No more mercy for Mackey January 4, 2010
Posted by James Shaheen in : Buddhism, Environment, News , 7 commentsElephant Journal’s Buddhist-in-Chief Waylon Lewis was kinder to Whole Foods CEO John Mackey than most. Mackey’s Wall St. Journal op-ed slamming “Obama Care” wasn’t enough to get Way to join the call to boycott the organic foods giant. Taking a more measured approach, Way argued for tolerance in his Huffington Post blog last August (”Why I Ain’t About to Boycott Whole Foods“). But that’s all over now. Previously a Mackey defender, Way now writes, “I’m finally losing it, and he’s finally losing me.”
What was Way’s tipping point? News that Mackey counts himself among the global warming skeptics. A fan of Milton Friedman, Ayn Rand and Ronald Reagan, “right-wing hippie” Mackey now questions whether the planet is warming up because of us, according to The New Yorker . Way too much for Way, and he wrote himself onto the home page of the Huffington Post—again. Read it here.
Dalai Lama calls Obama’s Nobel “a little early” December 10, 2009
Posted by Philip Ryan in : Dalai Lama, Environment, Politics , comments closedThe Dalai Lama, who is still waiting for a chance to meet with the American President, calls the Nobel Peace prize award “a little early.” Obama, in Norway to accept the prize now, might agree. The DL also expressed optimism about the environmental summit in Copenhagen.
The spiritual leader described Mr Obama as “young and energetic”.
“I think the Nobel Peace Prize gives him more encouragement and also gives him more moral personal responsibility,” he said.
President Obama declined to meet the Dalai Lama during a recent visit to Washington, with observers pointing out it may have been awkward to do so just before the President travelled to China.
But the Tibetan leader says he hopes to have a meeting with Mr Obama in the next few months.
Shelter from the Storm September 30, 2009
Posted by Philip Ryan in : Buddhism, Environment, Green Buddhism, Science, Zen , 5 comments[UPDATED: Link fixed.]
“The storm petrel is able to survive only by taking refuge in the vast ocean that surrounds it. Rather than allowing themselves to become overwhelmed by the enormity of their environment, these fragile and diminutive birds follow the paths of least resistance. During the worst weather, they place themselves deep down in the troughs of waves, using their delicate feet to push themselves away from the moving walls of wild water next to them, and letting the howling winds shear across the crests of waves high above. This is the bird’s own spontaneous dance of resourcefulness and survival, and it is only one example of the countless ways in which sentient beings take refuge.”
- Gary Thorp, “Shelter from the Storm.” Read the complete article here.
Prayer flags a problem in Bhutan September 14, 2009
Posted by Aaron Lackowski in : Environment, News, Tibetan Buddhism , 5 comments
The Bhutanese government is facing an unexpected threat to its country’s natural environment: prayer flags. Each year, Bhutan’s citizens cut down thousands of trees to use a poles for Buddhist prayer flags, according to a Reuters report posted on the Buddhist Channel.
This is making for a legal conundrum. Bhutan’s famed Gross National Happiness index requires that forest-cover make up at least 60 percent of the Himalayan kingdom’s landscape—but Buddhism, a guiding philosophy of the policy, is now contributing to the gradual deforestation of the region.
Fortunately, it seems that a solution is in the works. The government is growing bamboo plants, with the hope that these will make for an acceptable substitute.
[Image: TiagoPereira]
Thailand’s Forgotten Elephants August 27, 2009
Posted by Philip Ryan in : Environment, Thailand , 1 comment so farA stunning photo gallery from the New York Times.
Image: Brent Lewin/Redux
Can Buddhism Save the Planet? August 24, 2009
Posted by Philip Ryan in : Environment, Green Buddhism, Politics, Science , add a commentCan a bodhisattva vow for the earth help to halt or reverse manmade climate change? Two articles make the case for the dharma helping us restore balance to the planet. How? It starts within each of us:
- In the Bangkok Post, Chompoo Trakullertsathien says that as the world heats up, so do our minds. Cooling our anger, greed, and delusions can’t help but lead to good things for the earth.
- John Guerrerio writes that the current environmental crisis offers us a chance to overcome our dualistic view of Economy vs. Ecology and inhabit our true roles as stewards responsible for keeping the balance of the earth that sustains us.
What can we do today to be more responsible citizens of the planet on which each and every one of us depends for our every breath? In Tricycle’s Summer 2009 issue, Joseph Goldstein offered some advice in “Facing the Heat.”
Boycott Whole Foods? No Way, says Way. August 23, 2009
Posted by James Shaheen in : Buddhism, Environment, Green Buddhism, News, Opinion, Politics , 6 commentsSo, have you decided to boycott Whole Foods because the very green grocer’s Libertarian founder John Mackey sounded off against universal health care in the Wall Street Journal? If you haven’t yet decided, you should read what our favorite green Buddhist has to say first. The Elephant Journal’s Waylon (”Way”) Lewis made it pretty clear over at the Huffington Post last week that things are never as simple as they seem. Take a look—Way has initiated quite the lively exchange.
Why am I writing about this now? Well, for one thing, he’s garnered hundreds of comments and they keep rolling in. And for another, I’m overworked and had a chance to read his post only with the arrival of EJ’s newsletter, which you should subscribe to if you haven’t already—it’s, free, has tons of green info and provides lots of irreverent fun.
The Green Buddha: Bringing Dharma to Environmentalism August 5, 2009
Posted by Philip Ryan in : Environment, Thich Nhat Hanh , 2 commentsDavid Rome writes on tricycle.com:
What does it mean to be “green” and “Buddhist?” The Green Buddha is traditionally the Laughing Buddha, bringer of prosperity and mirth. His iconic image can be found everywhere from curio shelves to a 1950s film about art theft. But in this age of environmental loss and degradation, “green” and “Buddhist” together should come to mean something new, something about the imperative to face the loss and work to protect the future. The connection between environmental activism and Buddhist practice exists, though it is not always easy to draw.
Read the entire piece here.
Clark Strand on calling the the Earth to witness August 3, 2009
Posted by Philip Ryan in : Buddha, Environment , 2 commentsOr was the Earth calling the Buddha to witness?:
A legend about the Buddha’s enlightenment has profound implications for Green Meditation. According to tradition, on the night of Shakyamuni’s awakening, as he sat in deep meditation under the bodhi tree, the tempter Mara assailed him with numerous threats and distractions, including vast armies of demons and seductive dancing girls. When these failed to unseat the aspiring Buddha, as a last ditch effort Mara challenged his right to sit upon “the throne of enlightenment.”
“Who bears witness to your attainment of Buddhahood?” demanded Mara.
In answer, Shakyamuni is said to have reached the fingers of his right hand down to touch the ground. “I call the Earth as my witness,” he declared.
Read the whole thing here. It goes into revealed and concealed truths of religions. Strand’s project these days seems to be peeling back the layers of religion and finding whatever it is underneath—the Earth.
Making our way through a sea of green July 30, 2009
Posted by Rachel Hiles in : Environment, Health, Mindfulness, Tricycle , 1 comment so far
In my continuing quest to bring mindfulness to all that I consume, I’ve met more than a few roadblocks. As Organic! Green! and Eco-friendly! labels scream at me from the aisles of my grocery store the process has become increasingly exasperating. Further confusing me, the “Healthy Living” section of my local supermarket recently renovated their floors, replacing linoleum with polished wood to simulate the feel of an organic health food store. Detergents, toothpastes, fruits, and even potato chips now come in green packaging with grassy knolls, woodland creatures, and falling leaves decorating their labels. It all adds to my mounting confusion. Who and what can I trust?
In the Summer 09 issue of Tricycle Daniel Goleman’s article “How Green is Green?” explores how labeling products “green” has become more about clever branding than environmental consciousness. We’ve been conditioned to leap at green labels without giving much consideration to what “green” really means. Thankfully, the situation is not hopeless. Goleman suggests we use resources like The Green Guide, a website that rates everything from sunscreens to beers, based on a number of environmentally friendly criteria. You can even search for the brands you currently buy and read about its rating. I was thrilled to discover that my sunscreen is very highly rated—and not so thrilled to see that my shampoo flunked.
So I’ve found, although it can appear incredibly daunting, that given the proper tools it does seem possible to bring mindfulness to consumerism in this ever maddening sea of green.
Do people out there have suggestions for tools that might help navigate through “green” consumerism as my quest continues?