For a Future to be Possible

The final session of the Earth Holder Retreat was on the theme of “For a Future to be Possible” on Sunday, May 1 at the Deer Park Monastery. The panel discussion was led by Brother Phap Ho (Brother Protection) and included Kristin Barker (founder of One Earth Sangha), Jayna Gieber (director of “People of the […]

Mindful Advocacy for Mother Earth

Mindful Advocacy for Mother Earth was the topic of the workshop on the evening after Sister Mai Nghiem‘s dharma talk on Nurturing Practices. There were four panelists: Laura Hunter, Heather Mann, Nomi Green and me, all members of the Earth Holder Sangha as well as the Order of Interbeing (OI). This video was filmed by […]

Is There Hope for Optimism on Climate Change?

Is there hope for optimism on climate change? Al Gore thinks so. In is Ted Talk in Vancouver, British Columbia in February, 2016, Al Gore thinks there is. In his latest TED talk, Al Gore, founder and chairman of The Climate Reality Project, poses three questions that will determine the future of our planet – […]

Climate Impacts are Overwhelming

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported last year that climate impacts are overwhelming – the full report is available online. I am reminded of Thay’s first answer in his March 2012 Q& A interview on Climate Change. He said that, We have to breathe deeply to acknowledge the fact that we humans may […]

The Leopard Roars!

“The Leopard Roars!” was shared with me by Lama Surya Das yesterday. I was so moved by it that I did some further research and found Rabbi Arthur Waskow‘s blog. The leopard locked in the cage of liturgy was definitely my experience growing up in a conservative synagogue in St. Louis. This feeling was definitely […]

The Bells of Mindfulness from Mother Earth

The polar ice caps are melting. BONG! The sea levels are rising. BONG! The deserts are expanding. BONG! The temperature is rising. BONG! Species are becoming extinct. BONG! Water sources are depleting. BONG! The rainforests are disappearing. BONG! These  bells of mindfulness from Mother Earth are ringing over and over again. Are we listening to […]

The Psychology of Climate Change

Yesterday, I watched this video on the psychology of climate change from Canada’s tar sands to Chinese advertising billboards. It was done by Al Jazeera’s presenter, Gelareh Darabi, a native of Vancouver, British Columbia of Iranian descent.   click here if the video doesn’t load Climate change is no mystery. We know what we have […]

The Paris Agreement…

The Paris agreement on climate change has produced a few results – some remarkable and some not so great. Scientists and climate action groups such as the Buddhist Climate Action Network (BCAN) and Earth Holding Sangha have been pushing for no more than a 1.5° centigrade increase over the pre-industrial levels. The agreement stated, “Holding […]

Dalai Lama Spoke Out on Climate Change

On October 20, the Dalai Lama spoke out on climate change from the top of the world. He called for action on climate change at COP21 – an international conference taking place in Paris on from November 30 through December 11. COP stands for Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate […]

Celebrate the International Day of Peace

I invite you to celebrate the International Day of Peace with me today, September 21, 2015. The UN has dedicated the 2015 International Day of Peace to “Partnerships for Peace — Dignity for All.” In conjunction with Pope Francis‘ visit to the United States to speak with President Obama tomorrow, deliver a climate message to […]