The EcoTrilogy

About the Book

The EcoTrilogy

The 144 essays of The EcoTrilogy were carefully selected, enlarged and updated from over 750 that were written and widely distributed during Ray Grigg's 16 years as a weekly environmental columnist. They contribute to his searching inquiry into the character of human thought and behaviour that he has been exploring for many years with his other books on Taoism and Zen. In The EcoTrilogy, he employs the same lucid perspectives, calm objectivity and insightful clarity to reveal who we are in arguably the most critical period on human history. The separate sections of The EcoTrilogy fit loosely into three categories: a philosophical Ecologos, a psychological Ecopathy, and a bio-physical Ecocide. Thus The EcoTrilogy becomes a comprehensive and penetrating analysis of the personal and collective challenges confronting humanity in a time of unprecedented technological, sociological and ecological change.

Ecologos: Only by familiarizing ourselves with the fundamental motivating forces that are shaping how we think, feel and act will we be able to address the enormous environmental challenges now confronting us. The 48 essays in Ecologos reveal some of these powerful forces by exploring a variety of the diverse cultural values, ideas, concerns and attitudes that are functioning below our awareness but directing our individual and collective behaviour.

Ecopathy: The 48 essays in Ecopathy examine the psychological dynamics operating within us that inflict egregious damage on our planet's ecosystems, and ultimately subvert or own best interests. But we can greatly reduce the likelihood of being victims of ourselves by moving these inner dynamics from an unconscious to a conscious level so they can be controlled and guided toward a more harmonious and sustainable relationship with nature.

Ecocide: Ecocide offers 48 specific examples of the extensive environmental damage that we could or do cause when our philosophical notions, psychological dynamics and cultural values are in conflict with the fundamental operating principles of nature. If we are to undertake the necessary preventative and corrective measures to protect vital ecologies, it is crucial that we confront the extent of this damage so we can attempt to change ourselves.

About the Author

Ray Grigg is the author of numerous internationally sold books on Taoism and Zen (The Tao of Relationships, The Tao of Being, The Tao of Sailing, Zen Brushpoems, The Tao of Zen, The New Lao Tzu, The Sage's Way, The Zen of an Earth Mythology and Zen Tzu), and has had a keen interest in Eastern philosophy for more than 50 years.

His environmental book, The EcoTrilogy: Ecologos, Ecopathy & Ecocide, uses the same detached objectivity and lucid clarity to explore, respectively, the philosophical, psychological and biophysical dimensions of our factious relationship with the ecology of the natural world—a fraught issue that is rapidly evolving from serious to critical.

Prior to writing professionally since 1985, he was a teacher in senior secondary schools of British Columbia, offering instruction in principally English and literary history, but also designing and teaching courses in cultural history, fine arts and comparative world religions.

Between 2000 and 2016, he was writing a weekly environmental column, Shades of Green, for newspapers and the internet—the 144 chapters of The EcoTrilogy were derived from these selected writings. He also conducted interviews on environmental themes for a local TV channel, and is a former director of the Advisory Council for The Centre For Studies in Religion and Society at the University of Victoria in British Columbia. After a busy life of teaching, travel, photography, design, sailing and sea kayaking, he continues to write and give occasional presentations and workshops on Taoism, Zen and environmental themes.

He lives contentedly with his wife—a classical musician—in a self-built home on ten acres of forested land on Quadra Island, British Columbia, Canada. A large organic garden and orchard supply much of their food needs. Their pets are the wild birds and animals that share their property.