Clare Bronfman

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better”.

- Albert Einstein

As summer is here I am once again reminded of the incredible cyclical process of death and re-birth. I am constantly amazed and in wonder of this amazing place we are privileged to inhabit.
The majority of my childhood, I was either playing with horses, out in the fields or exploring in the woods. I grew up on a farm outside a little village called Hartest in the lush English countryside. This is where my curiousity and love of nature began. Over the years I have always turned to nature to find a sense of peace within my self – whether it is hiking in the Himalayas, sitting on a fallen tree in a forest in Australia, galloping through the fields on a horse or lying on my hammock in my current suburban neighborhood staring up at the trees. There is perfection to nature I have not yet found in humans (or perhaps myself) – where I find myself in awe. Have you ever looked at a flower and been amazed by the symmetry, by the intimate and delicate design of every petal? When I was about nine years old I remember spending what seemed like several hours watching an army of ants cross a dirt track somewhere in Kenya. They all seemed to know exactly where they were going, and I perceived they knew why! I found it fascinating.
Because of my deep sense of love for nature, I focused my philanthropic tendencies towards trying to save forests and animals. One day a good friend of mine asked me what the world would be like if humans never interfered with nature – my face lit up, and with a huge smile I described lush forests, with flowers and animals thriving! She then asked me what the problem was; nature or the treatment of nature by humans?

Treat the earth well.
It was not given to you by your parents,
It was loaned to you by your children.
We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors,
We borrow it from our children.

- Ancient Indian Proverb

I sincerely hope we can evolve our way of thinking and transform to be a more mindful, ecological race living in harmony with ourselves, each other and with nature, I would love to return this earth to our children, and inspire them to seek awe and beauty through it.

Photography by Michael Eldredge

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit has come and gone, and I believe left a distinct impression on those of us directly involved in his visit, those who came to, or saw, his public talk, our entire community and I believe the world. For me he leaves an impression of nobility. His leadership is exemplary; his firm commitment to uphold the values he deeply expresses despite adversity is such an inspiration to me. His ability to balance being firm, direct, compassionate, humorous and humble is remarkable – something I hope to learn from and grow with in myself.

Due to the on going struggle several of my closest friends and I have here in Albany - how we have been portrayed in the media – his visiting and message was particularly moving. His coming brought about a certain contradiction: what is written about NXIVM, Keith, Sara and myself in the press – being labeled as a cult – and a world leader showing his support for us after thorough investigation.

How do you resolve such a contradiction?