Indra's Net
Thursday 25th February
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saying peace
saying peace
Indra's Net
At each intersection of the endless net
At each intersection of the endless net
of Indra's heaven, according to the myth,
of Indra's heaven, according to the myth,
is a bead that represents a human life.
is a bead that represents a human life.
Each bead reflects every other
Each bead reflects every other
and every reflection of every other.
and every reflection of every other.
In the sub-atomic field each hadron
In the sub-atomic field each hadron
affects and is affected by all the rest,
affects and is affected by all the rest,
resulting in a flux of energy and movement
resulting in a flux of energy and movement
in which little can be foretold
in which little can be foretold
save unpredictability and endless change.
save unpredictability and endless change.
The boundaries between us are hallucinations;
The boundaries between us are hallucinations;
we are indeed members of one another.
we are indeed members of one another.
dancing together spontaneously like the hadron,
dancing together spontaneously like the hadron,
containing each other like the beads
containing each other like the beads
Adam Curle
showing peace
showing peace
Photo by Cole Keister on Unsplash
doing peace
doing peace
The theme today is Peace in Communities
The poem by Adam Curle, the founder of 'Peace Studies' at Bradford University, explores the science and art of what connects us.
In Western science we tend to take a 'rational' approach to the world. Exploring that which you can see, measure and manipulate is perceived as 'good science' whilst intuitive, emotional or 'transrational' experiences are often dismissed.
In Eastern and the more ancient 'wisdom' traditions celebrate and explore the unseen forces that impact on the visible world. Emotion and intuition are seen as important as rationality and measurement.
Albert Einstein is quoted as saying 'The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a loyal servant. We have have become a society that honours the servant but has forgotten the gift.'
Reflect on the poem and the photograph and answer these two questions in anyway you want. By that I mean you can write, draw, dance, film or make something to share your thoughts and feelings.
In what way can our interconnectedness with each other and the world be seen or 'made manifest'?
In what way can our interconnectedness with each other and the world be experienced intuitively or emotionally?
Which of the two (seen and unseen) is the most 'real' evidence of interconnectedness that Adam Curle is drawing to our attention in his poem?
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