PUR represents the past and encompasses a deeper knowledge of the world, passed down through ancestral wisdom that extends beyond European colonial history and Western notions of civilisation. PUR is a concept that transcends the scope of today’s world (NUR), a place of purity (pur as in pure) in a cyclical process, where the human soul is formed, and where humanity and nature evolve in balance and harmony. PUR is our SOUL.
NUR stands for the present moment, a brief manifestation in which we both live and die. Only experiencing NUR as the ‘now’ leads to destruction, exploitation and confusion. The German word ‘Nur’ translates as “Is this all?”. NUR has radically changed over the past 500 years due to our desire to leave a lasting impression on the world. A history that is polluted by war, oppression and the pursuit of power, which are the root causes of today’s social and environmental problems. Nature’s abundance must be revalued and protected, and action is vital. NUR is the SOIL in which we must root our future.
FUR looks to the future and strives for harmony. The German word means “for everyone”. How this is achieved depends on the choices we make in the NUR. FUR is within our grasp but threatened by the burdens of the present. It is the domain of the unborn, and our actions in the NUR are for their benefit. We must acknowledge the parlous ecological state to which the world has been reduced. We need to strive towards its restoration for future generations. FUR is like a SEED, an essential element for the survival of cyclical time and the biosphere.
