On Dharma and Ecology

Two days after the skies darkened from the solar eclipse, Sensei Wendy Johnson reminds us that “in dark times, the eye begins to see.” With her characteristic spirit and tenderness, Wendy encourages us to let in the difficult truths of our times and practice stillness and service. We can turn towards the wisdom of nature and ecology to guide us in our practice. As she teaches middle school children, “matter cycles, energy flows, and life exists in a web.” How can we deepen our understanding of our interconnectedness? She says by “knowing that only the whole can begin to stitch together the world.” We become whole by welcoming each component of this one body, each one’s unique role and value. In this work, we must also adapt to our times – shifting, flowing, and pushing against the stream. “Don’t wait for your good ideas to rot on the vine. Ripen them, eat them, and share them now!”