As we kill nature, we are killing ourselves, and God incarnate as the world as well.
Masanobu FukuokaRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True fulfillment comes from personal growth rather than material gains.
This quote emphasizes that the pursuit of joy and happiness can often lead to their loss, suggesting that true contentment lies in understanding our relationship with life and nature. Fukuoka argues that the ultimate purpose of farming transcends crop production; it is about nurturing and refining human beings, highlighting the importance of personal and spiritual development in harmony with nature.
Themes
HappinessFarmingGrowthHuman DevelopmentNature
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared at a seminar on sustainable living to illustrate the deeper meaning of agriculture.
More from Masanobu Fukuoka
All quotes βThe ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.
Masanobu FukuokaRead
Modern research divides nature into tiny pieces and conducts tests that conform neither with natural law nor with practical experience. The results are arranged for the convenience of research, not according to the needs of the farmer.
Masanobu FukuokaRead
Gradually I came to realize that the process of saving the desert of the human heart and revegetating the actual desert is actually the same thing.
Masanobu FukuokaRead
Life on a small farm might seem primitive, but by living such a life we become able to discover the Great Path. I believe that one who deeply respects his neighborhood and everyday world in which he lives will be shown the greatest of all worlds.
Masanobu FukuokaRead
The increasing desolation of nature, the exhaustion of resources, the uneasiness and disintegration of the human spirit, all have been brought about by humanity's trying to accomplish something.
Masanobu FukuokaRead
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