Hi, CrystalRiver -

[snip]

: Yet, it is the understanding from the heart about not only
: self but with equal importance the circumstance of our
: family, neighbors and our planet.

[snip]

: I came across a term noted as "Natural Capitalism".
: The part I liked was the responsibility to Nature and if we
: go one step further with this and have responsibility to
: humanity as well.

[snip]

: Need more coffee:)

(heh) I know the feeling. :)

It's often been said, "Money is the root of all evil," but that's a misquote. The true saying is, "Love of money is the root of all evil."

Responsibility to Nature or to Humanity indicates a love of something higher than money. :) And it's a shared heart-response to that which is higher than individual momentary needs or wants or concerns that draws human beings together.

Heart-response to something higher leads to cooperation, collaboration, and co-creation. Heart-response to something lower - like money, for example - leads to croneyism, compulsivity, constant competition, and conflict.

I think the idea, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," is about that. I think it's saying, "Don't stop along the way to the promised land for lower purposes, like, for example, fashioning a golden calf and setting it up in a falsely higher position in your living. Don't stop short of responding to the highest 'something' in your awareness."

I heard Carol Burnett sing a song once, about a prism. It went something like this: "Red, green and yeller; cute little feller; whose little 'ism is 'ou?" :)

I'm not sure we need any "isms". But probably Capitalism can work, and Socialism can work, to whatever degree the heart-response of those involved in the particular system remains turned toward that which is higher.

And it has to be "heart response", not for example an idea of the intellect about what constitutes "the greater good". It won't be like the line from the movie "Oh God!" in which the televangelist says, "God is love...and He demands a sacrifice!" :) It will instead be characterized by an encompassing vision, and compassion, and a willingness in oneself to be responsible and to remain true to one's own highest vision of integrity, moment by moment by moment.

Blessings.

--hobie