the teachings of satish kumar

The Teachings of Satish Kumar

Simon Robinson Founder of Holonomics Education and Co-Author of

Holonomics: Business Where People and Planet Matter

(47) 3026 4950www.holonomics.co.uk

New Paths of Knowledge and Innovative Practices for Organisations in Transition

! In 1962, Satish Kumar made headlines around the globe when he walked from New Delhi to Moscow, Paris, London and Washington, delivering packets of peace tea to the countries’ leaders with the advice that, before resorting to nuclear warfare as a

solution to their problems, they should sit down and have a quiet cup of tea. !

Since settling here in 1973 Satish has been the guiding spirit behind a number of ecological, spiritual and educational ventures in the United Kingdom. He has

founded the Small School – a pioneering secondary school dedicated to bringing ecological and spiritual values into its curriculum – and Schumacher College, which

educates its students in eco-consciousness and the means for effective change. !

What you are about to read are quotes from Satish about ecology and economics. Satish’s philosophy about nature comes from his very deep connection with nature. He has a very different way of thinking about nature compared, for example, many people in business or economics, where we see the natural world primarily in terms

of resources to be exploited. !

I have combined the philosophy of Satish with my own photography.



We are looking for what I would call a new trinity, a "soil, soul, society" philosophy - soil for

the environment, soul for the spiritual dimension, and society for the social justice

that is essential.



I am therefore suggesting the use of some radically different artwork to draw people, or attract people to the lounge and the display, which will get them

discussing the artwork, and then perhaps enabling them not to read the quotes from Satish while sub-consciously having that deeper connection to

nature (through the artwork), which they could normally only achieve through spending much more time out in nature, away from technology and the

distractions of modern life. !

I had thought about using quotes about sustainability from business leaders, or having posters which contain examples of environmental problems and potential solutions. But these would still be just rational and logical. It is a

connection with nature which really inspires people to change their behaviour, and deepens their understanding about our place in nature, and therefore

this display is not judgemental, it is not telling our business leaders what they must do. It is reaching them at a much more intuitive and emotional level in a way in which most other typical business management consultants would not

normally be able to do, as they are providing solutions at the same level of consciousness which produced the environmental problems in the first place.



The happiest people I have seen in Britain, or anywhere, are those who live close to the land and people who use their hands - craftspeople. All over the world they transform the world. They

effect transformation. People like environmental sculptor Andy

Goldsworthy can take a leaf and transform it. They restore the dignity of

work by hand.

One of the Striding Arches by Andy Goldsworthy. Photo: Simon Robinson



We are not protecting nature these days so much as managing it without knowing it. If you want to protect it, go out in it.



When you walk, you are in touch with the earth, with nature, the wasps, the insects, everything. In a car or a train or a plane, you are

disconnected. You walk to connect yourself.



A river has the right to flow unpolluted, uncontaminated, un-dammed.



When we take something from nature for our survival, that is fine. That we should take with gratitude, not as a right, that it is our right to use nature.

!But we say it is a gift from nature, and we receive it with gratitude, and we

reciprocate it, by looking after it, by composting it, by not polluting it, and by giving respect to it.

Real wealth is good land, pristine forests, clean rivers, healthy animals, vibrant communities, nourishing food

and human creativity.



Frugality, simplicity and restraint are the urgent imperatives at these critical times. If we are caring and generous to Nature, Nature will reciprocate.



Now, the study of the ‘environment’ is not the same as the study of ‘ecology’. The environment is what surrounds us humans. This implies that humans are at the

centre and what is around us is our environment. So ‘environment’ is an anthropocentric concept whereas the word ‘ecology’ is more inclusive. Ecology

implies relationships between all species, humans and the natural world.



Giving nature a rightful place, and giving nature and recognising nature’s intrinsic value is the main idea of deep ecology. So there is a tree there.

The tree is good in itself, the tree is not there because it is useful to humans. The tree is not good because it gives us a kind of oxygen, or fire, or wood, or wood for the house, or flowers or fruit, a tree has intrinsic value.



I want to move people to a more experiential philosophy of the natural world. That way

you can protect it.



The days of compartmentalisation are passing. We are at the dawn of a new age where we must look for unity in diversity, the big

picture in small parts, macrocosm in microcosm, large vision in little details and Holonomics in economics.

!We can enter this new age of wholeness by the act of deep seeing,

by expanding our consciousness, and by transforming our perceptions. This book is a handy tool to accomplish such

metamorphosis, a manual to move from a linear model to a cyclical system of business.

!I am delighted that two students of Schumacher College have

come up with such a comprehensive understanding and explanation of a new world view, or a new paradigm which is

urgently needed in our time. When the world is faced with dilemmas and dichotomies, we need Holonomics so that we can

avoid disorder and build a sustainable and fulfilling future which is full of creative possibilities.

!This book is a manifesto for mindful living. It will help the reader to

make a shift from a static state to a dynamic state of business.

Holonomics: Business Where People and Planet Matter!

Floris Books 2014 Simon Robinson and Maria Moraes Robinson

with a foreword by Satish Kumar

the teachings of satish kumar

Environment

philosophy of satish

innovative practices

paths of knowledge

business leaders

transitionthe happiest

different artwork

society philosophy soil

spiritual values