Traditional Buddhist monuments are bringing life to a Himalayan community grappling with climate change. Villagers in Northern India have invented a way to fight drought, inspired by traditional Buddhist architecture. Each winter since 2013, the people of Phyang, Ladakh, have built stupas — traditional Buddhist monuments — made out of ice. When the whether warms and [...]
New Ethic for a Small Planet
If the twenty-first century is to be one of peace and caring, says His Holiness the Dalai Lama in this heartfelt personal plea, we must develop a new ethic of human values that transcends religion. I am an old man now. I was born in 1935 in a small village in northeastern Tibet. For reasons beyond my control, I have lived most of my adult life as a stateless refugee in India, [...]
The Tao of Poo
Anne Cushman on tracking as a kind of meditation. "Merely the gesture of paying attention in this way is a revelation," she says. I’ve started going on monthly hikes with the Point Reyes Tracking Club out at Abbott’s Lagoon, a beautiful seashore sanctuary north of San Francisco. In just a couple of guided outings, I’ve realized that tracking is a kind of meditation. Our [...]
Land purchased for “Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center” in Colorado wilderness
Today, a group of Buddhist teachers and practitioners purchased 180 acres of rural Colorado land to start "Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center." The land is a nature preserve that is home to deer, elk, moose, bear, and beaver, and borders Arapahoe National Forest. "It's exciting to me," says director and vice president David Loy. "We now have a center devoted to [...]
Commentary: A Decision Cruel and Callous
Bhikkhu Bodhi responds to US President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement. Much has been written over the past couple of weeks about the political and economic repercussions of Trump’s decision to pull the U.S. out from the Paris Climate Agreement. It’s been pointed out that the decision will diminish our standing in the world and cast us in [...]
Concerned About the Climate? OK. But What Are You Eating?
If U.S. president Donald Trump's choice to leave the Paris Climate Accord has you upset, Buddhist practitioner John Bussineau suggests something that will do a lot more good than griping on social media. With the US decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Accord, we, who are caring practitioners and followers of the Buddha’s teachings, are understandably concerned for the [...]
Commentary: Why I’m Still Hopeful After the US’s Paris Exit
Buddhist teacher Judy Lief, who was present at 2015's Paris climate conference, takes a step back for some perspective. In December 2015, I witnessed firsthand an outpouring of inspiration at the Paris COP21 climate conference. Over one hundred countries sent representatives to talk about how to respond to the changing climate and its impact. In parallel to diplomatic [...]
Commentary: Responding to Trump’s Separation from the World
Buddhist economist Clair Brown shares inspiration -- and facts -- for the way forward after the US drops out of the Paris Climate Accord. Yesterday was a dark day for Americans, as we listened to our president withdraw from the Paris 2015 climate agreement. For me, deep sadness was followed by anger. I turned to others' wisdom about our duty to care for each other and [...]
Buddhists Roll On Together to the People’s Climate March
A "Rolling Retreat" of dharma teachers and practitioners, by the busload, helped Buddhists to join Saturday's People's Climate March in Washington, D.C. Caroline Contillo was there. Stepping off the Buddhist retreat bus in DC on Saturday, two things were apparent: the 2017 People’s Climate March was going to be huge, and it was going to be hot. The record-breaking 92 [...]
One Earth Sangha organizes Buddhist presence at People’s Climate Mobilization
One Earth Sangha has been working with Buddhist communities to organize a Buddhist presence at April 29's People’s Climate Mobilization in Washington, DC and at its sister marches around the world, as part of their "Month of Deepening Our Engagement Practice.” To kick off their actions, One Earth Sangha held a live webinar on April 2 titled "Committing Ourselves to the Path [...]