Gaia philosophy is a broadly inclusive term for related concepts that living organisms on a planet will affect the nature of their environment - to make it more suitable for life. This set of theories holds that all organisms on a planet regulate the biosphere to the benefit of the whole. The Gaia concept draws a connection between the survivability of a species, (hence its evolutionary course) and their usefulness to the survival of other species.

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Read more here: » Gaia: Encyclopedia - Gaia

Many modern Neopagans, particularly Hellenistic Neopagan sects in the United States, actively worship Gaia. Beliefs regarding Gaia vary, ranging from the common Wiccan belief that Gaia is the Earth (or in some cases the spiritual embodiment of the earth, or the Goddess of the Earth), to the broader Neopagan belief that Gaia is the goddess of all creation, a Mother Goddess from which all other gods spring. Gaia is sometimes thought to embody the planets and the Earth, and sometimes thought to embody the entire universe. Worship of Gaia ...

See also:

Gaia mythology, Gaia mythology - In Greek mythology, Gaia mythology - Gaia in Neopaganism, Gaia mythology - Family tree, Gaia mythology - Interpretations, Gaia mythology - In other cultures, Gaia mythology - In modern ecological theory, Gaia mythology - In popular culture

Read more here: » Gaia mythology: Encyclopedia II - Gaia mythology - Gaia in Neopaganism

Man is no longer to be the measure of all things, the centre of the universe. He has been measured and found to be an undistinguished bit of matter, different in no essential way from bacteria, stones and trees. His goals and purposes, his egocentric notions of past, present and future; his faith in his power to predict and through prediction to control his destiny - all these are called into question, considered irrelevant, or deemed trivial.

(See also: Sacred Nature, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Our love and concern for animals emerge out of two basic postulates of Indian philosophy. One, that like us, every plant and living being is the ansha or part of the one Param Brahma, the Omnipotent One, and two, that born of the one earth mother all of them have equal right on all resources. So they are like our own siblings. All life forms have a symbiotic relationship - we are all linked together and our actions are bound to have an effect on our environment and other living beings.

(See also: Sacred Nature, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

(See also: Sustainable development, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Ancient scriptures say we have five sheaths: physical environment, physical body, mind, intuitive sheath or subtle environment, and the Self.

Indian tradition believes in the sanctity of nature. Our rishis perceived the mountains, rivers, Sun, Moon and trees to be sacred. That which is sacred is honoured. Environmental consciousness has been built into our way of life, to become our second nature. But when we start moving away from our nature we begin polluting the environment. Unfortunately, we pollute our rivers and mountains in the name of sacred rituals.

(See also: Spirituality and Ecology, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Most of us sense that the Earth is more than a sphere of rock with a thin layer of air, ocean and life covering the surface. We feel that we belong here as if this planet were indeed our home. Long ago the Greeks, thinking this way, gave to the Earth the name Gaia or, for short, Ge. In those days, science and theology were one and science, although less precise, had soul. As time passed this warm relationship faded and was replaced by the frigidity of the schoolmen. The life sciences, no longer concerned with life, fell to classifying dead things and even to vivisection. Ge was stolen from theology to become no more the root from which the disciplines of geography and geology were named. Now at last there are signs of a change. Science becomes holistic again and rediscovers soul, and theology, moved by ecumenical forces, begins to realise that Gaia is not to be subdivided for academic convenience and that Ge is much more than just a prefix.

James Lovelock

Read more here: » Gaia Hypothesis: What is Gaia?

In science, a Gaia theory is a class of scientific models of the biosphere in which life fosters and maintains suitable conditions for itself by affecting Earth's environment. The first such theory was created by the English atmospheric scientist James Lovelock in 1969. He hypothesized that the living matter of the planet functioned like a single organism and named this self-regulating living system after the Greek goddess Gaia.

Read more here: » Gaia Theory: The Gaia Theory in Science

List of Final Fantasy IX locations - Mist Continent. A pristine city-state ruled by Queen Brahne, whose armies proceed to conquer every other nation on the Mist Continent to establish the Alexandrian Empire. However, the Empire is dissolved upon Brahne's death and the coronation of Princess Garnet. Immediately thereafter, Alexandria is attacked by the Kuja, causing extensive damage to the city of Alexandria. Famous for its female armies, Alexandria is not a technological force; inste ...

See also:

List of Final Fantasy IX locations, List of Final Fantasy IX locations - Gaia, List of Final Fantasy IX locations - Mist Continent, List of Final Fantasy IX locations - Outer Continent, List of Final Fantasy IX locations - Forgotten Continent, List of Final Fantasy IX locations - Lost Continent, List of Final Fantasy IX locations - Terra, List of Final Fantasy IX locations - Other

Read more here: » List of Final Fantasy IX locations: Encyclopedia II - List of Final Fantasy IX locations - Gaia

�Daisyworld and the Gaia Hypothesis are controversial because they touch on the definition of what constitutes life. If we think that life is about the selfish gene, competition, and survival of the fittest, then it is hard to see where the Earth fits in. However, it isn't necessary to think that the Earth is alive in order to appreciate that it is a highly complex system. And, if we say it is alive, why is that so threatening? No one doubts that plants are alive, but they don't do anything nearly as complicated as the Earth does.�

A brief introduction to the intriguing Gaia theory, as developed by James Lovelock, Lynn Margulis and others.

Read more here: » Gaia Theory: Gaia Theory - Science of the Living Earth

Seven cities in India correspond to seven centres or chakras in our body: �Ayodhya, Mathura, Maya, Kashi, Kanchi, Avantika, Puri drawaravati chaiva, Saptaide moksha dayika�. The seven cities are companioned  with seven sacred rivers; Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Godavari, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri

The microcosm and the macrocosm are interlinked. Planet earth, home to many organisms, is itself a large organism. It is not just a place for living beings; it is a living organism as a whole. This is what the Gaia theory says. Materialism considers everything as objects. Spirituality, on the other hand, discovers life in everything.

Read more here: » Gaia Theory: Chakras and the Seven Sacred Cities

At the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992, environmental issues were hotly debated and an attempt was made to arrive at a blueprint for future conservation efforts. A document, known as Agenda 21, was issued, which provided 27 guiding principles for sustainable development.

Interestingly, several of the 'Rio principles' for environmental conservation were taught and practised in ancient India. The modern holistic approach for ecological balance is reflected in the most ancient of Indian scriptures, the Vedas.

(See also: Hinduism and Ecology, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Today, there is a worldwide movement to protect the environment. But this concern has been part of the Indian ethos since ages.

The five basic elements - kshit i (soil), jal (water), panak (fire), gagan (sky or ether) and sameer (air) from which life has emerged - have all been objects of worship, forming an integral part of Indian tradition. The elements are deified, as they are believed to be protectors of jeevan tatva (life). But they can protect and bless us only if we give them due respect.

(See also: Hinduism and Ecology, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Buddhism sees humans neither as a special creation of God, nor does it see them as having been given dominion over 'lesser' species. It says that like all sentient beings, humans also wander in the limited, conditioned realm of samsara, the cycle of rebirths.

It believes that man influences the environment not only through his actions but also through the moral and immoral qualities of his actions - karmic effects catch up with people via their environment.

(See also: Buddhism and Ecology, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

A tree is a beautiful expression of mother earth's creativity. It has shakti . It restores balance in the environment by its positive force. A tree doesn't have a mind of its own, only the cosmic heart of the universe. It responds to human sentiments.

The pipal tree is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists - the Buddha attained nirvana under this tree. In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna said: "I am as strong as the pipal is among trees." Pipal and tulsi play significant roles in Hindu rituals. The neem tree is the favourite of Durga, and it is grown to ward off evil spirits. The Avdhumra tree is believed to be the abode of Lord Dattatreya, so it is never cut down

(See also: Sacred Nature, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

What makes a place sacred? A place where meditation is practised over many years automatically acquires certain powers. The place gets charged with the energy and vibrations from peaceful thoughts. Depending on the intensity of meditators, the sanctity and power of a particular place can thus remain charged, exuding powerful vibrations, for thousands of years.

The Parshvanath Hills is one such place. Twenty-two of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras attained nirvana on this hill, and these enlightened persons were separated by thousands of years.

(See also: Sacred places in India, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Time Cycles and cosmic calendars from different cultures lika the maya, aztek, hopis and veda, predicting a planetary ascension, are brought together and analyzed by Kiara Windrider.

Read more here: » Spiritual Awakening: Spirals of Time

Gaia theory is a class of scientific models of the geo-biosphere in which life as a whole fosters and maintains suitable conditions for itself by helping to create an environment on Earth suitable for its continuity. The first such theory was created by the atmospheric scientist and chemist, Sir James Lovelock, who developed his hypotheses in the 1960s before formally publishing the concept, first in the New Scientist (February 13, 1975) and then in the 1979 book "Gaia: A new look at life on Earth". He hypothesized that the liv ...

Including:

• Gaia theory science - Range of views
• Gaia theory science - Gaia theories
• Gaia theory science - Early modern parallels
• Gaia theory science - Lovelock initial hypothesis
• Gaia theory science - Critical analysis
• Gaia theory science - Basis
• Gaia theory science - Criticism
• Gaia theory science - DaisyWorld simulations
• Gaia theory science - The First Gaia Conference
• Gaia theory science - Strong Gaia theories
• Gaia theory science - Semantic debate
• Gaia theory science - Recent Developments
• Gaia theory science - The Second Gaia Conference
• Gaia theory science - Gaia hypothesis in ecology

Read more here: » Gaia theory science: Encyclopedia - Gaia theory science

Vila Nova de Gaia (pron. IPA /'vi.lɐ 'nɔ.vɐ dɨ 'gaj.ɐ/) is a city and municipality of Portugal. It is located in the Porto district, south of the city of Porto on the other side of the river Douro. The municipality has a population of 288,058 (2001 census) and 24 parishes. Gaia is together with Porto in the commonly designated Porto Metropolitan Area. It is also well known for its warehouses of Port wine, one ...

Including:

• Vila Nova de Gaia - Coat of Arms and Flag
• Vila Nova de Gaia - History of the Vila Nova de Gaia municipality
• Vila Nova de Gaia - Parishes

Read more here: » Vila Nova de Gaia: Encyclopedia - Vila Nova de Gaia