Thread by @EngagedPureLand

Happy Earth Day! Many Jodo Shinshu temples hold annual Earth Day services, and concerned North American and Hawaiian Shin Buddhists have long promoted awareness of ecological concerns.
#Buddhism #EarthDay2021 #engagedbuddhism #ecology #EarthDay

For instance, in 1970 the Pacific Seminar (the primary annual study session of the Buddhist Churches of America) included a keynote session on “Ecology and Buddhism” and a mandatory viewing and discussion of “Multiply and Subdue the Earth,” a film on man-made environmental crises

Scouting is part of many young Jodo Shinshu Buddhists’ lives, and often where the first environmental efforts occur. In 1973 the BCA began to support Keep America Beautiful Day. Local temple scout groups engaged in litter clean-up drives and educated themselves about pollution.

Many efforts in recent decades are associated with EcoSangha, a term coined by Rev. Donald Castro at the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple in the 1990s. These local projects eventually led to a national-level campaign.

In 2014 the Ministers' Association of the Buddhist Churches of America passed an important EcoSangha Resolution, which stimulated the creation of EcoSangha groups within various temples:

WHEREAS, one of the major social issues of our time is a deep concern for the environment;

WHEREAS, with the core teachings of interdependence and compassion our Buddhist religion is inherently ecological in vision and conservation-oriented in practice;

WHEREAS, our Buddhist Churches of America not only consume large amounts of resources in themselves but also serve as a model for personal behavior in the homes of each of its members and society at large;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that each BCA temple be encouraged to adopt policies that promote an awareness of the profound implications of our behavior on future generations and to promote ecologically friendly behavior in the spirit of “mottai-nai.”

Mottainai is a Japanese expression roughly meaning "it musn't be wasted," which one hears frequently in Japanese-American/Canadian temples. It is often brought into the discussion of environmental awareness in Jodo Shinshu groups.

For instance, the Bay District Buddhist Women’s League held a workshop in 2018 called “Mottainai and Eco-sangha.” Five BCA ministers spoke about Buddhism and ecology, and then the group spent time exploring how mottainai awareness can contribute to sustainable practices.

At the 2016 annual meeting, the Hawaii Kyodan Lay Convention passed a resolution calling on Hawaiian Jodo Shinshu temples “to educate, set goals and develop an action plan to help temples and members live in ecological harmony within our communities, State and planet.”

The temples set up a Green Hongwanji Committee to promote ongoing research and action. In 2017 the first Green Hongwanji survey has held, with 22 temples plus the Shin Buddhist primary and high schools completing self-assessments on toxins, energy, water, waste, and purchasing

Many other efforts take place regularly in American and Canadian temples. And the Seattle temple remains a primary force in the Shin environmentalist movement. Their 2021 EcoSangha seminar was held virtually on April 18. You can view the program here:
bit.ly/2QrIx7P

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