Buddhist leaders: sign to raise awareness of the psychological, spiritual, and moral effects of climate change

by Justin Whitaker, Patheos, March 2, 2015

Salem, Oregon (USA) -- International Transformational Resilience CoalitionThe Resource Innovation Group (TRIG), a non-profit organization affiliated with the Sustainability Institute at Willamette University, has asked faith leaders to join a “Call to Action for U.S. and World Leaders to Proactively Address the Adverse Psychological and Social Impacts of Climate Disruption.”

Actions have Consequences - Buddhists march for climate change awareness  >>

According to their website, “TRIG’s mission is to address the human causes, impacts, and solutions to complex socio-economic-ecological challenges, with a special emphasis on climate change. By a decision of the TRIG Board of Directors in 2013, TRIG has decided to focus primarily on building psychosocial resilience for climate change-enhanced traumas and stresses within individuals, organizations, communities, and society.”

The call to action, which must be signed by Friday, March 13, states in part:

We the undersigned representatives from the mental and physical health, human services, emergency management, climate change, faith, racial justice, civil rights, and youth communities of the world recognize that climate change is a real, dangerous, and rapidly worsening crisis that is already producing, and will increasingly generate, significant physical, economic, and ecological harm.

Equally important, but often unnoticed, is that climate change creates very serious psychological, emotional, spiritual, religious, moral and social impacts worldwide. Left unaddressed, the mounting psychosocial maladies will diminish the health and wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities everywhere. They are also likely to thwart efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, prepare for climate impacts, and reduce climate change to manageable levels. We therefore call on public, non-profit, private, and civic leaders in the U.S. and around the world to quickly recognize the very serious risks posed by climate disruption to the psychosocial health and wellbeing of humanity.

There will never be sufficient resources available to treat all of the people impacted by the growing number of these events. The only way to prevent significant psychosocial consequences is to prepare people in advance by teaching resilience skills.

Equally important, but less obvious, is that climate change generates a wide range of chronic toxic stresses. Research has found, for example, that hotter temperatures precipitate increased aggression. Climate-enhanced illnesses and diseases as well as economic disruptions and job losses often trigger anger, depression, and hopelessness. Moral distress, helplessness, and despair will continually rise as people grapple with the physical damage, spiritual, and existential implications of the crisis….

Buddhist leaders and others associated with Buddhist organizations and institutions who have already signed include:

  • Donald Rothberg, Teacher, Spirit Rock Center
  • Martin Aylward, Director, The Mindfulness Institute
  • Taigen Dan Leighton, Rev., Ancient Dragon Zen Gate, Chicago
  • Gregory Kramer, President, Guiding Teacher, Metta Foundation
  • John McIlwain Program Director, Climate, Mind, and Behavior, Garrison Institute
  • Tina Fields, Assoc.Prof and Chair, MA in Transpersonal Ecopsychology, Naropa University
  • Adam Delp, Student, Naropa University
  • Joanna Macy, Activist, Teacher, Author, Joanna Macy Intensives
  • Virginia D Clarkson, Dharma Leader of Insight Meditation Houston, Insight Meditation Houston
  • Erin Taylor, Insight Meditation Teacher, Original Nature Insight Meditation Wellington New Zealand
  • Kristin Barker, Co-founder, One Earth Sangha
  • Bhikkhu Bodhi, President, Buddhist Association of the United States
  • Noah Levine, Buddhist Teacher, Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society
  • Elizabeth Rice, Teacher, InsightLA
  • Justin Whitaker, Writer/Educator, American Buddhist Perspectives
  • Peter Fernando, Buddhist Meditation Teacher, Original Nature Insight Meditation
  • Jo-ann Rosen, Psychotherapist and Spiritual leader, Tiep Hien Order of Unified Buddhist Church
  • Leslie Tremaine, meditation teacher, Insight Santa Cruz
  • Susan Orr, Community Dharma Leader, Sacramento Climate Sangha
  • Phonchai Phacharin-tanakun, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Mahamakut Buddhist University
  • Arinna Weisman, BUDDHIST LEADER/MINISTER, LOTUS SISTERS
  • John Bell, Dharma Teacher Plum Village, Tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh
  • Moh Hardin, Acharya, Shambhala International
  • Cynde Grieve, Sangyum, Shambhala
  • Birgitte Moyer-Vinding, ordained lay member of the Order of Interbeing, Unified Buddhist Church
  • Betsy Ponf Shastri, Psychotherapist, Shambhala
  • David Ostwald, facilitator, Flowing Waters Sangha
  • Beverly Alexander, Community Leader, Order of Interbeing
  • Peter Kuhn, Ordained Buddhist Lay Priest, Order of Interbeing, Plum Village Sangha
  • Willa B. Miller, Spiritual Director Natural, Dharma Fellowship
  • Cheryl Wilfong, Insight Meditation teacher, Vermont Insight Meditation Center

Access the full letter and signatories here: http://www.theresourceinnovationgroup.org/itrc-call-to-action

Sign on to the letter here
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/17Jbb936UUr4ZT-Ob9ozDR5z_dDCxq57-yf15fnyLLrU/viewform?usp=send_form

We Need Your Help to Train the
Buddhist AI Chat Bot
NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)



For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.


Dear Friends in the Dharma,

We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.

Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:

One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.

How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.



For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.

Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.

Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.

Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.

Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.

Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!

May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,

With deepest gratitude,

Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team


Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau

We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv


TOP