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Teachings
Urban society, in particular, is a completely unreal world. It's "anti-life".
Subtle mind control and effective marketing propaganda have taught the populace to "work harder to get ahead", resulting in a culture of "wage/salary SLAVES" who have totally lost any connection to Nature, Natural time, and their environment. This condition cannot endure under any set of circumstances, and has finally come to an end. Yet, a vast majority of the population is too far into denial and completely self-absorbed with nostalgia and ritual to see that the "American Dream" was a masterful and largely unobtainable mind manipulation, (much like encouraging a donkey to drive a cart by suspending a carrot just out of reach in front of his nose.) This psychological and spiritual situation was brilliantly rendered in the movie, "The Matrix", whose profound points were overwhelming overlooked by an audience caught up in bleeding-edge special effects and an archetypal story line.
We attempt to escape (from our stress and dispair) "into" Nature.
The current, popular attitude is to view Nature as something to be "in". Less enlightened people speak of "being IN Nature". This kind of disconnected approach to our collective environment is like watching an episode of "Animal Planet".
Walking through the park, or woods, or along the beach, makes us feel more relaxed. Unfortunately, we move through these places, as if watching a movie. We walk "through" Nature, and deep inside we know that we are not part of it. We feel the separation, as we try to convince ourselves that we are (not just) "in Nature". We revel in the difference between walking on sand or soil, instead of concrete or asphalt, and think that we've achieved something -- as if that paved or well-worn trail through the part or forest hasn't scarred and destroyed that part of the environment. We ignore the damage.
Recycling, "being Green", building some earthen ("cob") kiosk in the neighborhood ... these things are like hobbies, rather than lifestyles. We do them, but then go right back to our "normal" behaviors and attitudes. Riding bikes, driving "hybrid" vehicles, community or backyard gardens are all band-aids. We have lost ourselves. We live in "boxes". We use boxes (gasoline-powered vehicles) to go from place to place. We work in boxes. We wear artificial barriers (thick-soled shoes) that keep us from contacting the ground. We shop in "stores" that hermetically seal our mass-produced, largely artificial and nutrient-deficient food.
People are so out-of-touch with Nature and their environment that few have seen real animals, outside of "domesticated" pets, such as dogs or cats. If they have seen real animals, they haven't interacted with them. They don't know the animal's behavior or disposition. These animals are frightened of humans, because they know humans aren't part of Nature, anymore. Nature recognizes its own.
This MUST STOP!!
In contrast, our ultimate goal is to LIVE IN HARMONY with Nature! ... To reaffirm our place in Nature by rapidly and consciously loosing the sin of our separateness to Nature and all beings and energies therein.