Zen and the art of protecting the planet - Thich Nhat Hahn

[oxymoron]

In a rare interview, zen buddhist master Thich Nhat Hahn warns of the threat to civilisation from climate change and the spiritual revival that is needed to avert catastrophe.

It is not exactly a traditional Sunday stroll in the English countryside as 84-year-old Vietnamese zen master Thich Nhat Hanh leads nearly a thousand people through the rolling Nottinghamshire hills in walking meditation.

The silent procession takes on the shape of a snake as it wends its way extremely slowly through a forest glade and an apple orchard. The assembled throng are asked to deeply experience each step they take on the earth in order to be mindful in the present moment.

Thay, as he is known, steps off the path into a field of tall grass and sits quietly in meditation. He exudes a sense of serenity, born of his 68 years' practice as a monk.

Despite having hundreds of thousands of followers around the world and being viewed with the same reverence as the Dalai Lama, Thay is little known to the general public. He has chosen to shun the limelight and avoid the shimmer of celebrity endorsement in order to focus on building communities around the world that can demonstrate his ethical approach to life. There are monasteries in France, America and Germany as well as groups of supporters that meet all over the world, including more than 20 "sanghas" across the UK.

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainability/environment-zen-buddhism-sustainability

[flvegan]

1. I truly hope folks read the article before going Full Douchebag on this.

Though sadly, I doubt they will.

[oxymoron]

2. Agreed. It's so important.

:hi:

[voteearlyvoteoften]

3. Good morning Oxy

An interesting post. Thank you.

[OneGrassRoot]

4. K&R, and thanks for posting...

:hi:

[H2O Man]

5. Recommended.

If there is one OP on this forum right now that is, by definition, "required reading," this is it.

Thank you for posting it.

[rucky]

6. Hanh's my favorite person in the world that I've never met.

[wookie72]

7. Absoutely

A wonderful man, a wonderful writer. In many ways, I'm a better person by reading his stuff.

[cilla4progress]

8. All one needs to know, really...

I have a couple of "Thay's" books and have looked to him as a spiritual resource. This article is great, and current as to the state of the natural world. It is helpful to read Thay's perspective on the inevitable end of things, and his emphasis on living every moment. I think I can get with his idea of letting go. Only, I do fret for my daughter...

PS I suspect that one reason we are seeing such insanity a la Beck, Palin, et al., is that in our reptilian brains (survive or die), as a species, we have innate knowledge that we are bringing about the collapse, and are desperate at a very deep level... Only a matter of when..


Also - this is very affirming to one who has lost my job and source of income...probably the last job in a long professional career. I am devoting the rest of my labors to social justice and political work. I was fortunate for many years to work professionally for social justice....now, it will be on my own - ie, volunteering.

[RagAss]

9. "From the beginning, not a thing exists"...Hui Neng

Sixth Patriarch ... Chan Master... father of Zen.