Keep Our Compassion Alive

The People’s Climate Train, climate march and Flood Wall Street occurred while I was in Spain. My dharma brother, David Nelson, filmed the event and has made his film public.

What we learn is that we need to keep our compassion alive as Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) says,

May we keep our compassion alive by living in such a way that we reduce the suffering of living beings, preserve our planet, and reverse the process of global warming.

– Thich Nhat Hanh

These words from Thay were changed slightly in what we say before meals in the Five Contemplations. The new Plum Village versions can be found here.

This beautiful film is a record of what people have to say about climate change and their engagement in a public event. David is a great photographer and a kind, loving man.

I watched this video with great interest and recognized several people in it to be members of the Order of Interbeing – Thay’s community of monks, nuns, lay men, and lay women – who vow to study, practice, and observe the Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings. Thay was the first person to coin the phrase, “engaged Buddhism.”

I think that Joanna Macy’s book, Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in without Going Crazy, is the guiding publication for the People’s Climate Train and the Flood Wall Street movement.

What are your thoughts about global warming and climate change? Do you think we have a chance as a species to save Mother Earth from the mass extinction that is going on, including human beings?


Books by Joanna Macy

Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in without Going Crazy

by
Joanna Macy
Chris Johnstone

The challenges we face can be difficult even to think about. Climate change, the depletion of oil, economic upheaval, and mass extinction together create a planetary emergency of overwhelming proportions. Active Hope shows us how to strengthen our capacity to face this crisis so that we … [Read More…]

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