Over the years of teaching, I've found a growing need for profound lovingkindness and compassion--a transformation of the heart--to underlie the insights and understandings that come out of the practice. An opening of the mind needs to be supported by compassion from the heart if the practice is to be integrated, fulfilled, and lived in our lives.
The value of mindfulness practice is discovered in the freedom we find through awareness. Without awareness, we repeat the patterns of fear and conditioning that keep us entangled individually and collectively. Without awareness, we suffer. With awareness, we can see the contractions of the mind, how the mind gets caught and how we can learn to let go. With awareness we can reawaken to the purity of joy and freedom that is fundamental to our true nature.
As a Dharma teacher, I simply remind others how it is possible to live in this world and find freedom. I listen to practitioners and try to remind them that it is truly possible to be free.
One Earth Sangha is oriented toward Buddhist and mindfulness practitioners seeking dharma, practices and community around care for the Earth. See their website here: One Earth Sangha
Inspired by Andrew Harvey's book A Guide to Sacred Activism. The journey of transformation, both personal and global, includes our hearts opening to all the suffering we encounter and letting our heart be shattered and break open to new possibilities. This is a natural and essential component of true awakening. This process is explored on different levels: our own dharma practice, the classical Progress of Insight and what Harvey calls "The Dark Night of the Species."
This talk views the ecological dis-ease of our planet through the lens of our evolutionary unfolding. We explore the egoic trance that has precipitated the destruction of our environment, and the inner practices of presence that enable us to respond from love and wisdom.
This talk views the ecological dis-ease of our planet through the lens of our evolutionary unfolding. We explore the egoic trance that has precipitated the destruction of our environment, and the inner practices of presence that enable us to respond from love and wisdom.
The inter-relationship between inner and outer. Knowing that we belong as a basis for meeting and responding to the suffering of our world, both inner and outer.
Mindfulness is so much more that attention. Supporting wholesome qualities like patience and equanimity, Right Mindfulness specifically develops wise action in our lives and in the world.
This is the first of a four-part series inspired by the Spring 2012 issue of Inquiring Mind, entitled 'Earth Now.' In addition to reading this issue, especially the interview with Joanna Macy: Woman on the Edge of Time, James also suggested these readings:
Ernest Callenbach’s essay
"Epistle to Ecotopians" and
Bob Doppelt's book From Me to We: The Five Transformational Commitments Required to Rescue the Planet, Your Organization, and Your Life. The series continues on 6/28, 7/5, and 7/19.
Sharing a positive vision for the future from Ernest Callenbach’s "Epistle to Ecotopians". We then begin to explore the first of five Dharma principles using systems and sustainability expert Bob Doppelt’s book From Me to We. The ignorance of these principles is what perpetuates the problem and the understanding of them is the key to changing our consciousness and providing a path toward healing the planet.
This is part 2 of the series 'Appropriate Response at the Tipping Point' that began June 14.
This is part 3 of the series 'Appropriate Response at the Tipping Point' that began 6/14. In this talk, James discusses the first three of the five transformational commitments in Bob Doppelt's book From Me to We:
1. See the systems you are part of
2. Be accountable for all the consequences of your actions
3. Abide by society’s most deeply held universal principles of morality and justice
This is part 4 of the series 'Appropriate Response at the Tipping Point' that began 6/14. In this talk, James discusses the last two of the five transformational commitments in Bob Doppelt's book From Me to We:
4. Acknowledge your trustee obligations and take responsibility for the continuation of all life
5. Choose your own destiny
At this time of climate disruption, we need powerful responses--integrating more "inner" spiritual practices and principles, on the one hand, with skill in "outer" responses, on the other. This integration or marriage can happen in many ways as we participate in the "great turning"--whether our primary emphasis, to use Joanna Macy's analysis, is stopping further damage from occurring, transforming our institutions, or helping to shift consciousness. Without this integration, however, spiritual practice runs the risk of becoming a kind of middle-class escapism and activism runs the risk of being caught in self-righteousness, attachment to views, demonization of the "enemy," and burnout. We need a new integration! We look at several dharma principles that can be the basis for such an integration, consider briefly how Spirit Rock is responding (and might respond further) to climate issues, and especially look at the figure of the bodhisattva.
For Earth Care Week we review the three aspects of ignorance examined last week - personal (or psychological), social, and universal. We focus on the social roots of ignorance with attention mostly to understanding and responding to the climate crisis.
At the time of Earth Day, we pose a a dilemma and challenge. Dharma practice is so compelling. The climate crisis is so compelling. Which do we choose? Both, in our own ways. We look at the ways that our practice (and principles of generosity, compassion, ethics, interdependence, and wisdom) call us to regard and that those responding deeply need spiritual practices and principles to meet the great need.
Continuing our exploration of ethical practice during earth care week. We examine, through the frame work of the Four Noble Truths, the question of the nature of climate change and how to respond as individuals, as communities, nationally and internationally.
There are precise and profound parallels between what Buddhism says about our usual individual predicament and our collective ecological predicament today.
There are precise and profound parallels between what Buddhism says about our individual predicament and our collective predicament today in relationship to the rest of the biosphere.
An impassioned talk that includes a little known story from the suttas about the dangers of and suffering caused by the notion of private property. During the talk, winds of 45 mph buffeted the monastery, emergency sirens sounded in the distance, and three power outages occurred. Ends with a lively discussion with the sangha.
Through silence and song, sitting practice. Dharma talks, and interactive exercises, we will affirm our capacity to take part in the healing of our world. Each of our lives is played against a backdrop of war-making, hunger, mass extinctions and increasing climate chaos. The Buddha's teachings show how we can respond to the suffering of our time in ways that bring courage, gladness, and deep community.
Our day together will draw on the Work That Reconnects, developed by Joanna over the last 35 years, and on Jennifer's soul-expanding music, that has empowered activists the world over.
Joanna Macy is known worldwide as a Gaian teacher whose trainings strengthen movements for global justice. Her books include Dharma and Development, Coming Back To Life, Mutual Causality in Buddhist Teachings and Systems Theory, and her memoir Widening Circles, as well as translations of Rilke's poetry.
Jennifer Berezan is a renowned singer/songwriter whose work is informed by Buddhist and indigenous teachings as well as her adventures at the forefront of social change. Her concerts and recordings include Praises for the World and her most recent release In These Arms, a Song for All Beings, based on practices of loving kindness and compassion.
Thanissara with Rev. angel Kyodo williams, Ayya Anandabodhi Bhikkhuni and Susie Harrington.
In this conversation, Susie Harrington mentioned two sources: Kerry Nelson’s offering of online workshops at A Place for Peace as well as Vinit Allen’s Sustainable World Sourcebook. Both offer ways to engage individually but also at the community level.Rev angel Kyodo williams mentioned the site What Is Missing? from Maya Lin offering an interactive experience of all that has been and continues to be lost to which you can add your own accounting.
Thanissara with David Loy, Ayya Santussika Bhikkhuni and Ayya Santacitta Bhikkhuni.
Unfortunately, Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi was ill on the day of our call and was not able to join us. We wish him a speedy and thorough recovery. In this call, Ayya Santussika Bhikkhuni mentioned two resources: the international, interfaith effort Our Voices as well as the “Pledge to Mobilize” at the Climate Mobilization. She also invited those interested in taking action together as Buddhists on the national or local/regional level to email her at santussika at gmail.com.
Finally, Dave Damm-Luhr mentioned the upcoming film from the same group that brought us “The Overview Effect.” This new film, “Planetary” (see the trailer here) maybe well-timed for action around the March deadline for targets into the UN climate talks that Lou mentioned.
Attached Files:
Mindfulness and Climate Action Background Paper
by Kritee Kanko and Lou Leonard
(PDF)
