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Radical Love: From Separation to Connection with the Earth, Each Other, and Ourselves
To see peace in our lifetimes, we have to practice love.
This is the radical message of this inspirational book of pithy advice from environmental activist Satish Kumar, which helps us find ways to love ourselves, others, and all beings on planet Earth—even those we may find unlovable.
Satish Kumar is well known for his epic walk for world peace in his youth in the 1960s from India to the nuclear capitals of Moscow, Paris, London, and Washington, DC. Wherever he traveled, he found that human beings were capable of a love that could overcome hatred and division. Settling down in the UK, he married his wife, June Mitchell, and founded eco-university Schumacher College in Devon, eventually becoming a leading figure in the UK green movement.
Radical Love distills the author's lifetime of experience as a lover, parent, activist, and educator into simple lessons on transforming our time of ecological crisis, conflict, and scarcity into one in which we experience harmony with nature, safety, and abundance. It is an exploration of the transformative power of love in all its forms, from romantic love to love for one's family and community to love for the planet and all beings.
Kumar's approach is founded on simplicity (including the Jain principle of aparigraha), generosity, and continuous learning. Like an unfolding metta meditation, the book expands our notions of love to its most sublime universal state and makes a great gift to share with those we love.
This is the radical message of this inspirational book of pithy advice from environmental activist Satish Kumar, which helps us find ways to love ourselves, others, and all beings on planet Earth—even those we may find unlovable.
Satish Kumar is well known for his epic walk for world peace in his youth in the 1960s from India to the nuclear capitals of Moscow, Paris, London, and Washington, DC. Wherever he traveled, he found that human beings were capable of a love that could overcome hatred and division. Settling down in the UK, he married his wife, June Mitchell, and founded eco-university Schumacher College in Devon, eventually becoming a leading figure in the UK green movement.
Radical Love distills the author's lifetime of experience as a lover, parent, activist, and educator into simple lessons on transforming our time of ecological crisis, conflict, and scarcity into one in which we experience harmony with nature, safety, and abundance. It is an exploration of the transformative power of love in all its forms, from romantic love to love for one's family and community to love for the planet and all beings.
Kumar's approach is founded on simplicity (including the Jain principle of aparigraha), generosity, and continuous learning. Like an unfolding metta meditation, the book expands our notions of love to its most sublime universal state and makes a great gift to share with those we love.
- GenresNonfictionSpirituality
174 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2023
About the author
Satish Kumar
279 books71 followersSatish Kumar is an Indian, currently living in England, who has been a Jain monk and a nuclear disarmament advocate, and is the current editor of the magazine Resurgence, founder and Director of Programmes of the Schumacher College international centre for ecological studies and of The Small School. His most notable accomplishment is a "peace walk" with a companion to the capitals of four of the nuclear-armed countries-- Washington, London, Paris and Moscow-- a trip of over 8,000 miles. He insists that reverence for nature should be at the heart of every political and social debate. Defending criticism that his goals are unrealistic, he has said, "Look at what realists have done for us. They have led us to war and climate change, poverty on an unimaginable scale, and wholesale ecological destruction. Half of humanity goes to bed hungry because of all the realistic leaders in the world. I tell people who call me 'unrealistic' to show me what their realism has done. Realism is an outdated, overplayed and wholly exaggerated concept."
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 28, 2024
Surprisingly lacking depth, intersectionality, and criticality. In particular this is written from a strongly ableist and financially secure perspective with only a paternalistic consideration of other contexts. To better explore transcending harmful logics of seperation I recommend the work of:
- Bayo Akomalafe
- Vanessa Andreotti and the Gesturing Towards Decolonial Futures Collective
- Joanna Macy
Or if you are academically inclined: Anna Tsing, Donna Harraway, and Karen Barad.
- Bayo Akomalafe
- Vanessa Andreotti and the Gesturing Towards Decolonial Futures Collective
- Joanna Macy
Or if you are academically inclined: Anna Tsing, Donna Harraway, and Karen Barad.
February 12, 2023
World-renowned author and environmental activist Satish Kumar has created a guide for all those who seek inner peace and outer acceptance, as taught and demonstrated by some of the world’s greatest minds.
The dominant theme of RADICAL LOVE is the promotion in oneself of a sense of unity with nature. This goal reaches far beyond merely preserving and respecting certain aspects of the planet, such as trees or fuel sources. Kumar regards our planet, as have many other sages, as “a living organism” with which we share resources. Appreciation of the natural world can be developed in such a simple habit as walking, which is something that Kumar, now in his 80s, has been doing since childhood --- first guided by his mother and later transforming this activity into an intercontinental delivery of the message of peace.
Each chapter of this quietly powerful book focuses on understanding and communicating with earth, others and self. For example, there is Kumar’s examination of the concept of ecology. He distinguishes between “Shallow Ecology,” caring for the environment as though we are in a sense superior to it, and “Deep Ecology,” which takes nature’s rights into consideration, creating the goal of sharing a common burden with our surroundings. Furthermore, “Love Ecology” raises the ideal of nature’s sacred aspect. Kumar reminds us that the Buddha achieved enlightenment “sitting under a tree,” illustrating the interconnections among soil, light, animals, human thought and the harmonious interactions of the universe.
Kumar is a highly regarded, award-winning planetary thinker. While advocating universal spiritual practicalities, RADICAL LOVE is written on a human scale, as when he speaks of his love for his wife and the early guidance he received from his mother. Encountering Bobsy Gaia, who offers customers in the bustling atmosphere of Hong Kong the chance to eat “fast-slow food” that combines fresh ingredients with “zero waste,” Kumar considers the irony of our world’s widespread starvation contrasted with the willingness of so many to throw away “forty percent of food.”
With many spiritual clues and techniques offered, Kumar’s readers can make deep, lasting changes in ideals, translated into practical action based on the highest aspiration --- to love everyone and everything unconditionally.
Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott
The dominant theme of RADICAL LOVE is the promotion in oneself of a sense of unity with nature. This goal reaches far beyond merely preserving and respecting certain aspects of the planet, such as trees or fuel sources. Kumar regards our planet, as have many other sages, as “a living organism” with which we share resources. Appreciation of the natural world can be developed in such a simple habit as walking, which is something that Kumar, now in his 80s, has been doing since childhood --- first guided by his mother and later transforming this activity into an intercontinental delivery of the message of peace.
Each chapter of this quietly powerful book focuses on understanding and communicating with earth, others and self. For example, there is Kumar’s examination of the concept of ecology. He distinguishes between “Shallow Ecology,” caring for the environment as though we are in a sense superior to it, and “Deep Ecology,” which takes nature’s rights into consideration, creating the goal of sharing a common burden with our surroundings. Furthermore, “Love Ecology” raises the ideal of nature’s sacred aspect. Kumar reminds us that the Buddha achieved enlightenment “sitting under a tree,” illustrating the interconnections among soil, light, animals, human thought and the harmonious interactions of the universe.
Kumar is a highly regarded, award-winning planetary thinker. While advocating universal spiritual practicalities, RADICAL LOVE is written on a human scale, as when he speaks of his love for his wife and the early guidance he received from his mother. Encountering Bobsy Gaia, who offers customers in the bustling atmosphere of Hong Kong the chance to eat “fast-slow food” that combines fresh ingredients with “zero waste,” Kumar considers the irony of our world’s widespread starvation contrasted with the willingness of so many to throw away “forty percent of food.”
With many spiritual clues and techniques offered, Kumar’s readers can make deep, lasting changes in ideals, translated into practical action based on the highest aspiration --- to love everyone and everything unconditionally.
Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott
March 14, 2024
I enjoyed reading most of this book. A good portion had a lot to say that didn’t align with my beliefs and perspective of life but it’s good to educate yourself on such things. You can learn a lot about loving others, finding and sharing peace and taking care of nature/earth from reading Kumars book!
October 27, 2023
Every person on this earth needs to read this book.
June 14, 2024
Love it
November 2, 2024
Some good nuggets but overall felt flowery, idealistic and a bit obvious.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews