In episode six of Very Vedic - season one's final episode - Matt's student Anna asks for the Vedic view on Australia's catastrophic bushfire season. She identifies it as Destruction, one of the three underlying forces that control all things, but how do we even begin to accept that there's a bigger reason for all of this when people and animals are dying? Matt shares one interpretation from the Vedic view, with the utmost respect for the lives, homes and land lost. And that's that Destruction isn't inherently evil. Its purpose is to create more space for more creation to come. What he explains in this episode, is that Nature would like us to learn and evolve through consciousness and connection. And what does Nature need in order to teach us? Our attention. And how does it get our attention? Obvious, dramatic and even painful events that wake us up to what we're doing wrong. From the Vedic view, the world is always in one of four stages (or ages, or yugas) - Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga and Kali Yuga. Right now we're in Kali Yuga, which is the age of ignorance. Matt gives this context to explain why the majority of our current culture is fixed in a pursuit of external power, acquired by dominating and manipulating Nature. This creates imbalances and makes Nature scream. Nature's cries become harder and harder to avoid. It is trying to force us into a higher state of consciousness and acknowledge the inter-relatedness of all things. So right now with Australia's catastrophic bushfire season, we're becoming aware that the behaviour of the world is unsustainable. This in itself is a triggering point for a lot of people - that if we have this broader perspective about catastrophes or death, that we are callous or lack compassion. But the very fact that we're aware of what's at play, means we are participating with Nature through acceptance. And it is through acceptance that we move towards evolution and better things. Matt explains that this is humanity sitting in its inherent power. Would you like to hear a second season of Very Vedic? Send us an email on [email protected] or DM us on Instagram @bondimeditation with any questions you'd like answered. Thanks for listening to season one. If Very Vedic has helped you, please consider leaving us a review. The more positive reviews we get, the more people we can reach! Jai Guru Deva. Very Vedic is produced by Studio Offline, technical production by Pod Paste, original music by Al Royale.