'Climate change crisis is a spiritual crisis'

What is the relevance of spiritualism at a time when science and politics are being manipulated to distort the reality of climate change? Why isn't the mounting scientific evidence not enough to prod us towards greener lifestyles?

This is why spiritual ecology is so critical today. In a world filled with delusion and distortion of what we know in our deepest selves to be true, spiritual ecology calls on us to return to the truth. The climate crisis is fundamentally a spiritual crisis. It reflects back to us, if we will only look, the truth of our human greed, aversions, and ignorance. Many people are adopting green lifestyles. There is hope in the Paris Agreement that the world is finally taking this crisis seriously, although whether seriously enough still hangs in the balance. I'm heartened that after the disastrous election results in the United States many countries have stepped up to assume global leadership. This will strengthen the movement. I think, however, that there are aspects of climate science that make it difficult for non-specialists to understand. Unlike other great environmental crises like the 'ozone hole', climate change is nonlinear. It's unpredictable. We always have difficulty living with not knowing, but this kind of open attention is what the climate crisis calls for.

How do the Buddha's teachings help us as individuals to deal with the reality of climate change?

My conviction is that all true spiritual perspectives encourage radical de-centering. They encourage a much broader perspective than the narrow self-serving human perspective. In Buddhism our commitment is to 'all sentient beings'. When we practice this commitment we begin to see that an 'individual practice' is another delusion. When I ask, 'What can I do?' it's probably the ego speaking. A better question is, 'What does the planet need today?'

What are the ecological values that Buddhism espouses?

Interconnectedness. Humility. The courage to live fully while not knowing what the future will bring. Like all great crises, the climate crisis offers an opportunity to value what we are about to lose.

You spoke of 'ecosattvas' and ethical life practice. Can you elaborate on this idea?

A bodhisattva is a being who vows to practice as a 'lotus in the middle of the fire', in the words of Vimalakirti. I use the word 'ecosattva' to emphasize that the climate crisis is the spiritual crisis of our time. It combines all sources of dukkha into one and puts the very existence of all sentient beings into question. We are fortunate to have ecosattvas among us, practitioners of all faiths who call on us to dig down radically to the true causes of our suffering. My hope is that we will listen, and act wisely.

Religious pontiffs like the Dalai Lama and the Pope are increasingly talking about climate change. How important is this, and how effective in the long run?

Because of recent events we all know how easy it is to get caught in the narrow self-interest of political rhetoric and lose sight of the broader, deeper truth. Real teachers of any spiritual tradition point to this deeper truth. We should show HH the Dalai Lama and Pope Francis the respect of listening to what they teach.

On December 9, Curtin will be conducting a day-long workshop on Buddhism and climate change at the Department of Philosophy, Mumbai University.