Practice to Action

Earth Activism and Empowerment for Dharma Practitioners

This program has now concluded. Please visit One Earth Sangha’s homepage or Tim Ream’s website to explore other EcoDharma offerings.

The litany of threats to Life on Earth are well-known by all who care to see. Yet the overwhelming nature of what we face often leads to paralysis instead of action. It is hard to know where to start or what to do – and hard to believe that one person’s actions even matter. Still, the dharma teaches us that every action, word, and even thought has consequences. There is no way to separate our life energy from the suffering of the world.

This course, led by Earth activist and Zen practitioner Tim Ream, will take you through a five-step model for activism grounded in care, community, and empowerment. You’ll be given a chance to refine the issue or issues that motivate you to act, draw inspiration from those already making a difference, learn a wide set of very practical skills for transforming your concern for beings into effective action, and find specific opportunities to employ your new-found skills.

Dates

The six-week course ran from March 5 to April 18, 2024 with live sessions supporting different time zones.

  • Regular sessions: Weekly Tuesdays (Mar 5, 12, 19; Apr 2, 9, 16)*
    • Time: 4pm US Pacific Time / 7pm US Eastern Time
    • Duration: 1 hour and 45 minutes
    • Recorded? Yes

Recordings of the regular Tuesday sessions will be made available the following day and will remain available for three months after the program ends. For participants who miss a session, are in time zones where live participation in the regular sessions above would be difficult, or simply wish to spend more time in conversation with other participants, additional weekly discussion periods will be available if there is sufficient interest.

  • Alternate/Supplemental discussion sessions: Weekly Thursdays (Mar 7, 14, 21; Apr 4, 11, 18)*
    • Time: 10am US Pacific Time / 1pm US Eastern Time
    • Duration: 45 minutes
    • Recorded? No

*There is a break during the week of March 25.

Who is this for?

The course is designed for folks with a mindfulness or Dharma practice, but no specific knowledge of Buddhism is necessary to participate. The same is true for activist skills or experience. The only real prerequisites are a love of Earth and a desire for change.

Course Leader

Tim Ream

Tim Ream is a long-time Earth activist and Soto Zen practitioner. He received lay ordination from Tenshin Reb Anderson in 1994 and has engaged since in repeated, intensive residential practice, mostly at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center and Green Gulch Farm. Tim is an organizer, campaigner, writer, and environmental attorney. His activism ranges from direct action and civil disobedience like tree-sitting and road blockading to successful lawsuits to protect wolves and other species. He is the author of Fallen Water: A novel of Zen and Earth.

Questions?

We are happy to answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to reach out to us at