Buddhist Activists

May is coming to an end and I am wondering where on earth the year has gone. I know that time passes more quickly as you get older and I am definitely old but, even so! We are having a heatwave and, while it is lovely and I rejoice in sitting in the park or on my balcony, sadly it is almost certainly a sign of imbalance in the atmosphere. We are heading for even warmer climes and there is the threat of El Niño striking later in the year. Not only El Niño but a Super El Niño alongside La Niña (the rapid cooling period which meets the heating period) is threatening to bring temperatures up to over 40 degrees C in parts of the UK in 2027. 

The thing that fascinates me (as well as scaring the living daylights out of me) is how interconnected everything is. El Niño starts because of rises in the ocean temperatures in the Tropical Pacific Ocean and yet affects temperatures across the globe, even here in Glasgow. Not only temperature but agriculture and global food stocks are affected. There will almost certainly be drought in some parts and floods in others and it is highly likely there will be wildfires. Hotter summers and colder winters lead to all sorts of adverse conditions. According to the BBC meteorological website 

"You've got more people that are living in poverty already and if you get a reduction in crop yields because of drought or flooding [from El Niño] then that drives prices even higher.

"So we're looking at potentially quite huge humanitarian impacts this year, especially if the crisis in the Middle East continues,”

I say all this not to stop our enjoyment of the sunny weather but to bring home the deep interconnectedness of all our actions because that warming of the ocean is directly and indirectly affected by our purchases, our behaviour, our decisions. Do I fly or take a train? Do I buy things wrapped in plastic or not? Do we as a sangha make decisions that impact adversely or beneficially? All of these questions seem very relevant and even crucial as we move towards inhabiting our new centre. It is why we want to ensure that we are as energy efficient as possible. Do we buy towels, use recycled paper towels or get an energy efficient but possibly noisy hand dryer for the toilets? 

So many questions - how can we be a community that is at the heart of a new society? How can we tackle the social questions that are having such an impact on our world? Can we be Buddhist Activists? Can we be dharma practitioners whose actions influence the world around us? Personally, while not everyone in the sangha may feel the need to see their practice in that light, I do. This is why I am keen that we explore what it means, 50 years on from the original talks, to suggest that Buddhism has something to offer the world - today and tomorrow. We are continuing to explore these talks at Mandala night and, from June 2nd, we will move on to the next theme: The Nucleus of a New Society. 

We used to have a Social Action Kula and I am keen that we do that once again when we have moved. For the time being, our energy is engaged on getting us into Woodside Crescent but, once there, I hope to revisit how to be a Buddhist Activist. If anyone is interested in this theme, for now they could sign up for an online event hosted by thebuddhistcentre.com with the same title. It takes place the last weekend in June.  It’s organised by the Triratna Earth Sangha and looks really interesting. I was invited to participate but, this year, I am too busy to do it justice so declined. Here’s the link for information and booking.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-be-a-buddhist-activist-tickets-1987655959481?aff=TeachersChannel

There are, of course, any number of issues that a Social Action Kula could address, not just the climate crisis but that is urgent. I know that some people believe that things have already gone too far and there is no going back. There is an inevitability to the destruction of the planet. I don’t know but, even if that is true, I believe that we still need to act to alleviate suffering in the present and the future. Perhaps the nature of the dialogue changes but we need to have the dialogue - and have it from a Dharmic perspective. To do that, I believe we have to start by having conversations about how we can be a truly transformative community and therefore be a true force for good in the world. How can we be a Nucleus of a New Society? 

Oh, and in case you are wondering why el Niño is so called - it comes from the Spanish for The Boy - in other words Jesus Christ. And the reason it’s named for Christ is because the effects are most noticeable in the South Pacific around Christmas. It was originally named El Niño de Navidad (the boy child of Christmas) by a Peruvian sea captain. There you go, a mine of information!

So, enjoy the warmth, stay hydrated and make good choices in your life.

Meanwhile, as ever:

May all beings be well, may all beings find true happiness and its causes and may all beings be free from suffering.

Where the Bodhichitta has not yet arisen

May it arise

Where it has arisen

May it flourish

Where it flourishes

May it never die