- Academic Research
- Ancient and Enduring Spiritual Traditions
Chaplaining Spiritual Community: Ecodharma in the Anthropocene
by Liz Reynolds
A thesis submitted for graduation from the chaplaincy training program at Upaya Zen Center – Santa Fe, NM, USA
Abstract
As climate catastrophe becomes less theoretical and more the reality of our lived experience, there is a growing need for spiritual support and stewardship as the human species continues to earnestly engage with the difficulty and destruction facing Mother Nature and all sentient beings. This paper explores the growing role of eco-chaplaincy within Buddhist spiritual communities, and by extension the necessity of addressing climate catastrophe as the spiritual emergency that it is. As an increased number of Sanghas are focusing on ecodharma initiatives, nature-based wisdom teachings and ecological advocacy, what kinds of shifts are taking shape within American Buddhism as a result? With Buddhist teachings as frameworks, how can the lessons moving through American Dharma communities reverberate and ripple out into our wider communities as the need for restructuring society at every level becomes more critical?