Buddhism and environmental responsibility form EcoSangha
Part of a series of ongoing contributions from the Lethbridge Interfaith Network
Every meeting of the Lethbridge Interfaith Network, we participate in some group discussion about some topic of mutual interest. This past month, we discussed how our faith informs our beliefs and practices regarding changes happening in the climate. Our attention was collectively drawn to the Buddhist Temple and their inspiring response in creating an “EcoSangha” here in our community. We applaud their exemplary actions and the foundational beliefs from whence they spring. To this end, we asked them to share their journey with the greater community and present it to you as fodder for your own ideas in anticipation of Earth Day, April 22, 2021.
The Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta (BTSA) dates back to 2007. Eight churches that have been in southern Alberta for over 100 years joined to form the BTSA. The congregation or the temple is called the Sangha.
Buddhism is all about selfreflection and to be responsible for our actions. Combine climate change with Buddhism and the natural result is EcoSangha. This is what we are trying at the BTSA. Our Mother Earth is suffering because of our actions. Making our Sangha an EcoSangha is how we are trying to ease Mother Earth’s suffering.
Rev. Castro of Seattle came up with the concept. “To be a Buddhist is to be both an ecologist and a conservationist. Ecology is science and Buddhism goes beyond science. Based on the Four Noble Truths, Buddhists are working for a cure. This is why Buddhists are both ecologists and conservationists.”
The Four Noble Truths are (1) suffering, a characteristic of existence; (2) suffering is caused by craving desires; (3) suffering ends when we let go of the craving; and (4) the Eightfold Path is how to end the craving desires: right views, right thoughts, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right meditation.
The logo with the Buddha touching the Earth is a symbol of our ecological and conservation-oriented religion. Here is what the BTSA has done in our journey to be an EcoSangha. We had solar panels installed to be net-neutral for electricity, put in LED light standards and soffit LED lamps as the present ones burn out, stopped using single-use plastics, and we supply water for visitors to fill their own water bottles or use washable glasses. We are trying to be mindful of ways to reduce, re-think, re-use and recycle.
Gratitude to the BTSA members and Board for taking a giant leap into the unknown. The EcoSangha tells us we must be mindful that we are part of Mother Earth and our actions must help sustain our environment.
The BTSA temple has been locked down for most of 2020. We will generate enough income from sending power to the grid to greatly reduce our overall utility bill.
The next step in the EcoSangha journey is to recruit more members to guide the direction and spread the word that we can all make a difference. The BTSA can also share our EcoSangha experiences with other churches and temples locally, nationally and internationally.
Submitted by David Major for the Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta
https://www.thebtsa.com or on Facebook https://www.facebook. com/BuddhistTempleOfSouthernAlberta
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