A Language Older Than Words 23,24,25

It just so happens that I had the pleasure of presenting on these three chapters. As a result, I have a pretty good grasp of the topics they address. Hopefully what I can do in this blog is take a right brained approach to discussing them From what I can tell, the majority of my blogs have been very left brained. Analysis in its essence is a left brained activity, so its not surprising that detailed analysis of every chapter turned into something left brained. Hopefully in discussing these three chapters, I can flex my right brained muscles seeing as I have an especially good
understanding of what I need to talk about.

The first chapter in this section, chapter 23, is entitled "The Plants Respond." Of all the chapters I have read up until this point, this one is the most thought provoking. No though provoking in a traditional sense (like what is the meaning of life) but thought provoking in this sense: can plants feel? Jensen discusses an encounter he had with a man named Cleve Backster. Backster's life changed on February 2, 1966 when he came to the conclusion that a plant felt pain. As a result, he has lived his life according to this finding day in and day out. The emotions and notions that Jensen introduced early on this book are directly supported by Backster's claims: "the world is alive and sentient." The applications are endless. If Backster can prove that plants have feelings for humans, for plants, and for other living creatures, then Jensen can utilize his research to support his own claims of talking coyotes and fowl. One more point I would like to touch on is the fact that Backsters research is not thought of as scientifically valid because he cannot validate it with repeatable research. The plant emotions are unpredictable and cannot be tracked. Tracking them would ruin them.

The next chapter deals with Jensen's horrific experience with Crohn's disease. As he opens the chapter with, "Not only did the bees die, but I died." His body was absolutely ravaged by the disease, but what it teaches is that Jensen needed to be taken to the edge to be reborn. This collapse leads to growth.

A few key themes from chapter twenty five are these: "Every creature on the planet must be hoping that our cultures awakening comes soon," and "waiting for kairos and the need for action." Essentially Jensen is trying to convey that all of the earth's populations are eager for death and rebirth, or maybe more accurately stated: change. This comes from self learning.

The emotions that these chapters bring about in me are that of sorrow, hope, and concern. First, I feel sorrow over the fact that Jensen and others have to come so close to death to change. Second, I feel hope over the fact that change seems ineviatable. We can't continue on like this, at some point we will learn from our mistakes and grow: our society has to be taken to the edge. Last, concern is for when this is going to happen. I am doomed? are my children doomed? Will change be too little too late.

The connection I see between this article and other class readings is from "Becoming a Vegetarian." The connection I see is that, both Jensen and this article discuss practices that humans partake in that are not sustainable. In the vegetarian article, we refuse to feed billions so that we can feed the cows that provide us meat. Likewise, Jensen brings up unsustainable practices. It seems as if we will have to come very close to societal death in order to see dramatic change.

These chapters have taught me three important things. First, that there are other beings that feel besides humans. Second, that I need to imbrace adversatey and stare death in the face if it ever approaches. Third, that the only way to bring about change for myself and society is through self learning.

Question:

How can someone who seems so devoted and correct in his analysis (the plant guy) be rejected by professionals?

What was almost dying like in terms of your mental health? Did you go crazy?