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High Gas Prices, Peak Oil, and the Lie of Infinite Abundance...and What to Do About Itby Stephanie Brail The mainstream media has dropped the ball on this one, but the big story is this: Gas prices are going higher because we are running out of oil. That's it. There's no conspiracy among the oil companies to gouge you - oil is more expensive because the demand is high but the supply is dwindling. Basic Econ 101. Please read this Peak Oil Primer to understand what is going on. There is no easy solution to this issue. We can try to drill for new sources of oil, but those types of drilling are expensive, not just cost-wise, but environmentally. America has already hit its oil peak; this is why we are so concerned with securing the Middle East because we are indeed dependent on them to secure our lifestyles. No alternative exists (yet) that can be mass-produced and cheap enough to replace oil. You'll find that the mainstream media paints rosy pictures of new drilling technologies as if that will solve the long-term problem. But better drilling won't create new oil where there is none. Someday, not today, and maybe not for another 100 years, we will use up the oil on the planet. And when that happens, if we're not prepared, things could get nasty. Do I believe that Life As We Know It could possibly end within my lifetime? I don't think so, but many Peak Oil folks believe that a massive, abrupt decline is ahead of us, one of Biblical proportions. They are preparing for Peak Oil as if it were Armageddon. I don't mean to write this as doom and gloom, but to discuss materialism, affluenza, and sustainability, and how we as spiritual people can approach these issues. Many in the self-development field propose an overly optimistic view of the world, where economic expansion is an eternal given and technology will ultimately save us from any and all perils. Yet, if you look at the history of past civilizations that have crumbled before us, you will see that a mis-use of resources is often behind their decline and extinction. It is thus downright irresponsible to be preaching a message of "focus on your personal wealth to the exclusion of all other issues, because the universe is infinitely abundant." It is in this way that much of the self-help and spiritual teachings out there are becoming part of the problem. As spiritual people, we should not be using our powers of intention and positive thinking to simply "attract" more money and wealth to ourselves. This spiritual narcissism overlooks our personal and collective impact on others and the world around us. The fact is, the universe is not infinitely abundant. We do not have an infinite supply of oil. We do not have an infinite supply of clean water on the planet. We do not have an infinite supply of food for everyone on the planet - that's why tens of thousands of people die of hunger every single day! So let's stop this spiritual lie that the universe is infinitely abundant once and for all. By focusing on "infinite abundance," people conveniently ignore our real problems and issues. We do need to look critically at our planet and its resources. We need to conserve oil while we find alternatives. We need to change our culture to one that is more sustainable. I am ultimately an optimist and believe that we will (collectively) survive whatever calamities arise from Peak Oil. However, it would behoove us in the meantime to take a serious look at our lifestyles and look for ways to try to live more sustainable lifestyles. Here are some places to start: 1. Encourage telecommuting and work from home. Since I work for myself, I work from home. I also try to encourage clients to work with me via telephone and Internet instead of in person as much as possible, because then people don't have to waste gas driving to see me. 2. Move out of the suburbs. Live closer to work. 3. Walk, bike, or take public transportation when possible. 4. Carpool when possible. 5. Upgrade your SUV to a more fuel-efficient vehicle. Together, we can make a difference and find a solution to our very real energy problems. But denying these issues with the mistaken "spiritual" meme of "infinite abundance" does nothing to solve our problems. Personally, I think sustainability is not just better for the planet, but better for our souls. Suburbs encourage a disengagement with community. Driving solo creates a disconnect with other people. Walking, biking, and living in better planned communities will be good for our bodies, minds, and spirits. And then we won't care so much about high gas prices. |
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Insanity and the continuation of life as we know it
You propose that the relatively new and increasingly popular notion of an infinitely abundant universe is contributing to a worldwide crisis of "biblical proportions" and that it is a narcissistic viewpoint that diminishes social responsibility. Actually, the "infinitely abundant universe" philosophy doesn't stress "focus on your personal wealth to the exclusion of all other issues". Rather, it carries with it the idea that by allowing the "infinite abundance of the universe" to flow and operate in our personal lives, we create the space for others to also experience more abundance. When I live in an infinitely abundant universe, I become infinitely more generous because no matter how much I give away, in time, resources, money, etc. there is always plenty for me. It shifts my attention away from voraciously consuming and toward gleefully sharing.
I understand why this philosophy of an "infinitely abundant universe" is so difficult to wrap our minds around. Afterall, we have been carrying around the opposite belief for thousands of years. And, in fact, when we first encounter this philosphy, we tend to view it from the perspective of the old paradigm of scarcity, which holds firmly to the belief that there are limited resources that we must fight to get our share of. When we view the idea of an "infinitely abundant universe" from this old paradigm of scarcity, it looks like the promotion of selfish, narcissistic reckless abandon. So, the following is my attempt to help navigate beyond the old paradigm of "there's simply not enough for everyone" to an understanding of how believing in an "infinitely abundant universe" leads us into a new world of prosperity and peace for all.
This philosophy does not believe that "technology will ultimately save us from any and all perils", rather that by letting go of our belief in scarcity and embracing the "infinite abundance of the universe", we open a doorway to solutions and ways of being that we have yet to even imagine, whether that be through technology, spiritual and mystical practices, or simply cooperative sharing. And, that this serves to benefit all of mankind, not just a select few who have a competitive advantage in a world of scarce and limited resources.
In fact, quantum physics itself supports this view through the theory of parallel universes, in which multiple possible scenarios are playing out simultaneously. In addition, it has shown that what we believe directly affects what we observe. Was it, in fact, "a mis-use of resources" that was behind the "decline and extinction" of past civilizations, or could it actually have been their belief in scarcity, which drove them to unbridled competition for those resources and abuse of those resoursecs that led to their demise. For thousands of years man has been fighting and competing to maintain their hold on what they believe to be scarce and limited resources. It is, in fact, this philosophy which has led to repeated experiences of "tens of thousands of people dieing of hunger every single day!" It is this philosophy which has led to repeated experiences of "overlooking our personal and collective impact on others and the world around us" while we scramble to the top to get as much of the limited supply of "more money and wealth for ourselves" as we possibly can. It is this philosophy that has led to repeated experiences of war, domination of rich over poor, and endless forms of competition, manipulation and abuse of others.
If, in fact, we embrace the belief in an "infinitely abundant universe", we no longer have to compete and fight. We can begin to cooperate and work together for everyone's betterment, because there's enough for everyone to have what they need and be happy and fulfilled. Not only that, but a wealth of new possibilities opens up. If the companies that provided us with oil believed in an "infinitely abundant universe", they would have no reason to cling to a dominating and debilitating control over one of an infinite number of possible resources and means for producing energy. They would work in collaboration with others to find the best of all possible solutions and they would continue to explore and experiment with new ideas and possibilities.
By refusing to explore the possibility of an "infinitely abundant universe", we keep ourselves locked in the prison of scarcity and competition that we have been attempting to escape from for thousands of years. It is this urge to escape, combined with our continued belief in a limited universe that has driven us to the out-of-control narcissistic materialism that has people ignoring the needs of others in preference for amassing their own wealth and abundance. Afterall, if I don't make sure to get all I can for myself, I'm going to lose out because there simply isn't enough for everyone. Sorry to cut you out, but it's every man for himself.
You say that,"by focusing on "infinite abundance," people conveniently ignore our real problems and issues", I say that, by focusing on "infinite abundance" we open the door to all kinds of possibilities that we have not even yet to imagine. You say that. "we do need to look critically at our planet and its resources". I say that we need to look cooperatively at the infinite possibilities that we could easily create by working together, rather than fighting over supposed "scarce and limited resources". You say that, "we need to change our culture to one that is more sustainable". I say that what will sustain us and the world we live in is creative collaboration, fueled by the belief that there is way more than enough for everyone and everything.
What we need to do is open up, not constrict and tighten up. Opening up doesn't imply unbridled consumption that, ultimately, is unfulfilling and destructive to our own souls as well as to others and the planet. Opening up to an "infinitely abundant universe" implies never ending fulfillment because we know that we have everything we need available to us in each and every moment. In this paradigm, we can give away everything we have knowing that the very next moment we will be provided with all we need. Can you imagine a world in which the oil companies give away all of their wealth to benefit the world as a whole, then turn around and step froward as leaders in developing new forms of energy for our many useful and entertaining technologies. Maybe that sounds like a utopian dream world but, according to the quantum physics idea of parallel universes, that may actually be occurring at this very moment somewhere in this infinitely enormous universe, a tiny portion of which we have only begun to observe.
I truly appreciate your concern for the welfare of the world as a whole. I believe that most people share that concern and are not intentionally uncaring and narcissistic. You may have heard the definition of insanity as "doing the same thing and expecting different results". I propose a revised version of that as being, "believing the same thing and expecting different results". I have no doubt, that as long as we continue to believe and operate from the viewpoint that there simply isn't enough for everyone, we will continue down the same path that we have been on for thousands of years, fighting and destroying. As soon as we really begin to grasp the full implications of an "infinitely abundant universe", we will start down a new path. Interestingly enough, I perceive that the rise in popularity of this philosophy is a profound indicator of having turned an evolutionary corner and that we are, in fact, at this very moment starting down that new road into a world of peace and prosperity for all. You may call me crazy but maybe I'm just standing in the gap between this universe of scarcity and limitation and a parallel universe of "infinite abundance". And maybe, just maybe, that "infinite abundance" universe is trying to cross over the void of disbelief into this universe to usher us into a whole new era of human evolution. I have no proof for this theory only the optimistic belief that anything is possible if only we believe and that I have seen evidence for over and over.
May all the world and everything in it be blessed with infinite abundance, infinitely.
Good response
Rev, if everyone who spouted the ideal of "infinite abundance" truly embodied it as inspiration to work together to find solutions, I'd have less problem with the meme. As it stands, however, most of the people who appear to be claiming "infinite abundance" are doing so as encouragement to ignore the problems and challenges of the world.
You also incorrectly equate a belief in finite resources as an automatic reason to fight. The implication of that idea is that people can only truly be generous if they believe they have TOO MUCH of everything. Yet, if you observe human nature, you will see this is patently not true; often it is people who appear to not have enough (material objects) who are the most generous, while those who have "too much" are stingy.
Just because I believe we have a finite planet we are living on, I don't believe we need to fight over it. Actually, I believe by acknowledging that we have finite resources on the planet, and that we're all in this together, we have even MORE incentive to cooperate.
But as you can see, Americans, who are by all rights the most prosperous people in the world, have not used that prosperity to actively go and stop hunger and war elsewhere on the planet. JUST having a belief in "abundance" is not enough to spur people on to make a difference. Materialism has its limits. It will never be a replacement for a deep spiritual peace.