Earth Holder Sangha
We Are Not Separate from the Earth
“We think that the earth is the earth and we are something outside of the earth. But in fact, we are inside of the earth. Imagine that the earth is the tree and we are a leaf. The earth is not the environment, something outside of us that we need to care for. The earth is us. Just as your parents, ancestors, and teachers are inside you, the earth is in you. Taking care of the earth, we take care of ourselves.” Thich Nhat Hanh
Thay further calls us to awaken to the endangerment of the Earth in Moving Beyond the Idea of Environment in this interview with Jo Confino, executive editor of The Guardian.
Earth Holder Sangha
Rooted in the Plum Village Tradition, practitioners around the world are building a community of care for this precious planet we inhabit.
The Earth Holder Sangha applies mindfulness and the guidance of the Five and Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings to help ourselves, other individuals and Sanghas to care for our Earth and all beings, to preserve our precious planet by not contributing to global climate change and environmental destruction, to promote sustainability, and to address societal impacts locally, nationally and internationally.
Specifically, Earth Holder Sangha is
Building a community of Plum Village Earth Holders
Engaging in Mindful Right Action
Nurturing sustainable communities of interbeing—monasteries, lay practice centers and local Sanghas
Learn—Practice—Act
Learn more about Earth Holders, incorporate Earth-holding in your practice and act in meaningful ways with others who care for our planet.
Sign up for our newsletter, visit our blog, create an action agenda at www.EarthHolderSangha.org
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And on Twitter.com/EarthHolderPV
Some practical actions you can take today to help care for our beautiful Earth.
Touch the Earth. We can walk barefoot, connecting directly and deeply with Mother Earth and our land ancestors, walking along a forest path, on the beach, or even in our own back yard.
Review and Renew our Earth Peace Treaty Commitment Sheet. We can add one new action, or recommit to those we have already begun.
Eat mindfully and compassionately, adopting a Plant-Based diet. "Lay communities should be courageous and give rise to the commitment to be vegetarian, at least 15 days each month. If we can do that, we will feel a sense of well-being. We will have peace, joy, and happiness right from the moment we make this vow and commitment." Letters from Thay/ Sitting In the Autumn Breeze October 8, 2014.
Declare a weekly "No Car Day". And perhaps add No Electronics to it as well. A great start in honoring a personal Day of Mindfulness.
Speak Out courageously. Contact our national and local government officials to call for policies that protect our beautiful planet and offer a just transition to a new and healthier economy for all people. " We will do our best to speak out about situations of injustice, even when doing so may cause difficulties for us or threaten our safety." The Eighth Mindfulness Training.