Consumption: Safety, Happiness, and plastic packaging

A dear psychologist friend asked me once a long time ago “tell me of a time when you felt deeply loved; and what was it, about that moment, that made it Love for you?”

I recalled to him a train ride where the two friends seated either side of me fell asleep on my shoulders. They were “safe”. We were “safe together”; it felt tender, nurturing, generous.  I chose to perceive it that way, I chose to let them sleep, I chose to watch, and I chose to receive happiness and love from the moment. I chose to cry tears of gratitude for the awareness my meditation practice gave me- so that I could experience such moments so completely.

That’s a lot of choice. And, what is safety to me?

Recently another friend gave me a book by Deepak Chopra “the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success” at one point in the chapter on The Law of Karma he asks the reader to question one’s choices; “Will this choice that I’m making now bring happiness to me and to those around me?” I have been trying to add this question to my everyday, every Moment mindfulness.

This months practice on responsible consumption continues to flower into a deeper understanding of how I live and breathe in the world, its effects, and choosing happiness for All beings.

This week, visiting the WikiBuddha seeking wisdom on packaging Karma:

“Packaging advancements in the early 20th century ...increased processing efficiency and improved food safety… Many of the most prominent innovations in the packaging industry were developed first for military uses. Some military supplies are packaged in the same commercial packaging used for general industry: Other military packaging must transport materiel, supplies, foods, etc. under the most severe distribution and storage conditions. Packaging problems encountered in World War II led to Military Standard …  As of 2003, the packaging sector accounted for about two percent of the gross national product in developed countries. About half of this market was related to food packaging. [6]”

Food safety, World hunger, mouth, mmm. Mindful eating? What is the happiness choice?

Oh and

Indeed, was the first polyethylene product in 1936 for pills? A Polyethylene pillbox, the most common plastic. Karma. Mmm.

 “In 1937 a 10 ton/year pilot plant was opened followed by a 100ton/year which started on the first day of WW2. Its first use was as lightweight compact insulators in air and ship borne radar that enabled Britain to win the Battle of the Atlantic. Today its main use is disposable packaging and in a multitude of plastic goods."     http://www.rsc.org/Chemsoc/Activities/ChemicalLandmarks/UK/Polyethylene.asp

Mmm. Hitler. Horror. and though, reduction here too:

Food safety, war, and drugs?  My meds come in plastic. I gotta try to love my body more, help it keep healthy- for the Earth. Where is the happiness choice for all beings Right Now, this minute? Mmm. What goes in the mouth and what comes out -again. Like talking, singing, crying, screaming, laughing, Mmming, frankly Breath. Which brings me to:

Cattle Belch.

I said it. 

Seeking wisdom from the WikiBuddha:

“Cattle belch methane accounts for 16% of the world's annual methane emissions to the atmosphere.[18]”(Also (as I understand it) creates green house gases along with decay of organic matter) “One study reported that the livestock sector in general (primarily cattle, chickens, and pigs) produces 37% of all human-induced methane.[19]” (do Humans also belch and emit this methane? Is that included as human-induced?)”… A more recent study, in 2009, found that at a conservative estimate, at least 51% of global greenhouse gas emissions were attributable to the life cycle and supply chain of livestock products, meaning all meat, dairy, and by-products, and their transportation.[22]”  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methane   

How does one go about measuring the world’s cattle belch methane?  Can we do the same for humans?

Perhaps yoga, all exercise, eating natural (though sometimes expensive-Karma is Karma -accepting our “national” Karma is key) foods in season, preparing for and carrying them in what we have (and appreciating that) without generating more plastic,and awareness is a choice that brings happiness to All sentient Beings.

May All be Healthy, Free from fear and anxiety, Happy in the heart and Awaken!

Rock on you beautiful Bodhisattvas!!!

scary photo all around.Lennon is rolling over?

http://www.rsc.org/Chemsoc/Activities/ChemicalLandmarks/UK/Polyethylene.asp