greenliving
we change from competition
to cooperation?
First, we must recognize that the biggest
obstacle to any healthy eco-system is
GREEN
an unhealthy ego-system. That requires
and
switching our individual and collective
focus from getting ahead to getting a
BEAR IT
heart. Instead of pursuing happiness,
we need happier pursuits. The econom-
Wry Meditations on Going Green
ic growth of the future is growing more
happiness, by depending on fewer
goods and creating more goodness.
by Swami Beyondananda
What’s the best route to take with
energy policy?
“We don’t need to save
sue, of global warming. Apparently, This is an area where we need to
the kind of natural gas you’re talk- declare a state of emerge ‘n see. We
the planet, just spend
ing about... coming from cattle, pri- need to emerge from being a bunch of
it more wisely.”
marily... actually has an impact on fossilized fools fueled by fossil fuels,
global climate change. So Swami, is and see that we have a virtually infinite
there anything we can do to coun- source of power, just as surely as the
~ Swami Beyondananda
terbalance global warming? sun comes up in the morning.
E
veryone is talking about “going
During World War II, the United
green” as a way to save precious
You know, nature is amazing in how States mobilized the Manhattan Proj-
resources, not to mention creating
She provides just the right natural bal- ect to build the first weapons of mass
a healthier environment and healthier
ance to any situation, and global warm- destruction, nuclear power. Today, we
economy. However, we all know that
ing is no exception. True, for the past need a Man-Helpin’ Project to mobilize
making lifestyle changes can be chal-
few generations the planet has become our forces to weave a web of mass-con-
lenging, even when we have the best
warmer. On the other hand, every gen- struction of new-clear power—clean,
intentions. In seeking advice on this key
eration is cooler than their parents. renewable energy so abundant that we
issue, Natural Awakenings went seek-
But even cool people can overheat don’t need armies to defend it. Now,
ing for a spiritual being whose mind is
a planet if there are too many of us. I know what you’re thinking, that I am
deeper than Deepak’s and whose heart
Yet, once again, I see a simple solu- proposing a sane world… I must be crazy.
is roomier than Rumi’s, a true avatar for
tion—multiple personalities. I just read But listen. Maybe it’s time we went
our age.
about a guy who has 10 personalities, sane and built our own sane asylum.
and I said to myself, “Now, that’s effi- With soul power and solar power, we
Those are tough shoes to fill…
ciency! Ten personalities, all inside one pretty much have what we need.
body. Why, if we had more people like
Fortunately, we came up with an
that, we’d need fewer people. Finally, Swami, what do you suggest
alternative in Swami Beyondananda,
for improving the overall economy?
the cosmic comic. In honor of the
How about the rest of us, who are
magazine’s first-ever Laugh More issue,
That’s simple: overalls. The more
limited to just one personality per
the good Swami heartily agreed to com-
people who are wearing overalls, the
person?
ment on the trials and tribulations of liv-
healthier our overall economy.
The best way to combat global warm-
ing an increasingly greener life, so that
That’s because our most renewable
ing is through global heartwarming.
we may all help create a greener planet.
abundant resource comes out of the
Here’s why: Look at how much of our ground every season. Hey, those pes-
precious resources we spend fighting
Okay, Swami. Let’s get personal.
ticide-free plants are rooting for us to
one another, all because of the mis-
What are you, as a cosmic role mod-
achieve “humanifest destiny”—where
taken belief in “survival of the fittest.”
el, doing to shrink your footprint?
we accept and fulfill our mission to re-
Modern science now tells us that the grow the garden from the grassroots up
Well, first of all I am doing the most ob-
true law of nature is “thrival of the fit- and have a heaven of a time doing it.
vious thing. I am wearing smaller shoes.
tingest.” So, the most economically and
I’m also converting my magic carpet to
ecologically efficient thing is to form Swami Beyondananda is the alter ego
run on natural gas. I think switching to a
“co-operations” that will make us all of writer and humorist Steve Bhaerman.
vegan diet will help with that.
interdependently wealthy. Find him online at WakeUpLaughing.
com, including the latest on his Swami
Well then, that brings up another is-
That sounds good, but how do Goes Green campaign.
 Collier/Lee Counties swfl.naturalawakeningsmag.com
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