This course examines the growing movement within the Buddhist community to address the issue of environmental degradation and climate change through the avenues of Buddhist ethics, theological discourse, and community activism. We will begin by considering how the natural world is framed in early Buddhist sources, in the nature poetry of Japanese zen priests and in the songs of Tibetan mountain yogis. The course will then consider the work of early pioneers of the Green Buddhism movement, such as Gary Snyder and Joanna Macy, who broach the idea that Buddhist ethics should include a sacred covenant with the wild, which plays out as moral action. The course will devote one week to climate science and considering the moral implications of living in the Anthropocene, the age when human actions are drastically changing ecosystems, and even altering the integrity of the planet’s atmosphere. We will then proceed to look at the impact of our planet’s peril on the human psyche and spiritual well-being, as well as how these facts have inspired Buddhist communities into action and new ways of articulating the dharma. The course will wrap up with an experiment with “no-impact” living in which students will be assigned the project—with plenty of guidance—of living one week with no negative impact on the earth.
In addition to class engagement with the readings, students will have live discussions with some of the authors, including Zen teacher David Loy, environmental ethicist Kathleen Dean Moore, activist Colin Beaven and others. Students will develop a mindfulness practice inspired by the natural world over the course of the semester, with guidance from the instructor as well as Mark Coleman’s book Awake in the Wild. The class will also include a reflection blog online that students will contribute to on a weekly basis, and will host several prominent guest authors and speakers (see below).
Books to be Purchased
These books are available at the Harvard Coop, but a more eco-friendly (and sometimes cheaper) way is to purchase used books on Amazon.
Awake in the Wild, by Mark Coleman
The Practice of the Wild, by Gary Snyder
World as Lover, World as Self, by Joanna Macy
Buddhism and Ecology, Edited by Mary Evelyn Tucker and Duncan Ryuken Williams
Minding the Earth, Mending the World, by Susan Murphy
No Impact Man, by Colin Beavan
Mindfully Green, by Stephanie Kaza
A Buddhist Response to the Climate Emergency, Edited by John Stanley and David Loy
The following book must be purchased up at Gnomon Copy:
The Green Buddhism Reader for HDS 3016
Semester Topics and Readings
Lesson 1: Introduction to the Course-Overview of the course and syllabus, introduction to mindfulness meditation; Bring to class Awake in the Wild and Green Buddhism Reader
Lesson 2: Attitudes Towards Nature in Buddhist Textual Sources-Early Buddhism, Zen Poetry and Tibetan Mountain Songs; Meditation Practice: Mindfulness of Breath
Lesson 3: Early Pioneers of Green Dharma: Gary Snyder and Joanna Macy; World as Lover, World as Self, Part I and Part II; The Practice of the Wild, p. 3-103; Buddhism and Ecology, 187-217, ***327-376***; Awake in the Wild, xiii-8; Meditation Practice: Mindfulness of Breath; Begin Reflection Journal: Reflections on meditation practice and experiences in the natural world (kept one month, until March 10); Class Guest (via Skype): Joanna Macy
Lesson 4: Early Pioneers of Green Dharma: Joanna Macy and Gary Snyder; World as Lover, World as Self, Part III and IV; The Practice of the Wild, p. 104-198; Green Reader, piece by Lily de Silva; Awake in the Wild, 9-14; Meditation Practice: Loving Kindness
Lesson 5: The Truth We Face: The Age of the Anthropocene; Green Reader: pieces by Tissa Kumara, AAAS Climate Science Panel, Mark Lynas, Bill McKibben, Gretel Erhlich; Awake in the Wild, 21-24; Meditation: Dissolving into the Sky; Class Guest (live): Daniel Schrag, Director of the Harvard University Center for the Environment
Lesson 6: Coping with Grief and Denial; Green Reader: piece by Shabkar, selections from Moral Ground, Carolyn Baker, Kingsnorth and Hine, Daniel Smith, Kathleen Dean Moore; Awake in the Wild, 30-33; Meditation: Space Itself; Class Guest (via Skype): Kathleen Dean Moore, Writer and Environmental Ethicist
Lesson 7: The Growth of Ecological Consciousness: Asia; Buddhism and Ecology, 21-68; A Buddhist Response to the Climate Emergency, 77-153; Awake in the Wild, 46-50; Meditation: Nature Meditation Indoors; Green Reader, piece by Milarepa
Lesson 8: Recent Ecological Trends in Buddhist America; Buddhism and Ecology, 219-265; A Buddhist Response to the Climate Emergency, 156-171; Awake in the Wild, 74-78; Meditation: Remembering our Place; Green Reader, piece by Saigyo; Class Guest (via Skype): Bhikkhu Bodhi, author of “The Voice of the Golden Goose”
Lesson 9: Buddhadharma as Inspiration for Activism; Minding the Earth, Mending the World; Awake in the Wild, 83-86; Meditation: Right Action; Attend lecture by David Loy, Zen Teacher and Editor of A Buddhist Response to the Climate Emergency; Green Reader, piece by Basho
Lesson 10: The Power and Perils of the Interior Realm; Mindfully Green; Buddhism and Ecology,165-175; Awake in the Wild, 34-39; Meditation: Favorite Place
Lesson 11: The Path of Individual Action; No Impact Man; Awake in the Wild, 128-133; Paying Bare Attention; Guest speaker (via Skype): Colin Beavan, Environmental Activist and Author of No Impact Man; Begin No-Impact Week
Lesson 12: Theoretical Issues and Problems in Green Buddhism; Buddhism and Ecology, 375-402; Green Reader: Ian Angus; Awake in the Wild, 119-127; Meditation: Understanding the Self; Class guest (via Skype): Mark Coleman, Buddhist Teacher and Author of Awake in the Wild
Lesson 13: Leadership and Collective Empowerment; Green Reader: Susanne Moser, Joanna Macy; A Buddhist Response to the Climate Emergency, 225-268; Awake in the Wild, 229-235; Meditation: Contemplating Mystery
Lesson 14: Final Paper Due
For the Final Paper, choose one of the following topics:
1. Discuss your experience with living “no impact” for one week. What was difficult and why? What did you learn about your spiritual practice? About sustainability in our world? Can living sustainably be a spiritual practice? How? Does this inspire you to live differently? Why or why not?
2. Pick one environmental writer that we have read this semester (such as Gretel Erlich), or one who is referred to in the resource links (such as Naomi Klein). Do an overview of this writer’s work (listing all their works), and discuss their theoretical approach to ecology, dharma and/or spirituality. What are the main points of this person’s work, and how do you find this approach useful or inspiring?
3. Given what you know now, what obligation (if any) do you think religious leaders have to address climate change and related issues? How can religious leaders uplift or inspire their communities to engage with our contemporary environmental challenges?
4. Pick an ancient Buddhist text, and do an in-depth scriptural analysis of its attitudes towards nature. How does nature serve as a support for meditation? For an ethical life? If this author were alive today, what would he think of the current situation of the planet?
This syllabus pertains to when the course was offered in 2015