The document linked here―Practices for the Earth (PDF)―contains an essay written by senior Kootenay Shambhala Centre teacher Russell Rodgers outlining the teachings he presented at last summer’s Kootenay Public Weekthun 2009: Touching the Earth meditation retreat, and describing the approach used to deliver the teachings.

He submitted the document for the possible benefit of Shambhala teachers, environmentalists and others.

Topics include:
• Container Principle
• The Root of Ecological Problems
• The Senses: Our Gateways to the Natural World
• Making a Heart Connection to All Living Beings
• The Eco-dharma of Emptiness
• Drala: Working with Presence
• Introduction to the Lhasang

An “Afterthoughts” section provides additional material.

You can offer feedback by leaving a reply below, or by emailing Russell Rodgers at info@nelsonbuddha.com.

Responding to climate change effectively requires understanding it deeply.

For a Buddhist view on the roots of climate change, read the excerpt from the new book A Buddhist Response to the Climate Emergency, featured in yesterday’s Shambhala Times post Buddhadharma and the Planetary Crisis. Also, see the other Shambhala Times articles tagged Buddhist Response to Climate Change.

If you’d like to join in the Kootenay Shambhala Centre’s efforts to bring this view down to earth through practical action, locally and beyond, contact Russell Rodgers or Jim Northcote at info@nelsonbuddha.com.

Buddhism and Green Living is one of the themes of the September issue of Shambhala Sun magazine. So: how can we go beyond platitudes and into collective and individual action that can make a real difference? Ethan Nichtern and his community, NYC’s The Interdependence Project, are doing just that, every day.

Listen to Ethan explain how—and how we can do the same—in this Shambhala Sun audio interview.

The message below was posted on the worldwide Shambhala email announcement service earlier today.

For information about the Kootenay Shambhala Centre’s environmental activity, click on any of the related subject tags in the sidebar―e.g., protecting the earth―or contact Russell Rodgers, our Touching the Earth liaison, at info@nelsonbuddha.com.

Dear sangha,

A cheerful summer to you! This spring and summer have been exciting times for environmental action within the Shambhala sangha. The Sakyong, Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche offered his mindful instructions on Protecting the Earth in support of Earth Day 2009 and in July urged sangha members to sign the Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change.

Along with the Sakyong’s encouragement, the Touching the Earth working group launched the 2009 Shambhala Green Commitment initiative. We have been delighted so far at the positive actions centers are taking throughout the world and eagerly await responses from the remainder of the mandala. Read the rest of this entry »

In an article posted on the Shambhala Times today, former Shambhala Europe Director Chris Tamdjidi discusses discovering the world’s magic as a key aspect of environmental protection. See Buddhism and Ecology: Environment as our Teacher.

Please consider reading (and following the Dalai Lama’s lead in signing) The Time to Act is Now: A Buddhist Declaration on Climate Change.

This declaration, composed as a pan-Buddhist statement by Zen teacher Dr. David Tetsuun Loy and senior Theravadin teacher Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi with scientific input from Dr. John Stanley, will present to the world’s media a unique spiritual view of climate change and our urgent responsibility to address the solutions in the run-up to the U.N. Climate Treaty Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.

This article is adapted from an email message to Kootenay Shambhala Centre members and friends from Centre member Russell Rodgers.

Russell Rodgers writes:

Happy Earth Day,

Since this is Earth Day, it seemed a good idea to talk a bit about our Centre and the environment. Here are some of the initiatives that are underway or planned:

The first step in an environmental audit of our Centre has already happened. Gregory Heming has been working on that with James Rodgers, an environmental auditor who has volunteered his time. We discovered that we need to plug some holes in ceiling joist spaces between the Centre and the stairway hall before a full audit can proceed. The full audit involves de-pressurizing the space so that air leakage from the outside can be measured and sources of leakage detected. We already recycle, compost, and use mostly environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. We usually avoid using paper and plastic eating utensils. Other ideas are most welcome. Read the rest of this entry »

20 Apr 2009 - The Sakyong offers Protecting the Earth; a call to contemplation and action on climate change

The Sakyong offers these teachings in support of Earth Day, this Wednesday, 22 April, and the work of the Touching the Earth Working Group of the Sakyong’s Council.

Protecting the earth

A call to contemplation and action on climate change

Our precious planet and the innumerable beings who dwell here face an unprecedented crisis. The escalating threat to the world’s environment and climate stem from a profound predicament that affects all humanity. We are ever more rapidly losing our connection with the sacred nature of our world. This tragedy affects us in so many ways, but at its heart, it is a crisis of the spirit. We are harming our planet and fellow beings because we are losing touch with the basic goodness of our own sacred being.

This disconnect from our primordial basic goodness is amplified by unparalleled technological and industrial capacity, dramatic population growth, and the vast inequalities we witness everywhere in our world. Read the rest of this entry »

Russell Rodgers writes:

I’ve run across a good website that brings together commentary from prominent Buddhist teachers and provides a good selection of links on climate change and alternative energy news: http://www.ecobuddhism.org/

Also, Gwynne Dyer’s three-part series “Climate Wars” on CBC Radio’s Ideas can be downloaded as podcasts at http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/podcast.html. Dyer is a British military historian and journalist with extensive international contacts in the scientific world, intelligence community, military, and social sciences. I find his writing very well researched. He presents a synthesis of views that you probably wouldn’t find elsewhere.