Earth Sangha: Buddhism and the Environment

Buddhism and environmentalism might appear to address two very different types of problems. You could say that the point of environmental work is to repair our relationship with the natural world. And the point of Buddhism, in a sense, is to repair our relationship with ourselves. But the more you look at it, the clearer it becomes that these two fields overlap in all kinds of ways.

If you are already involved in Buddhism, you would probably agree with the proposition that Buddhism is essentially practical. The focus is on a kind of personal transformation—your transformation—and the time frame is now. So if you're drawn to Buddhism, you undertake a meditation technique, or you study Buddhist logic, or you develop some other form of practice. If all goes well, your mind begins to clear, and you begin to have some sense of how the Dharma fits within your own life. Perhaps you find that your interest in material things is not as strong as it once was. Perhaps it becomes easier to feel sympathy for people (even obnoxious people) who are less fortunate than you. Perhaps you become involved with a particular sangha, where you can be encouraged in your practice and offer encouragement in return. Life seems somewhat more satisfying than it once was. But is that as far as you're willing to go?

That's obviously a question that only you can answer. But there are grounds for thinking that you're likely to get more out of your practice if you make a consistent effort to extend it beyond yourself—assuming you do this in ways that are congruent with the practice itself. The Earth Sangha was founded in part on this premise, as it applies to environmental work specifically. It's our belief that careful, technically sound environmentalism can be an effective expression of the Buddhist view of life. We invite you to consider five connections between your practice and the well-being of life in general.

The Health Connection
The Concentration Connection
The Ethical Connection
The Compassion Connection
The Wisdom Connection

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