Beyond Technical Fixes: Sufism, Contemplation, and Climate Change as Human Predicament ,” Journal of Contemplative Studies, 3 (2025): 1-22

Building on the works of the Sufi philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr and the German sociologist Hartmut Rosa, this article argues that the climate crisis signals a deeper spiritual and existential crisis beyond technological solutions and carbon reduction strategies. Departing from conventional problem-solution narratives, it frames climate change as a crisis of human self-understanding and our relationship with the more-than-human world. The dominant mechanistic paradigm, which views nature as a resource for exploitation, has led to environmental degradation and alienation. Nasr critiques this objectification, emphasizing that nature must be seen as sacred rather than as a mere resource. In dialogue with Rosa, the article explores the concept of “resonance” and argues that Sufi contemplative practices cultivate a profound ecological consciousness. By integrating Sufi ontology with ethics, it advocates for an interconnected vision of life by treating everything in nature as alive and spiritually meaningful.

BEYOND THE PROBLEM-SOLUTION NARRATIVE

With the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General calling the present climate crisis a “code red for humanity,” a major UN climate report highlights the undeniable human impact upon our planet and shows we must drastically cut emissions within the next few decades to have a chance of averting catastrophic warming. 1 Yet many neglect the root cause of this crisis, since they frame human-caused climate change as a scientific problem needing technical solutions, while disregarding the fact that the environmental crisis signals a broader social and existential crisis of humanity, one that cannot be surmised in terms of reducing carbon footprints alone. Drawing on the works of the Sufi philosopher Seyyed Hossein Nasr and the German sociologist Hartmut Rosa, this study first analyzes the nature of the existential threats posed by climate change, before proceeding to argue that Sufi contemplative practices support and foster an active engagement toward the planet’s wellbeing and an ecofriendly life and vision.