Bhikkhu Analayo on Climate Change (Talk by James Baraz)

[mikenz66]

I came across this talk this week:

James Baraz: 2019-05-02 Internally & Externally - Holding It All 61:49
https://dharmaseed.org/teacher/86/talk/56273/

On the recent retreat James sat with Ven. Analayo, the monastic started out the last day’s teaching saying: “This morning I want to talk about climate change. Though some say this is not an appropriate topic for the Dharma Hall, in my view and in light of the crisis we are facing, there is no more appropriate or necessary topic.” We explore how Dharma principles can help each of us individually hold this unsettling situation as well as why they are the key to us waking up as a species.

James quotes Bhikkhu Analayo’s analysis of different reactions to the climate issue in terms of the three defilements: greed, hatred, and delusion, and shows how these attitudes can be transformed to a more positive approach.

[paul1]

All society’s actions are preceded by mind states and greed is behind the environmental crisis. Hatred is also evident in recurring small scale wars. So although it may take centuries, the answer to climate change can only be found in a change in societal thinking. There is a global aspect to Theravada practice where the practitioner is working at the forefront of thought change:

“1. Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with an impure mind a person speaks or acts suffering follows him like the wheel that follows the foot of the ox.

2. Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are all mind-wrought. If with a pure mind a person speaks or acts happiness follows him like his never-departing shadow.”—Dhammapada 1

[sujato]

Thanks for sharing this, and I am happy to see Ven Analayo taking up this issue.

[dhammadharo]

@mikenz66 I’ll definitely listen to it. Thanks. Looks interesting.

[UpasakaMichael]

Thanks for this, @mikenz66. I listened on a drive this morning. Would be great if Ven. Analyo produced a video talk on this subject, but as was pointed out, he seems to refrain from recorded talks. Plus, he is apparently coming out with a new mindfulness book soon…Amazon.com: Mindfulness of Breathing: A Practice Guide and Translations (9781911407447): Analayo: Books

[mikenz66]

Yes, well he does have some one-off talks on dharmaseed, audiodharma, and a few other places, including some guided meditations.

Additionally, there are the comparative-study courses that he ran from Hamburg, and the current Nibbana Sermon course, now in it’s third and final year.
https://www.buddhistinquiry.org/resources/bhikkhu-analayo-lectures/

The comparative courses are mentioned at the bottom of this page:
https://www.buddhismuskunde.uni-hamburg.de/en/projekte/elearning.html
but I had to search for the actual lectures:
https://lecture2go.uni-hamburg.de/l2go/-/get/v/12273

[UpasakaMichael]

Thanks, Mike for taking the time to set this out for me (and the rest of us…). It’s great to have it. Have a great weekend.

M

[dhammadharo]

I listened to it. I just wonder if there’s a risk in discussing politics in this way. I understand how it might connect to dhamma. I’m just not sure about the approach. It could be a good approach, just not sure.

[mikenz66]

Hi @dhammadharo

@dhammadharo

I just wonder if there’s a risk in discussing politics in this way. I understand how it might connect to dhamma. I’m just not sure about the approach. It could be a good approach, just not sure.

Could you elaborate on what you see as problematic (or useful) about the approach? Do you mean the analysis or the suggestion for attitude to practice?

[UpasakaMichael]

The Loka Initiative - Center for Healthy Minds

[Aminah]

A very inspiring interview with Ven. Analayo on this issue can be viewed in the video given here starting at 1:08:45: https://www.spiritrock.org/james-baraz