Reducing Carbon emissions
In New York State: a group of environmental organizations have banded together to pass a collection of bills called Climate Can’t Wait 2022: https://climatecantwait.org/
NYS Governor Hochul’s budget concerning the environment does not yet include the $15 billion investment asked for by the Climate and Community Investment Act (CCIA). You can find the full story here.
Ecosattvas and the Climate Crisis
A group of Earth Initiative sangha members are exploring the
Ecosattva Training Program offered by One Earth Sangha to bring a perspective which centers global majority concerns and perspectives on healing the planet and dealing with the ongoing climate crisis. Please explore the program offering and consider joining!
mro@dharma.net.
Arising from profound love and deep respect for the earth, the Green Dragon Earth Initiative is an ongoing effort by the sangha of the Mountains and Rivers Order to address the individual, institutional, national and global degradation of our planet. Recognizing that all life springs forth from an intricate, causally-related web of interdependence, every action intended to benefit one part must benefit the whole. This Initiative thus focuses on the whole of the Earth, it’s creatures, and human society. Issues of social and environmental justice are also within the scope of this Initiative.
The MRO sangha members are from Zen Mountain Monastery and the Zen Center of New York City. Previous activities have including gathering to share information about, and organize responses to, issues involving the health of the planet that seem most urgent. The Initiative is part and parcel with a broader Dharma Action Initiative that attempts to take on a variety of social and economic issues effecting our communities, our country, and our world.
The Earth Initiative includes:
- Clarifying our understanding of the nature of the self and its relationship to the Earth through traditional study of Buddhist teachings, practice and training
- Reducing the ecological footprints of Zen Mountain Monastery and the Zen Center of New York City
- Examining and adjusting individual life choices to improve our impact on our planet
- Community and Policy action (at the local, state, national, and global levels)
- Identifying global systems and their interdependence
- Education about relevant issues
- Challenging cultural assumptions that undermine sustainability
The countenance of the mountains is completely different when we are in the world gazing off at the mountains, and when we are in the mountains meeting the mountains.
Mountains & Rivers Sutra, Master Dogen
