Compassion for the Earth: Environmental Protection
Buddhism emphasizes the impact our individual actions have on our lives and the world around us. It follows from this perspective of interconnectedness that
caring for the natural world begins with each of us. Consuming fewer natural resources and acting out of compassion for the earth does not have to
diminish the quality of our lives and can increase it. We can choose to see reducing our carbon footprint not as an act of deprivation,
but as an opportunity to gain the spiritual benefits of a simpler lifestyle. When we make these changes as part of a spiritual practice, they support our spiritual growth,
contributing to the well-being of all of life and bringing joy and meaning to our actions.
Here are a few simple ideas to help you make a difference.
Contact Your Policy Makers
We provide links and apps for contacting local, state and federal officials here.
Save Energy
Visit the
EnergySaver page on Energy.Gov for many ideas on saving energy in your daily life, including resources on incentives and financing.
For actions and information, visit
Interfaith Power and Light: The mission of Interfaith Power & Light is to be faithful stewards of Creation by responding to
global warming through the promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.
Shop With the Earth and Ocean in Mind
Before buying seafood, use the Monterey Bay Aquarium's app
Seafood Watch to help you make a sustainable choice.
Visit the websites of the local environmental organizations on our Allies page
here.
Olympia Indivisible has an extensive list of Allies on
here.
Matthieu Ricard: How to let altruism be your guide
What is altruism? Put simply, it's the wish that other people may be happy. And, says Matthieu Ricard, a happiness researcher and a Buddhist monk, altruism is also a great lens for making decisions, both for the short and long term, in work and in life.
One Million Voices: Taking A Stand Against Fossil Fuels
Watch a short video of the ways the Pacific Northwest is standing up to coal and oil and saying no, we can do better!
Take action today.
Reading Nook
Verse 1
Right now you have a good boat, fully equipped and available
-- hard to find.
To free yourself and others from the sea of samsara,
Day and night, constantly,
Study, reflect and meditate.
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo, translation by Ken McLeod
Reading Nook
Verse 2
Attraction to those close to you catches you in its currents;
Aversion to those who oppose you burns inside;
Indifference that ignores what needs to be done is a black hole.
Leave your homeland.
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo, translation by Ken McLeod
Reading Nook
Verse 3
Don't engage distractions and spiritual practice naturally grows;
Keep awareness clear and vivid and confidence in the way arises
Rely on silence.
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo, translation by Ken McLeod
Reading Nook
Verse 4
You will separate from long-time friends and relatives.
You will leave behind the wealth you worked to build up.
The guest, your consciousness, will move from the inn, your body.
Give up your life.
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo, translation by Ken McLeod
Reading Nook
Verse 5
When you keep their company your three poisons increase,
Your activities of hearing, thinking, and meditating decline,
And they make you lose your love and compassion.
Give up bad friends--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 6
When you rely on them your faults come to an end
And your good qualities grow like the waxing moon.
Cherish spiritual teachers
Even more than your own body--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 7
Bound himself in the jail of cyclic existence,
What worldly god can give you protection?
Therefore when you seek refuge, take refuge in
The Three Jewels which will not betray you--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 8
The Subduer said all the unbearable suffering
Of bad rebirths is the fruit of wrongdoing.
Therefore, even at the cost of your life,
Never do wrong--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 9
Like dew on the tip of a blade of grass, pleasures of the three worlds
Last only a while and then vanish.
Aspire to the never-changing
Supreme state of liberation--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 10
When your mothers, who've loved you since time without beginning,
Are suffering, what use is your own happiness?
Therefore to free limitless living beings
Develop the altruistic intention--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 11
All suffering comes from the wish for your own happiness.
Perfect Buddhas are born from the thought to help others.
Therefore exchange your own happiness
For the suffering of others--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 12
Even if someone out of strong desire
Steals all your wealth or has it stolen,
Dedicate to him your body, possessions
And your virtue, past, present and future--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 13
Even if someone tries to cut off your head
When you haven't done the slightest thing wrong,
Out of compassion take all her misdeeds
Upon yourself--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 14
Even if someone broadcasts all kinds of unpleasant remarks
About you throughout the three thousand worlds,
In return, with a loving mind,
Speak of his good qualities--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 15
Though someone may deride and speak bad words
About you in a public gathering,
Looking on her as a spiritual teacher,
Bow to her with respect--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 16
Even if a person for whom you're cared
Like your own child regards you as an enemy,
Cherish him specially, like a mother
Does her child who is stricken by sickness--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 17
If an equal or inferior person
Disparages you out of pride,
Place her, as you would your spiritual teacher,
With respect on the crown of your head--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 18
Though you lack what you need and are constantly disparaged,
Afflicted by dangerous sickness and spirits,
Without discouragement take on the misdeeds
And the pain of all living beings--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 19
Though you become famous and many bow to you,
And you gain riches to equal Vaishravana's,
See that worldly fortune is without essence,
And be unconceited--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 20
While the enemy of your own anger is unsubdued,
Though you conquer external foes, they will only increase.
Therefore with the militia of love and compassion
Subdue your own mind--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 21
Sensual pleasures are like saltwater:
The more you indulge, the more thirst increases.
Abandon at once those things which breed
Clinging attachment--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 22
Whatever appears is your own mind.
Your mind from the start was free from fabricated extremes.
Understanding this, do not take to mind
[Inherent] signs of subject and object--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 23
When you encounter attractive objects,
Though they seem beautiful
Like a rainbow in summer, don't regard them as real
And give up attachment--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 24
All forms of suffering are like a child's death in a dream.
Holding illusory appearances to be true makes you weary.
Therefore when you meet with disagreeable circumstances,
See them as illusory--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 25
When those who want enlightenment must give even their body,
There's no need to mention external things.
Therefore, without hope for return or any fruition
Give generously--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 26
Without ethics you can't accomplish your own well being,
So wanting to accomplish others' is laughable.
Therefore, without worldly aspirations
Safeguard your ethical discipline--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 27
To Bodhisattvas who want a wealth of virtue
Those who harm are like a precious treasure.
Therefore, towards all cultivate fortitude
Without hostility--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 28
Seeing even Hearers and Solitary Realizers, who accomplish
Only their own good, strive as if to put out a fire on their head,
For the sake of all beings make enthusiastic effort,
The source of all good qualities—
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 29
Understanding that disturbing emotions are destroyed
By special insight with calm abiding,
Cultivate concentration which surpasses
The four formless absorptions--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 30
Since the five perfections without wisdom
Cannot bring perfect enlightenment,
Along with skillful means cultivate the wisdom
Which does not conceive the three spheres [as real]--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 31
If you don't examine your own errors,
You may look like a practitioner but not act as one.
Therefore, always examining your own errors,
Rid yourself of them--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 32
If through the influence of disturbing emotions
You point out the faults of another Bodhisattva,
You yourself are diminished, so don't mention the faults
Of those who have entered the Great Vehicle--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 33
Reward and respect cause us to quarrel
And make hearing, thinking, and meditation decline.
For this reason give up attachment to
The households of friends, relations and benefactors--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 34
Harsh words disturb the minds of others
And cause deterioration in a Bodhisattva's conduct.
Therefore give up harsh words
Which are unpleasant to others--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 35
Habitual disturbing emotions are hard to stop through counteractions.
Armed with antidotes, the guards of mindfulness and mental alertness
Destroy disturbing emotions like attachment
At once, as soon as they arise--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 36
In brief, whatever you are doing,
Ask yourself “What's the state of my mind?”
With constant mindfulness and mental alertness
Accomplish others' good--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Reading Nook
Verse 37
To remove the suffering of limitless beings,
Understanding the purity of the three spheres,
Dedicate the virtue from making such effort
To enlightenment--
This is the practice of a bodhisattva.
"Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva"
by Tokme Zongpo
Caring for Our Global Environment His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking on taking daily responsibility to change our environment in response to global warming
in this short clip from an interview given to Sofia Stril-Rever in Oxford, UK on September 15, 2015.
Shared Waters, Shared Values: A Rally Against Crude Oil in Grays Harbor The Quinault Indian Nation stands up to say no to oil moving by train and tanker. Members from the Stand Up To Oil campaign stand with them to amplify the call to protected their land, air, and water.
Joan Halifax: Compassion and the true meaning of empathy Buddhist roshi Joan Halifax works with people at the last stage of life (in hospice and on death row). She shares what she's learned about compassion in the face of death and dying, and a deep insight into the nature of empathy.
Former EPA Administrator explains the importance of the Clean Power Plan Trump's plan to scrap a landmark rule to cut planet-warming emissions from power plants will likely be a drawn-out process and face a thicket of legal obstacles.