Highlights
All of the anxiety and the depression and the dread and the anger and the precarity accompanying environmental and social losses, the direct and indirect impacts of the climate crisis on humans and non-humans, the challenges of living a life as usual in the midst of such loss and danger. Chaplains offer spiritual nourishment in these times and opportunities to be deeply listened to and be reminded of our belonging, of our relationship with nature.
More recently, these amazing studies have come out that show that the simple act of having a space to share the challenges, the feelings of loss, grief, fear, and anger, without any sort of agenda around it, that this simple act creates and enhances a sense of capacity and engagement in the world. Actually just simply being listened to in community or even one-on-one mobilizes people and can give a sense of empowerment. It’s so beautiful.
So I invite you, if closing the eyes helps you to listen, close the eyes for a moment. And if it helps to place a hand somewhere on the body, on your heart or your lower belly, giving your body some felt contact, some support to ask this Earth body — and keep repeating that, this Earth body — where does it hurt?
The full transcript can be found here.
The application period is now open for the 2024-2026 Buddhist Eco-Chaplaincy program. More information can be found here.
