No Qi... No Life

How does one distinguish between living and nonliving systems? There are many theories and explanations as to what can actually be called a living system.

I really like what Kenneth Cohen has to say in The Way of Qigong: "Qi is the Chinese word for ‘life energy’. According to Chinese medicine, qi is the animating power that flows through all living things. It is also the life energy one senses in nature. The earth itself is moving, transforming, breathing, and alive with qi. When we appreciate the beauty of animals, fish, birds, flowers, trees, mountains, the deep ocean, and floating clouds, we are sensing their qi and feeling an intuitive unity with them. Human beings are part of nature and share qi with the rest of the earth."

The Gaia Hypothesis is another example which views the Earth as a single interconnected organism. One of the criteria of this empirical definition of life is its ability to replicate and pass on their genetic information to succeeding generations. This leaves much room for discussion as to the sustainability of our current modes of operation and consideration into the effects of our environmental practices, or lack thereof. An example being genetically modified food. The fact that the life cycle of a seed has now been intruded upon by genetic manipulation and can be controlled by a corporation. And what about our current water treatment policies and regulations? Are the chemicals that we dump so habitually into our watershed truly that sustainable? Not to mention peak oil, and what sustainable measures are being explored to alleviate this very real and catastrophic event.

It really makes you reflect back onto the practices of the Native Americans and their consideration not only towards themselves and their children, but the realization that you must consider you actions for seven generations. I feel that it would be in our best interest to truly consider our effects in the 'bigger picture' and start realizing that life as we know it cannot continue at this pace. We have reached the tipping point. We need to remove ourselves from this selfish notion that the Earth is here to serve us, as it's sole occupants and realize that everything is connected and in order to preserve the planet we need to adopt more sustainable practices on a global level.