At BCBS, our commitment to the environment is deeply intertwined with our dedication to promoting mindful living. We believe that the principles of Buddhism naturally extend to caring for the Earth, and this is evident in our eco-dharma initiatives.
Our environmental efforts are comprehensive and multifaceted. We have integrated sustainability into every aspect of our operations, from energy use to waste management. Our campus features solar panels, energy-efficient buildings, and organic gardens. We prioritize reducing our carbon footprint and strive to create a harmonious relationship with nature.
BCBS also offers a range of programs focused on eco-dharma, teaching how Buddhist principles can guide us in addressing ecological challenges.
By embodying the values of wisdom and compassion, BCBS serves as a beacon for environmental stewardship in the Buddhist community and beyond. Our commitment to sustainability is not just a practice but a fundamental expression of our spiritual path.
BCBS was recently hailed as an “EcoDharma Beacon” by Buddhistdoor Global because of our work in minimizing our environmental impact, cultivating ecoDharma in North America, and collaborating with other environmental organizations.
In what ways can Buddhist practices, intellectual traditions, and communities support us in mindfully and skillfully working to mitigate and adapt to catastrophic climate change? Can Buddhist thought and practice help us in feeling deeply and acting prudently without being overwhelmed by fear, anger, blame, or guilt?
Bhikkhu Anālayo addresses these questions in this Mindfully Facing Climate Change lecture series.
This issue of Insight Journal explores the Dharma of Plants, the wisdom we might gather from the plant world or through our relationship to individual plants.
It does so from a variety of perspectives, drawing on personal experience, modern scientific insights into the intelligence and social lives of plants, as well as classical Buddhist traditions.
Supporting practitioners worldwide, our dharma library, offered freely in the spirit of generosity, includes the following talks and interviews related to Ecodharma:
Wild Mind, Wild Earth: Zen Wisdom and Poetry in a Time of Ecological Crisis
Exploring Dharma Practice and Right Action in an Age of Climate Change
A Wild Love for the World: Joanna Macy on Grief, Gratitude, and Belonging
Recognizing the need for Buddhism to speak to the current causes and manifestations of suffering, many teachers at BCBS integrate contemporary social, political, and ecological issues into whatever Dharma topics their programs address.
Here is a sample of recent programs grounded in the orientation that environmental work is part of contemporary Buddhist practice: