Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet (Episode #4)

Welcome to episode four of The Way Out Is In: The Zen Art of Living, a podcast series mirroring Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s deep teachings of Buddhist philosophy: a simple yet profound methodology for dealing with our suffering, and for creating more happiness and joy in our lives.

In this episode, presenters Zen Buddhist monk Brother Phap Huu and lay Buddhist practitioner and journalist Jo Confino are joined by special guest Zen Buddhist nun Sister True Dedication (Sister Hien Nghiem). Together, they address contemporary environmental crises and Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh’s ethical framework of living, to help us reach a better future – as presented in his new book, Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet. 

The three further discuss Buddhist insights into the many existential crises faced by the global community; practical ways people can become empowered; not being overwhelmed by the suffering in the world, and how to work with our emotions to take positive action. 

Jo recollects interviewing Christiana Figueres, the architect of the Paris Climate Agreement, including on how the practice of mindfulness was instrumental in her achievements, and the importance of deep listening in global talks. 

Brother Phap Huu explains the insight of interbeing; the practice of gratitude; and shares about walking the (sustainability) talk in Plum Village; the ‘no car days’, shifting to veganism during a 800-people retreat, and starting a happy farm to become more self-sufficient and in touch with the Earth as a community of practitioners.Sister True Dedication talks about editing Thich Nhat Hanh’s new book, Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet; the hardest part of working on a book; Thay’s involvement in the environmental movement since the early 1970s, as a pioneer of deep ecology; the importance of joy and vitality for facing hard times; falling in love with the Earth; accessing the insight of interbeing in our daily lives, and having fulfilled present moments; finding peace and equanimity in a suffering world; practicing deep truth; taking care of our despair. 

Finally, the sister ends the episode with a guided meditation.

Co-produced by the Plum Village App:https://plumvillage.app/

And Global Optimism:https://globaloptimism.com/

With support from the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation:https://thichnhathanhfoundation.org/

List of resources

Zen and the Art of Saving the Planethttps://www.parallax.org/product/zen-and-the-art-of-saving-the-planet/

Deep ecologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_ecologySpiritual ecologyhttps://plumvillage.org/book/spiritual-ecology-the-cry-of-the-earth/ 

Sister Chan Khonghttps://plumvillage.org/about/sister-chan-khong/The World We Have: A Buddhist Approach to Peace and Ecologyhttps://www.parallax.org/product/the-world-we-have-a-buddhist-approach-to-peace-and-ecology/Other key books by Thich Nhat Hanhhttps://plumvillage.org/about/thich-nhat-hanh/key-books/

Alfred Hasslerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Hassler 

The Diamond Sutrahttps://plumvillage.org/sutra/the-diamond-that-cuts-through-illusion/  

Christiana Figuereshttp://christianafigueres.com/#/

Jo Confino interviews Christina Figuereshttps://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/climate-change-unfccc-christiana-figueresParis Climate Agreement https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement 

Blue Cliff Monasteryhttps://www.bluecliffmonastery.org/ 

Happy Farmhttps://plumvillage.org/community/happy-farm/ 

A koanhttps://plumvillage.org/bg/about/thich-nhat-hanh/letters/bat-nha-a-koan/

Quotes

“To be able to see heaven on earth is part of our mindfulness practice.”

“What we learn in this kind of spiritual practice is that it’s a very embodied, complete, fully human experience of what it means to be alive and to be on this planet.”

“If we allow ourselves to fall in love with the Eart