By Jikyo Bonnie Shoultz Sensei
Are you concerned about the climate crisis and want to explore ways in which you can address it close to home? Would you enjoy working with other Sangha members on a tangible project that embodies Engaged Buddhism?
The ZSS Engaged Buddhism Committee has been exploring ways for Sangha members to connect meaningfully beyond our Zoom meetings. The objective is to create a sustained initiative that benefits our community, the Engaged Buddhism mission, and ZSS at large. However, with members living across the country, finding a suitable in-person activity has proven challenging…and this is where you come in!
We invite you to join the Eco Workshop Planning Group, which will meet monthly on Zoom to plan an exciting Eco Workshop Weekend at Dai Bosatsu Zendo. During this in-person workshop, participants will explore the monastery’s natural and structural environment, and learn about the stewardship solutions that have been implemented. Participants will also be able to collaborate on specific environmental sustainability projects at the monastery.
While the first Eco Workshop Weekend will focus on projects that will directly benefit Dai Bosatsu Zendo, we warmly invite planning members with a diverse range of ecological and climate interests or expertise—such as sustainable urban planning—to share their ideas as well. We are open to all insights that can enrich our discussions.
The inaugural Eco Workshop Weekend will be scheduled for Summer 2025. We envision a small gathering which will initially consist mostly of planning group members. Building on the insights and experiences from this first workshop, we aim to expand and launch a larger event in 2026. While the planning group will ultimately shape the details of the weekend, below are some of the activities we anticipate will be included:
- Zazen
- Workshops by Keirin Brian Smith, Kanchi Lucia Oliva Hennelly, and others who can provide specific insights into DBZ and offer in-depth teachings on the environmental issues faced at the monastery.
- Work on projects that will be identified and agreed upon with DBZ administration
We’d love to have you join the planning group. Once the group is established, we’ll set a time for our monthly Zoom meetings and discuss how our Buddhist vows can guide our collaborative efforts on this project. If interested, please contact us at engaged@zenstudies.org.
