Loving the World, Laurence Freeman OSB

Fr. Laurence challenges us with this powerful insight: For the first time in human history, humans are now in control of the environment. But we are not handling this very responsibly. An environmental crisis has been generated by economic activity driven by competition and short-term gains. But if we made the crisis, then we can change it. To do this, we ourselves must be prepared to change radically. This, Fr Laurence says, is what meditation does. As the mantra sinks deeper into the heart, it opens within us the spirit of wisdom and compassion, the spirit of Christ who came to love the world and to heal it.

Meditation puts the ego back in its proper place, develops self-control and opens us to a new perception of universality: that we are one and interdependent, that our actions are mutually beneficial or mutually harmful. Meditation creates community on a planetary scale.