Interaction

I see my humanist practice as both internal and external. Internally, I work with my mind and body to maintain maximum health and intelligence. Externally, I consider every interaction with my environment to be an application of my humanist principles of consciousness, nonviolence and compassion.

There is no action in isolation, as we know from Physics. Every action is balanced with an equal and opposite reaction in context of space, time, matter and energy. So, in a very basic way, every action is part of an interaction with the Universe in some form.

This all sounds quite airy. It isn't at all. If I am committed to my principle of nonviolence, I must act nonviolently, meaning I interact in such a way that does not excite violence. I take this very seriously in every action. When I am gardening, I try not to be carelessly violent when weeding. The bees are friendlier to me, as one positive reaction of Nature. When I place a dish in a dishwasher, I try to avoid being violent in that action. Not slamming dishes, silverware and door in the process. The dishwasher will operate better with this approach.  In my movements, I try to be nonviolent. For example, I have learned to use a hammer as a precise tool instead of a weapon of destruction. One precise blow of moderate strength is more effective than flailing smashes.

The word "graceful" used to be commonplace when discussing the actions of individuals with "class". As society has become cruder under the influence of a violence-pimping and sex-pimping capitalist media, grace and class (in the sense of ongoing education and refinement) are no longer promoted as qualities to acquire in order to achieve social provenance. Clumsy aggression and sarcasm are now seen as "cool". Rap is considered poetry. Explosions are considered high entertainment in films.

If a culture interacts with the Universe violently, it will inevitably reap the recoil of its own violence. If it rapes Nature, Nature will adjust accordingly. If it sanctifies war, war will come to bestow its horrors upon it. If an individual is violent to his/her environment, his/her environment will return the favor inevitably.

Practicing humanist ideals through daily interaction is in my own self interest, as well as being beneficial to my environment. How I make my first steps into any action will determine the outcome in some way, no matter how I may change my course in time. Walking in peace and openness into my environment is a practice upon which all other actions follow naturally in a more positive and constructive fashion.