - from digital corporations to medium-sized companies. Nevertheless, our economy as a whole has not improved, nor have greenhouse gas emissions decreased. The result is that everyone feels better in the here and now. But where is the joint approach?

Spirituality allows us to search for answers together

J: We are different. Each of us lives in our own reality. Our environment, our experiences, all of this contributes to developing and strengthening our own “belief system”. Think this through: If we expect that we all end up in the same place mentally, we would have to make sure that we all live the exact same life. And possibly even have the same genes. That's impossible. The logical alternative is: We must be able to recognize the diversity of our stories and deal with this diversity. So it's not about convincing each other and arguing against each other, but about learning to respond to each other. We do not yet have clear answers to these questions. Rather, it is a common search process between everyone: How do we manage to live a good life next to each other?

M: For me this question is not an argument for anything. Looking for “something between heaven and earth,” “finding something for yourself,” may be tempting, especially for individualists with a touch of identity crisis. Grandma's rosary doesn't cut it anymore for many people. But this journey often leads from bad to worse. Throwing the old religious traditions of your own ancestors overboard only feels free and wild at first glance. Chant mantras today, look for chi tomorrow - if you look for like-minded people, you will come across rituals, rules and masters again. With spirituality, many build a worldview based on the make-a-wish principle: a little Buddhism for the peaceful reputation, a little Hinduism for the colors and trendy symbols and something “Indian” to underline your own individuality. The religions that serve as a storehouse of raw materials are used in an alienated way. I think: the Enlightenment, humanism and many secular utopias have enough material to build a beautiful worldview.

🐒 Something fascinating about others

The Corpse Flower (Amorphophallus titanum) produces the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world and emits an odor resembling a rotting corpse to attract pollinators.

📚 A book I recommend

“Ways of Being” by James Bridle because its one of the few books that includes technology in the idea of inter-being.

💌 A quote that matters

“Many assume that when you get down to the nuts and bolts of nature, a spiritual worldview is simply incompatible with a scientific one. While that is the common assumption, it couldn’t be more wrong . Spirituality simply refers to a sense of connection to something larger than oneself , and it has nothing to do with the supernatural. To quote Carl Sagan again,“ Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality.” Einstein not only shared this view but also believed that the only path to true spiritual enlightenment was the trail we travel along when we pursue scientific discovery”. Bobby Azarian

✍️ A journal prompt

What role has spirituality played in your actions to socialecological transformation? How do you define spirituality, and how does this definition intersect with your understanding of environmental sustainability and social change? Are there specific spiritual principles or beliefs that align with your efforts towards socialecological transformation?