The ecology of the heart

Harvey Gillman spoke to Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

by Harvey Gillman 28th September 2012

Sometimes you hear a phrase that enables you to reflect on experience, which, otherwise, seems quite elusive. Listening to the radio the other day, I was shaken by the words of a Hindu guru who spoke of ‘the ecology of the heart’.  Ecology is a system of life forms in relationship and balance. Systems may be open to change (for better or worse) or closed in self-protection for survival. The heart has its own ecology. This led me to question what in the ecology of my own heart do I protect, include, seek to preserve, even reject in the name of survival. (Ecology has as its root oikos, house, so the question may refer to the household, the hospitality, of one’s heart).