Our work is grounded in Nature Reality, ethics, and values. This view is reflected in the teachings of the Buddha and further explicated by Thich Nhat Hanh. During his meditations in the forest, the Buddha recognized that a single wholeness and unity underlies Nature’s extraordinary diversity. This understanding is resonant with other contemplative traditions and quantum physics.
The Buddha came to this realization by
listening to the wind,
tasting the ocean’s breath,
and watching the leaves unfold.
These insights led to the understanding that any sense of separation from Nature causes suffering. Suffering leads to alienation, objectification, profound ill-health, and violence.
Mindfulness and meditation are ways in which these internalized judgments, perceptions, and ideas which cause profound harm can be dissolved and cleared. Liberating our minds is the first step to Earth and Animal liberation. Their liberation and wellbeing depend on our own. Our liberation and wellbeing depend on theirs. This is the nature of interbeing.
Mindfulness and meditation connect us with Nature’s Reality and values.
We begin to see with the hearts of Plant and Animal kin and learn what it means to live in presence, impermanence, acceptance, interbeing, compassion. We refer to this as Nature Consciousness. Nature Consciousness guides all actions to foster peace, wholeness and wellbeing.
Following in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh’s engaged Buddhism, we put this understanding into practice through our teaching and training in nonviolent living and activism and concrete, on-the-ground projects of liberation.
