Open AccessZen and deep evolution: The optical delusion of separation
Author(s) -
Allendorf Fred W.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
evolutionary applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.776
H-Index - 68
ISSN - 1752-4571
DOI - 10.1111/eva.12620
Subject(s) - extinction (optical mineralogy) , action (physics) , gautama buddha , biology , mindfulness , environmental ethics , epistemology , ecology , delusion , cognitive science , psychology , history , psychotherapist , philosophy , buddhism , paleontology , physics , archaeology , quantum mechanics , psychiatry
Abstract The Buddha taught that everything is connected and constantly changing. These fundamental observations of the world are shared by ecology and evolution. We are living in a time of unprecedented rates of extinction. Science provides us with the information that we need to address this extinction crisis. However, the problems underlying extinction generally do not result from a lack of scientific understanding, but they rather result from an unwillingness to take the needed action. I present mindfulness and meditative aspects of Zen practice that provide the deeper “knowing,” or awareness that we need to inspire action on these problems.