I spent a beautiful afternoon/evening with my dear friend and mentor, Gandhian Environmentalist, Satish Kumar. I first met Satish in November of 2006 when he was leading a retreat on Gandhian philosophy in Delhi. Within minutes of being in his presence I knew I had met an embodied teacher that would have a profound impact on my world view. His take on reverential ecology made me realize the critical importance of a non-anthropocentric focus. Throughout the years I’ve visited him in London at a Spiritual Ecology conference, spent time with him at Schumacher College and have organized a program for him here in Delhi every November when he comes to India. This evening he spoke about his trinity: Soil, Soul and Society and how human superiority must be challenged in the age of ecology and we must view ourselves as members of the earth community. His teaching began with a beautiful meditation where we placed shanti (peace) in our hearts, shanti with all races, religions, nations and humanity, shanty with the universe, nature and earth. His book, “You Are, Therefore I Am – A Declaration of Dependence” is a must read and it reinforces that we really are totally dependent on the earth and without spirit there is no matter. We shared in the importance of mindful consumption and balancing idealism with realism as we chart out a middle path that is elegant, simple, joyful and not linear. Over dinner Satish-ji shared stories of meeting Martin Luther King Jr. in the US and he encouraged me to move forward with my mission to bring mindfulness into education—even when it may seem as if I’m alone I must remind myself that there is value in the struggle and to keep moving forward one mindful step at a time and be in the world but not of it. He also encouraged to create livelihood instead of taking another job when I leave the Embassy School this May. I look forward to spending time with him in England this summer, being in his space always gives me so much courage.