Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet

I was introduced to Thich Nhat Hanh’s thinking several years ago when I read Living Buddha, Living Christ.  So what can a Buddhist monk teach us who identify as Christian about saving the planet?  It turns out that Thay, as his comrades call him, wants to not only save the planet, but also change our minds about how we conduct ourselves toward ourselves, each other, and the planet.  He does this with a heavy dose of Buddhist philosophy, much more Zen in this book than climate justice.  His underlying thesis is that understand how to live in this world without destroying it and our very existence, we will continue doing those very things. We need to take personal stock on how we live our lives and relate to each other.  Taking care of the planet will naturally follow.  It seems to me that the message of Jesus Christ is in concert with that way of thinking.

Of course, as in any good Buddhist teaching it starts with breathing. Thanks to our mindful breathing we set ourselves free. We are free to be here:  free from thinking, anxiety, fear, and striving. When we are free, we can answer the call of the Earth. ‘I’m here. I’m a child of yours.’  We recognize we are part of the wonder.”

There is one ominous note (p. 13) in the book that warns we are on the path of the next great extinction, which would include us.  This note is sounded occasionally to remind the reader that our way of thinking, and the way we relate to the planet need to change. The key idea here is to see each of us as not separate from each other, other living things, and the planet. The phrase “i inter-am” is used throughout the book to bring home this point. This also refers to ancestors from the past as well as future generations.We are one with them as well.  Thay even goes so far as to say we are one with non-living entities from past and future as well. For me this means we can’t have a superiority complex about the planet being there for us to exploit, but to nurture and protect, as the planet does the same for me.

A few examples of Buddhist teaching to help us understand our need to compassionately care for the Earth.

A bodhisattva is a living being who has woken up.  Anyone with happiness, mindfulness, peace, understanding, and love can be called a bodhisattva….. In Buddhismas we consider the planet to be a bodhisattva: a real, authentic, great bodhisattva. Our planet is the most beautiful of all bodhisattvas. She has qualities of endurance, solidity, creativity, and non-discrimination; she embraces and sustains everyone and everything.

Thay has an interesting take on why corporate and political leaders aren’t engaged in trying to save the planet. He thinks they have their own suffering and pain.  They try to find happiness in power and wealth, thinking economic growth will bring less suffering. Thay believes they “need to change their idea of what happiness is.” (p. 122). Perhaps we all need to hear that message.

I will conclude with one of the five mindfulness trainings listed in the book.THE MINDFULNESS TRAINING ON TRUE HAPPINESS.

 Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing and oppression, I am committed to practicing generosity in my thinking, speaking, and acting.  I am determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others; and I will share my time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need.  I will practice looking deeply to see that the happiness and suffering of others are not separate from my own happiness and suffering, that true happiness is not possible without understanding and compassion, and that running after wealth, fame, power, and sensual pleasure can bring much suffering and despair.  I am aware that happiness depends on my mental attitude and not on external conditions, and that I can live happily in the present moment simply by remembering that I already have more than enough conditions to be happy.  I am committed to practicing Right Livelihood so that I can help reduce the suffering of living beings on the Earth and stop contributing to climate change. 

Seems there are echoes of the Sermon on the Mount there!

This book is a good read to get a different and hopeful perspective on the climate crisis and how we can address it.

John Hanson