for - definition - avidya (Sanskrit) or Ma Ri Pa (Tibetan) - Fundamental misunderstanding (both intellectual and affective) about the (ultimate) nature of reality itself - from Youtube - Between Life and Death: Understanding Tukdam - John D. Dunne

RE: "Nature itself" having a history

Nathaniel's in-class comments last week were very helpful to hear prior to the readings this week. It is particularly helpful to consider the paradox that some folks want to protect the Earth from humans and somehow return it to a point "before humans," as though the Earth exists outside of humans and we are pure agents acting upon it. (Which is where we get things like this video that has been going around Facebook because of Earth Day:) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49w7GHVYoI0

This video pretends the Earth is an agent, but it actually only reflecting human actions back on humans. There is an underlying argument that our relationship to the planet is only the things we do to it and not all the other relationships and existences on and in it.