Naropa University - Oakland Campus
Master of Liberal Arts in Creation Spirituality
CSP 636 Seminar Credits: 2
Instructor: Marlene De Nardo, 510-835-4827, ext 15
Guests: Joanna Macy and Dr. Chuma
Fall, 2003, Thursdays. 9:30-12:00
Course description:
This course explores how the crisis of the earth will transform us and our faith traditions. We will draw on the interwoven strands of Earth Wisdom traditions and contemporary manifestation in Ecopsychology, Ecofeminism and Deep Ecology. Our purpose is to develop a ‘sense of place’, and, a connection with all beings that fosters the self-healing powers in the web of life.
Objectives:
Ø -to deepen our relationship and engagement with the Earth community and to experience the natural world as teacher and spiritual guide;
Ø -to understand better our planetary crisis and ways to foster healing within our systems and communities;
Ø -to examine the ecological aspects of spiritual traditions and to learn from wisdom traditions and the wisdom of the earth;
Ø -to promote mutually enhancing and sustainable relationships with all beings/species, as we work toward developing a sustainable culture
“We shall awaken from our dullness and rise vigorously toward justice. If we fall in love with creation deeper and deeper we will respond to its endangerment with passion.”
“...Looking deeply into the present moment, we know what to do and what not to do to save our precious planet and each other.”
Thich Nhat Hanh,
Course Requirements:
1. On time attendance, participation. Completion and response to readings. (20%)
2. Eco-practicum: reflection & application of learnings. (20%)
3. Eco-Study: presentation with a partner to seminar class. (40%)
4. A final paper related to Eco-Study (5-7 pages) or an annotated bibliography. (20%)
Ecospirituality Syllabus, Fall 2003, page 2
The Eco-Practicum is twofold: both a personal spiritual (earth) practice and a class experience in the local community.
The Eco-Study is a particular area of earth study each student (with a partner) engages in and presents to the class. Details of these assignments will be given during the seminar.
Written Paper:
Papers are reviewed on originality, clarity of expression, basic writing skills, structure and organization of ideas, citations from required readings, integration of critical analysis and experiential material.
Please type and double space your paper. Include a title page with your name, and the name of the course, the instructor and the date. (see MLA Guidelines)
Required Reading:
Earth Prayers from Around the World, Elizabeth Roberts & Elias Amidon
The Great Work, Thomas Berry
The Legacy of Luna, Julia Butterfly Hill
Revolutionary Ecology: Biocentrism & Deep Ecology, Judy Bari
Selected articles
Recommended Texts
· Coming Back To Life: Practices to Reconnect Our Lives, Our World,
Joanna Macy and Molly Brown
· World as Lover, World as Self, Joanna Macy
· Thinking Like a Mountain, John Seed, Joanna Macy, et al
· Reweaving the World: The Emergence of Ecofeminism, Irene Diamond & Gloria Orenstein
· Ecopsychology: Restoring the Earth, Healing the Mind, T. Roszak, M. Gomes, A. Kanner
· All Our Relations, Winnona LaDuke
· The Spell of the Sensuous, David Abram
· Radical Ecology: The Search for a Livable World, Carolyn Merchant
· Agriculture: Spiritual Foundations for the Renewal of Agriculture, Rudolf Steiner
· Defending Mother Earth: Native American Perspectives on Environmental Justice,
Jace Weaver, Editor
· The Lost Gospel of the Earth, A Call for Renewing Nature, Spirit & Politics, Tom Hayden
· The Sacred Balance, Rediscovering Our Place in Nature, David Suzuki
· Communities Directory: A Guide to Intentional Communities & Cooperative Living
· Silent Spring,Rachel Carson
· The Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability, Paul Hawken
· The Post-Corporate World: Life After Capitalism, David C. Korten
· Restoring the Earth: Visionary Solutions from the Bioneers, Kenny Ausubel
· Buddha’s Nature; A Practical Guide to Discovering your Place in the Cosmos,
Wes Nisker
COURSE OUTLINE
Ecospirituality, Fall, 2003
Marlene DeNardo and Guests
Objectives:
Ø To understand better our planetary crisis and ways to foster healing within our systems and communities;
Ø To deepen our relationship and engagement with the Earth community and to experience the natural world as teacher and spiritual guide.
Question: What is Thomas Berry saying? How might I apply it personally and in community?
September 18,2003: Eco-spirituality :The Spirituality of the Earth Community.
What is the Earth’s spirituality? How do we find faith in a dying culture?
Read: The Great Work, Thomas Berry, Pages 1-47, Intro, ch. 1-4.
Earth Prayers, Roberts & Amidon. Review introduction, contents & layout.
September 25, 2002: The Sense of the Sacred. Recovering the mystical tradition
What is sacred about the universe? Where is the sacred?
Read: The Legacy of Luna, Julia Butterfly Hill (entire book)
October 2, 2003: Healing our society and our psyches. Eco-psychology perspectives.
Is there a connection between spiritual practice and social activism?
Read: The Great Work, Thomas Berry, pages 48-116, ch. 5-10.
Earth Prayers, Roberts & Amidon: pray one section.
October 9, 2003: The Great Work: our own and visionary solutions.
Can the human species learn to live in harmony with the natural world?
Read: The Great Work, Thomas Berry, pages 117-149, ch 11-12.
October 16, 2003: The choice for a sustainable world. Bioregionalism and Restoration.
Can humans relate with other species, and, “think like a mountain”?
Read: The Great Work, Thomas Berry, pages 150-201, ch. 13-17; Bibliography
Due: Report on Eco-Practicum.
October 17-19,2003: BIONEERS CONFERENCE 2003 (Highly recommended)
“Revolution from the Heart of Nature”, Main Center, San Rafael, CA.
Www.bioneers.org email: [email protected] Phone: 505-986-0366
Toll free: 877-246-6337 Fax 505-986-1644 Fax: 505-986-1644
October 23, 2003: OPTIONAL INTENSIVE, Mystics course, no class.
October 27-31, 2003: STUDY WEEK
Objectives:
Ø To examine the ecological aspects of spiritual traditions and to learn from wisdom traditions and the wisdom of the Earth;
Ø To promote mutually enhancing and sustainable relationships with all beings/species as we work toward a sustainable culture.
Question: What are the authors saying? How might I apply it personally and in community?
November 6, 2003: 2003 The post-corporate world and species maturity Is there life after
Capitalism?
Read: Revolutionary Ecology: Biocentrism and Deep Ecology, Judi Bari (entire booklet )
November 13, 2003: Deep Ecology and the Systems View of the World. The Bodhisattva.
Guest instructor: Joanna Macy
Read: Coming Back to Life, J. Macy, chapter 3 (Xeroxed)
World as Lover. World as Self, J. Macy, (Xeroxed chapters)
November 20, 2003: Healing the web of life. Grace and Synergy
Can our species re-member magic, myth and mysticism?
Read: “The Declaration of Interdependence”; “The Earth Charter”. (Xeroxed)
Due: Developing Eco-Study presentations.
November 27, 2003: HOLIDAY: THANKSGIVING DAY
December 4:, 2003: Animals as teachers and spiritual directors.
What are the Dolphins Saying?
Council of all Beings. (cf. Thinking Like a Mountain, Seed, Macy, et al)
Read: Earth Prayers, Part Viii, page 247
December 11, 2003: Treasures for the way ahead.
Presentations of Student Eco-Study.
Due: Final papers.
“How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? This idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can we buy them?”
(Attributed to Chief Seattle)
“I call heaven and earth to record this day to your account, that I have set before you
life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed shall live.”
(Deuteronomy, 30,19)