The Bodhisattva’s Activism (4 of 8)

In this talk Dekila Chungyalpa discusses the relationship between humanity and Earth from the perspective of the Bodhisattva vows in Buddhism. The session begins with Dekila reflecting on her roots in Sikkim, emphasizing the sacredness of local mountains and the ecological stewardship inherent in indigenous traditions. She uses this personal and cultural grounding to make a broader call for a reimagined relationship with Earth, suggesting that the modern environmental crises require an integration of indigenous wisdom, narrative shifts, science, and spiritual practice. Throughout the talk, Dekila weaves together personal anecdotes, environmental science, and Buddhist philosophy. The interdependence of humans and nature is stressed as both a spiritual principle and a practical reason to address global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Dekila emphasizes the transformative potential of the Bodhisattva vows as being necessary to shift the mind away from greed and comfort to see and cultivate the systems and structures that foster ecological balance and sustainability.

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