Join Teaneck Creek Conservancy as we discover the connection between Buddhism and Nature.

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Linda Brown

I joined Shinnyo-en Buddhism immediately after the Climate March in 2014. Prior to that I had practiced various forms of Buddhism and had read about Buddhism extensively. As a child of a politically engaged Jewish/Ethical Culture family I had no strong attachments to faith and tremendous attachment to activism.

As my sister and I were planning to march in the demonstration we went through several options to choose a group with whom we might march. As a teacher and chapter leader, I thought that marching with the United Federation Teachers would be appropriate. As someone who had been a Physical Anthropology student and primate researcher, I thought that marching with the Union of Concerned Scientists would make a powerful and appropriate statement. But, as people who had spent their time, from early childhood, marching for various causes both my sister and I agreed that we had spent to much of our lives in rage and tears. We chose to march with the faith groups.

When we arrived, we looked for any Buddhist groups in attendance. We had been practicing meditation and reading Dharma. It seemed like a natural. What we got was beyond being part of a powerful political action. We found, that for the first time, we could march without rage and tears. We found that activism can be a part of a path of altruism and hope.

I came to Buddhism as someone who loves animals. I stay with Buddhism because, as evolution explains living things, Buddhism educates me in how I can best interact with those living things and the world.