“We have created a society in which the rich become richer and the poor become poorer, and in which we are so caught up in our own immediate problems that we cannot afford to be aware of what is going on with the rest of the human family or our planet Earth. In my mind I see a group of chickens in a cage disputing over a few seeds of grain, unaware that in a few hours they will all be killed.”
― Thích Nhất Hạnh
The World We Have: A Buddhist Approach to Peace and Ecology
Dear Mother Earth, Dear People Animals, Plants and Minerals, we know that our lives are interwoven and that your happiness and suffering is our happiness and suffering.
In this coming mindfulness retreat we will have an opportunity to return to ourselves in the present moment, cultivating our capacity of joy, deepening our capacity to embrace and transform suffering, coming together as a community of caring people to grow in our energy and skillful means as we engage the great perils of our time.
This retreat is not only for environmentalists or activists, but for everyone with love and care for the Earth, all who aspire to nurture and deepen our connection with the Earth, everyone who wants to learn about and embrace the suffering caused by Climate Injustice, all who want to be a participant in reducing our collective contribution to Climate Change, who want to contribute to a collective awakening in society in order to reduce suffering.
We want this retreat to have a diverse participation and have a scholarship fund available to empower especially People of Color and young adults (under 35 yrs) to participate.
Our Teacher of Plum Village, Thích Nhất Hạnh’s books The World We Have, Love Letter to Mother Earth and Good Citizens, inspire this retreat and are helpful pre-reading. Plum Village teachings and practices will be offered by monastics of Deer Park Monastery. Order of Interbeing and Earth Holder Sangha members also participate in the organization and contribution to this retreat.
If you would like more information about this retreat or would like to share information about this retreat, here are some resources:
