Daraja – the Bridge to Reducing Climate Change

Tuesday night I witnessed something very moving that has a great effect on reversing climate change. As I reported before, Paul Hawken’s book, Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, reports that the sixth and seventh most promising solutions to climate change are respectively, Educating Women and Family Planning. Together, these […]

The Three Poisons

The three poisons or the three roots (of suffering) were the subject of Brother Phap Vu‘s dharma talk on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at the Earth Holder Retreat in the Deer Park Monastery. The three poisons are variously translated as shown in the following table (reading down) desire greed attraction hatred ill-will aversion ignorance illusion […]

In Greed We Trust

Our global economy seems to be rooted in greed. It seems that the United State dollar bill should read, “In Greed We Trust.” There is no more trust in god, a supreme being, the creator of all there is, or our very own buddhanature. We seem to be consumed by greed. We can begin almost […]

Thoughts on Engaged Buddhism

Here are a few quotes from Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh containing his thoughts on engaged Buddhism. It was Thay, as he is affectionately called by his followers, who coined the term, “engaged Buddhism” in 1954. Now, it is more important than ever before for us to take action to do what we can to […]

Desmond Tutu Speaks Out For Climate Change

The situation with climate change is getting rather desperate. As shown last Thursday, Harrison Ford and Don Cheadle are also very concerned about climate change. See What Do Harrison Ford And Don Cheadle Know That We Should. Now Desmond Tutu speaks out for climate change. He thinks we need an anti-apartheid style of boycott of […]

Taking Action For The Benefit Of All Beings

Bhikkhu Bodhi, in discussion with famed activist, Joanna Macy and Pannavati Karuna, talked about taking action for the benefit of all beings. The discussion took place at an event for the benefit of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship in Berkeley, California. Of these three venerables, perhaps Joanna Macy is best known. I have heard her speak […]

The Global Power Shift Is Coming

This message came to me from 350.org. I first reported on their work in Three Numbers You Should Know About Global Warming at the end of April. I have been following them ever since. I want to share the full text of the message with you because I found the video so moving. I hope […]

Are We Eating Our Children?

I know this title sounds kind of brutal. I wanted to get your attention. There is a story told by the Buddha in the Son’s Flesh Sutra. It is the story about the couple who ate their son’s flesh. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, known as Thay by his followers, tells this story often. Here […]

Is Global Warming Real?

Is climate change real? Is global warming something that humans are responsible for? I keep asking myself these questions, especially when friends suggest that climate change is a scientific hoax. Last week, I watched an amazing film by photographer James Balog called, “Chasing Ice“. This is an effort by an artist to show the world that climate […]

If The Dalai Lama Were President…

As you probably know, the Dalai Lama is not only the religious leader of the Tibetan people in exile. He is also the political leader. What would happen if the Dalai Lama were president of the United States? His belief in democracy and human rights is so strong that should Tibet become free of Chinese rule, […]