“If we don’t know how to stop our over-consumption, then the death of our civilization will surely come more quickly. We can slow this process by stopping and being mindful, but the only way to do this is to accept the eventual death of this civilization, just as we accept the death of our own physical form. Acceptance is made possible when we know that deep down our true nature is the nature of no-birth and no-death”
“Above all, Buddhism is based on the recognition of interdependence, the spiritual truth that biologists have also elucidated through the scientific disciplines of ecology, evolution, and molecular genetics. And whether we like it or not, we have entered the century of the environment. In this century, Buddhism has a special destiny. There has never been a more important time in history to bring all the resources of Buddhism together, on behalf of all sentient beings. There has never been a time when transportation and communication systems make this as possible as they do now. Buddhist spiritual power could create examples of change that influence the whole world.”
“Many people suffer deeply and they try to cover up the suffering by being busy. The practice of mindfulness helps us to touch Mother Earth inside of the body and this practice can help heal people. The healing of the people should go together with the healing of the Earth … In Buddhism we talk of meditation as an act of awakening, to be awake to the fact that the Earth is in danger and living species are in danger.”
catching the bull 