“The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops but the cultivation and purification of human beings.” Masanobu Fukuoka
Philosophy
Working for the earth is the original mission of human beings. Helping to heal the earth by growing living soil and the most nutritious food possible is one of the noblest ways one can live their life, no matter if one has spiritual beliefs or not. When practiced in the most compassionate, harmonious, and sustainable way possible, this becomes a high form of worship and reverence. By practicing sustainable agriculture, we are creating life and increasing the life energy of the planet. It is one of the only things we can do to actually heal the earth. Although recycling, being vegetarian, conserving energy are very important, they only reduce our impact on the environment and do very little to repair the earth. We are very fortunate and can take great joy in the opportunity to be able to work with the earth in this profound way.
Meditation, prayer, rituals, and ceremonies for healing and living in harmony with nature and the ecology raise our own consciousness and the consciousness of the earth; going for walks and spending time in nature deepen our relationship with nature; and reading books and studying topics on ecology and sustainability give us knowledge about nature and ways to live in harmony with her; but if we do not do anything to heal the earth on the physical plain all our ideals remain in our head and they do not have the force of action. Ideal and action remain separate and we remain separate and alienated from ourselves and nature.
By conscious participation with the earth in a state of reverence, love, and gratitude, we are able to gain a deeper intuitive feeling for the interrelationships and needs of a particular environment—its terrain, plants, microorganisms, insect and animal communities. In developing this intuitive knowing and becoming mindful of these interactions, we are able to work with nature to create a regenerative living soil and also develop ourselves at the same time. The state of awareness needed to enter earth processes in this way requires us to look deeply within and confront issues that prevent us from becoming truly authentic and aware. It is only by generating inner joy that we can truly serve others. For, if we are looking for happiness in the praise and acceptance from others, we will be serving those desires to be liked and fit in instead of what the people and the planet really need.
Modeling a shift in consciousness away from a consumption-domination view of earth-relations to a participatory mutually enhancing orientation moves us from an egocentric to an eco-centric alignment. Tending the emergence of the ecological self and community is a deeply spiritual response to the global crisis of our times.
Working with the earth combined with eating live food, other programs available at the Tree of Life, and the loving support of the community creates a very powerful environment for spiritual transformation, as well as, a way of life that heal the earth and molds our ideals and actions into one. In this way we have the opportunity to create a whole energy shift that can ripple out into the world.
The garden program is an integral part of the Tree of Life community. The program emphasizes the practice of sustainable, vegan organic agriculture as a way to live a spiritual life and as a path to heal the earth.
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