Fr Laurence challenges us with a powerful insight. For the first time in human history humans are now in control of the environment, but we are not handling this very responsibly. Economic activity driven by competition and short-term gains has generated an environmental crisis. But if we made the crisis, then we can change it. To do this, we ourselves must be prepared to change radically. This, Fr Laurence says, is what meditation does. It awakens within us the spirit of wisdom and compassion, the spirit of Christ who came to love the world and to heal it. Meditation puts the ego back in its proper place, develops self-control, and opens us to a new perception of universality – that we are one and interdependent, that our actions are mutually beneficial or mutually harmful. Meditation creates community on a planetary scale.