Go for it!

As a teaching, Buddhism is fundamentally about mind. “Everything is created by mind alone” states the Flower Ornament Sutra, one of the central Mahayana scriptures. On a practical and empirical level, we can easily realize that, before words or actions, there are thoughts. The thought of wanting to help others and create a better, more beautiful world is worth having, especially if we follow it up with action.

“Eco Dharma” is what we call our Buddhist endeavors related to ecology and the climate crisis within the EBU, because we are looking to minimize our impact on the climate, and engage in a positive, supportive manner, by following the Dharma, which is the teaching of the Buddha.

Buddhism is also Storytelling. This is true since the very beginning when the Buddha taught people in various ways. How a story is told, makes a difference in how we relate to it, if we remember it, and how it possibly affects our life. The story, that the world will come to an end, is as old as humanity, it came in many versions. Somehow, we are still here, which is why most of us don’t believe that the world is doomed. But climate change is a real threat, and our impact as humans on the Ecosystems of the world is part of the problem. This is indeed one of the important stories of our time.

Still, many people don’t listen, are not involved, and are even bored with this story. Would it help if we tell it more loudly if we scream it into people’s faces? If we use bigger letters on bigger signposts? Or if more people would glue themselves to streets and pieces of art I very much doubt that. I think we have to change the way we tell the story, as a narrative. It is not a matter of being more aggressive and it will not help to patronize others.

In this current issue of our EBU Magazine, we want to find successful ways of telling the story, so people will listen. We want to create the thought, that all of us are part of the problem and also part of the solution.

Sincerely

Ron Eichhorn
European Buddhist Union
President