Environmental Awareness

Part of Kabbalah’s holistic view of the world also includes a respect for nature and the environment. G-d created a world for human beings to live in that perfectly facilitates our attainment of higher spiritual awareness. By damaging our physical world we also cause harm to our spiritual universe and our souls.

The famous Rabbi and Kabbalist Avraham Isaac Kook was once strolling through a garden with a close friend. As they were walking, the friend casually broke a leaf off of a bush that they were passing. Rabbi Kook stopped and told his friend that spiritual consciousness requires that one even be aware of the life force that flows through inanimate objects such as plants (and even stones).

Kabbalah teaches that every blade of grass has a unique angel above that commands and encourages it to grow. Each blade of grass has its own purpose in this world that keeps the universe in balance.

Question: How can you live your life so that you can have less impact on the natural environment around you?