Integral Paradigm of Knowledge University of Human Unity – Auroville Psychological Perspectives of Ecological Crises - 2 Werner Sattmann-Frese 30 January

Indeed, this inward turning movement is not an imprisonment in the personal self, it is the first step towards a true universality. Sri Aurobindo 2

Possible views on divine beings: 3

Divine beings: Feel what they think and think what they feel Strive to become streaming beings and enabled to experience ecstasy Are mindful not to exploit others and nature and minimise being exploited Are mindful to share their knowledge and skills with others Are self-sufficient and work for the benefit of the world at large Have a physical, emotional, and spiritual life 4

Divine beings: See events as challenges to grow and focus on the path rather than on goals Care for human beings and the natural environment Seek to maintain long-term relationships Seek fulfillment, meaning and purpose in pleasurable sustainable activities and learning Believe in the idea of balance and harmony. 5

Crises as opportunity 6

The following is meant to be one possible way of enhancing ecological consciousness and sustainable living that needs to be integrated with spiritual and somatic practices. Handout: Sustainability Questionnaire 7

Environmental sustainability There is a growing agreement that our society will be environmentally sustainable when we will: acknowledge the planet’s finite resources and the necessity to move from non-renewable to renewable resources, and observe limitations imposed by the carrying capacity of this planet. 8

To achieve this we may have to work towards: 9

Physio-emotional sustainability The concept of physio-emotional sustainability can be employed to denote our ability to have a friendly and nurturing relationship with our bodies, to understand their signals, to experience pleasure through them, and to cope with life’s demands without resorting to compensatory, and often destructive, behaviour such as consumerism (Sattmann-Frese & Hill, Learning for Sustainable Living, 2008). 10

Physio-emotional sustainability denotes our ability to: understand and flow with our natural body needs; understand the signals of our body and use them as important guides and mechanisms of self- regulation; understand the meaning and purpose of our physical illnesses; experience a high degree of body-mind unity and to cope with life’s demands without having to consume excessive food, alcohol, nicotine, or other drugs. 11

Psychosocial sustainability The term ‘psychosocial sustainability’ can be employed to describe the emotional and structural features and mechanisms governing the relationships between human beings. Relationships are psychosocially sustainable when they provide support, nurturing, emotional holding, and emotional and spiritual growth for everyone involved. 12

Psychosocial (relational) sustainability denotes our ability to: identify conflicts with other people and to find creative solutions for them identify with our feelings and find adequate expressions for them in our relationships maintain and enjoy nurturing relationships and connections with other people respect social boundaries and appreciate otherness enjoy social contacts without needing substances to facilitate these contacts or to provide stimulation. 13

Sustainability mapping Both humans and nature as a whole have more of a chance to remain healthy (free from symptoms) and resilient when we learn to maintain a balance between giving and taking in our relationships to other people and in our dealings with the many other features in our lives. 14

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Readings  Boadella, D 1987, Lifestreams, Routledge & Kegan Paul, New York.  Eales, S 1991, Isn’t Progress Wonderful? The First Book of Eco Humor, Grub Street, London  Fromm, E 1955, The Sane Society, Fawcett World Library, New York. 16

Readings (2) Moore, T 1996, Re-enchantment of Everyday Life, Hodder & Stoughton, Rydalmere, NSW, Australia. Sattmann-Frese, WS & Hill, SB 2008, Learning for Sustainable Living: Psychology of Ecological Transformation, Lulu.Com, Morrisville, USA. Watts, A 1961, Psychotherapy East and West, Ballantyne, New York. 17

This presentation will be made available at You will find it at the bottom of the front page. 18

Learning for Sustainable Living by Werner J. Sattmann-Frese and Stuart B. Hill Paperback: 348 pages Publisher: Lulu.com (March 19, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: ISBN-13: This book is available without charge as a PDF file at 19

Thank you for your attention! You can contact me at: 20