World as Lover, World as Self: Courage for Global Justice and Ecological Renewal

Description

An enduring classic of the ecology movement by the founder of the Work That Reconnects, now more timely than ever "Joanna Macy unveils an ancient set of roots for our work to transform the future."-adrienne maree brown, author of Emergent Strategy An enduring classic of the ecology movement by the founder of the Work That Reconnects, now more timely than ever Humanity is in an existential crisis. Facing the magnitude of our global situation as individuals leaves us feeling alone, disempowered, and despairing. Who better to listen to for wisdom and solace than Joanna Macy, one of the originators of modern environmentalism, whose life's work has been to hear and heal our pain for the planet? World as Lover, World as Self draws on a lifetime of wisdom to offer a re-focus on the natural world, where readers can find the strength and spiritual nourishment to envision a new future for humanity built on a sustainable relationship with the earth. Rooted in the Buddha's teachings of paticca samuppada or "interdependent co-arising," Macy's reflections are especially relevant for activists who want to address the underlying mindsets of fear, greed, and selfishness that give rise to overconsumption and the ultimate destruction of our world. Both heartbreaking and uplifting, this definitive edition of World as Lover, World as Self will give a new generation of readers the tools and understanding with which to meet today's challenges and crises.

Joanna Macy, PhD, teacher and author, is a scholar of Buddhism, systems thinking, and deep ecology. Interweavingher scholarship with six decades of activism, her wide-ranging work addresses psychological and spiritual issues of the nuclear age, the cultivation of ecological awareness, and the fruitful resonance between Buddhist thought and contemporary science. Her group methods have been adopted and adapted widely in classrooms, churches, and grassroots organizing work. Her work helps people transform despair and apathy in the face of overwhelming social and ecological crises into constructive, collaborative action.As the root teacher of the Work That Reconnects, Macy has created a ground-breaking framework for personal and social change of seeing the world as our larger body. Macy's work on the Great Turning envisions a post-empire, post-corporate future for humanity based in sustainable, just, and caring communities. She continues to write and teach in Berkeley, California.

Praise for the 30th Anniversary Edition of World as Lover, World as Self "Joanna Macy unveils an ancient set of roots for our work to transform the future. Macy weaves the spirit work of Buddhism into our community and activism work, helping us grasp where we are in the Great Turning."-adrienne maree brown, author of Emergent Strategy "Brilliant, visionary, and essential, this is one of the wisest and most important Buddhist-inspired books of our era. Joanna Macy is a master, and her powerful, heart-centered work is a blessing, showing us how to transform ourselves and the world."-Jack Kornfield, author of A Path With Heart "Thirty years after its original publication, the wisdom in these pages remains timeless and universal ... as we face increasing catastrophes due to the climate crisis, we need this book now more than ever."-Kazu Haga, author of Healing Resistance "Joanna Macy's unrelenting dedication over decades to help catalyze a radical shift within our collective awareness is a heroic gift ... a prescient, timeless map.... Even as Macy asks us to face the stark realities of a collapsing world, she brings hope by reminding us to stay ever faithful to the compassionate, bodhisattva heart."-Thanissara, author of Time to Stand Up "When everything seems to be collapsing ... Joanna Macy sings a song to urge us not to run away, not to shrink away from these material irruptions, but to open our hearts and anchor our bodies to a world so sensuously alive that it could only be described as a lover. May we never outgrow our elders."-Bayo Akomolafe, PhD, author of These Wilds Beyond our Fences