wonderful life

Excerpt from the book The One Straw Revolution by Masanabu Fukuoka

I do not particularly like the word "work." Human beings are the only animals who have to work, and I think this is the most ridiculous thing in the world. Other animals make their livings by living, but people work like crazy, thinking that they have to in order to stay alive. The bigger the job, the greater the challenge, the more wonderful they think it is. It would be good to give up that way of thinking and live an easy, comfortable life with plenty of free time. I think that the way animals live in the tropics, stepping outside in the morning and evening to see if there is something to eat, and taking a long nap in the afternoon, must be a wonderful life. 

For human beings, a life of such simplicity would be possible if one worked to produce directly his daily necessities. In such a life, work is not work as people generally think of it, but simply doing what needs to be done.

~~

Sigh. I have no comments.

Srik

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natural farming

Excerpt from the book One Straw Revolution by Masanabu Fukuoka

Pure natural farming, by contrast, is the no-stroke school. It goes nowhere and seeks no victory. Putting "doing nothing" into practice is the only thing farmer should strive to accomplish. Lao Tzu spoke of non-active nature, and I think if he were a farmer he would certainly practice natural farming. I believe that Gandhi's way, a method-less method, acting with a non-winning, non-opposing state of mind, is akin to natural farming. When it is understood that one loses joy and happiness in the attempt to possess them, the essence of natural farming will be realized. The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings. 

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I am too curious to know and see (and do) the "doing nothing" in practice. While people do nothing these days, farming by "doing nothing" is really very interesting. Although literally it may mean not doing anything, it means that - one should not grow crops, but one should allow crops to grow naturally and enjoy seeing them while reaping baggage of benefits. Natural farming is a nature's way of growing food; it will involve very less human intervention. All one needs to do is to enable crops to grow naturally. 

Srik

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modern research

Excerpt from the book The One Straw Revolution by Masanabu Fukuoka

Modern research divides nature into tiny pieces and conducts tests that conform neither with natural law nor with practical experiences. The results are arranged for the convenience of research, not according to the needs of the farmer. To think that these conclusions can be put to use with invariable success in the farmer's field is a big mistake. 


You study the function of the plant's metabolism and its ability to absorb nutrients from the soil, write a book, and get a doctorate in agricultural science. But do not ask if your theory of assimilation is going to be relevant to the yield. 

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Well, that is the reason Fukuoka says 'Before researchers become researchers, they should become philosophers'.

And it is also similar to the bunch of folks sitting in a concrete air-conditioned buildings making decisions on what a farmer should(n) do on the field!

Srik

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