Global Buddhist Community
Climate Change: A Turning Point for Awakening
(Photo by 陳瑞) █ Editorial Office Editor's Note: What happens when a farmer who works daily with the land, a marine biologist diving into extreme ocean environments, and a representative seated at United Nations negotiation tables all gather at Dharma Drum Mountain to sit face-to-face with Dharma Drum Sangha University students? On October 18, 2025, Venerable Chang Ji (常濟法師) of the Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association in the United States, Daniel Abreu Mejía...
Alex Epstein - Urban Gardener Planting ‘Relationships’
Every person, every culture—whether separated by one generation or ten—has ancestors who once lived alongside the land, in harmony with it. █ Alex Epstein, founder of Root Catalyst My name is Alex. I grew up in New York City. The work that I do now—and have been immersed in for the last 17 or so years—is as much a personal journey as it is communal. I work with communities and schools to reclaim vacant spaces and create urban gardens. For me, that work has had...
Reem AlMealla - Bahrain’s First Female Oceanographer
▲ Reem (third from the left) founded “Nuwat: Heart of every living cell,” dedicating efforts to environmental research and education, with the hope of becoming a force for social change. (Image source: Reem’s Facebook) When you begin to imagine what kind of world you want to create, the “how” will find its way, and the world will start to respond, making it possible. █ Reem AlMealla, Founder of Nuwat for Environmental Research and Educatio...
Daniel Abreu Mejía - An Educator Empowering Climate Youth
Part of the reason we face climate change and many nature-related crises is that we have forgotten we are part of nature. We belong to nature—we do not stand above it. █ Daniel Abreu Mejía, consultant for UNESCO and the Presidency of the Dominican Republic I have many tipping points in my life—two of them almost coincided, very different yet somehow connected. I used to be a climate-change negotiator for my country. It’s a long story how I ended up doing th...
Gregory Scott Pettys - A Scholar Preserving Seeds
Many of my “aha”moments have come through grief, yet modern culture teaches us to avoid it. But I want to encourage you: face it. █ Gregory Scott Pettys, Co-founder of Panya Forest I come from the land currently referred to as the United States of America, I think it’s really the crux of amnesia and forgiveness. This so-called American Dream, this ideal, this epidemic of modernity that has now been globalized — it’s about trying to pursue a kind of elite ...
Shephali Patel - A Farmer Who Learns from the Forest
No single person or culture can fully understand the whole of life on its own. We need everyone’s stories to piece together a larger picture of what life truly is. █ Shephali Patel, Youth Climate Education Facilitator, Oregon State University It’s difficult to describe what I do because I’ve had countless roles in this work, for a reason. From the outside, it looks like I co-steward spaces with people, plants, animals—with all living beings. These are places w...
Sow the seeds, transform yourself
Photo by Jean Li Editor's Note: If the efforts we’re making won’t bear fruit within our lifetime, would you still be willing to continue? The dilemma of climate action is not only a deadlock of systems and policies, but also an inner tension—reducing carbon emissions while living within a capitalist system; advocating for change while still participating in systems that harm the Earth. On October 16, 2025, Venerable Chang Ji (常濟法師), together with cl...