Separating the spiritual from the natural has come full circle. For a few hundred years there was a major segregation of the spiritual and natural life. Recently, religion has come back around, recognizing that everything is in fact spiritual. Even the most nominal aspects of life such as cleaning the bathroom, going to work and writing a paper all have deeper spiritual implications.
Living green isn’t without exception. There are actually deep spiritual implications that work their way into the mainframe of an individual that chooses to live green. Living green requires sacrifice, dedication and conviction – all of which are spiritual disciplines. Making a choice to live green can be likened to a fasted lifestyle.
Living green restricts an individual from living off of impulse and instant gratification. For example, if you choose to recycle you are committed to make small inconvenient sacrifices. If you’re driving around and you grab a quick bite to eat, keeping the trash in your car till you get home where you can properly recycle it takes a decision to choose the right way over convenience. Every time you make a conscience decision to do the right thing, even though it may cost you more time and effort, you are strengthening the inner part of your conscience to do what’s right.
Eating organics is another great example. You may have to pass on the chocolate cake when you’re visiting friends, but in the end you’re making a choice to discipline your instinctive cravings. There’s no greater way to discipline your fleshly appetite than with food. Staying as close to nature with your food choices provides boundaries that govern your impulses. Learning to tell yourself “no” is probably one of the most difficult disciplines to build living in a society that preaches instant self-gratification and provides every way to make that happen.