Green Sangha

The Green Sangha is a group of Core Sangha members who meet monthly to discuss climate action and Buddhism. We host occasional events that are open to the public. Our Mission, Vision, and Values are a work in progress.

Mission

  • Within the context of Buddhist values and teachings, we aim to create a space for the San Francisco Buddhist Center sangha to creatively engage with others around climate change and environmental justice.

Vision

  • The contribution of Dharmic perspectives and ethical action to the collective response to climate change
  • The cultivation of awareness of the interplay between institutionalized social injustice and climate change
  • The flowering of wisdom and compassion to help create and maintain a healthy, diverse, clean and cool planet.
  • As appropriate, create support for the San Francisco Buddhist Center sangha's move toward maintaining sustainable facilities, and sustainable practices at home and on retreat

Values

Please visit our fund raising page for the Rainforest Foundation to learn about their incredible work and how you can contribute! Rainforests are critical to help stabilize the world’s climate. They provide a home to many plants and animals, maintain the water cycle, protect against flood, drought, and erosion and are a source for medicines and foods.

The hillside at Jikoji
Green Sangha members meditating in front of Chase Bank to protest funding of the Line 3 pipeline. March 2021.
Meditation at Lake Merritt for Earth Week Gathering Oakland, Sponsored by Extinction Rebellion and 350 Bay Area

The Climate Crisis and the Six Paramitas

Triratna Earth Sangha: Responding to the cries of a burning world

How do we move beyond hope and fear with the Six Paramitas as a guide? A weekend of talks, workshops and practice exploring how we as Buddhists can respond to the climate and ecological emergencies.

The conference will include papers, workshops, guided meditations, puja, poetry and the visual arts. We will present perspectives of particularly affected communities and show what Buddhists can do in this current time of multiple crises.

Confirmed speakers

Meditation with the Earth and All Beings

Location: Dolores Park. We hope to meet at the corner of 20th and Church Streets (on the park side). If it rains, we'll meet at the Center.

Date: Sunday, November 24, 2024

Time: 2pm

This is a great way to take your cushion into the world, deepen your intentions, express your love and concern for the Earth and those that live here, commune with nature and meditate with friends. You can also think of it as a transference of merit. We hope you’ll join us.

We will provide signs or you can get creative and bring your own.

Election Anxiety? Meditate with the Green Sangha

An opportunity to check in and meditate together. The acute uncertainty that comes with electoral politics can reveal what the Dharma has to offer. Meditation and sangha can help ground us so we can see more clearly and have a better foundation for action. No matter what happens in the election, groundedness and clarity will help us on our path.

This will be a non-partisan space and not related to endorsing or advocating for any party or candidate.

Online International Urban Retreat June 1 to 5

Using the medicine of the Four Reminders, we open to a new Reality

1-5 June 2023

Led by members of the Triratna Earth Sangha, including Shantigarbha, Amaragita, Sarvajit, and Buddhasevaka.

Join the Urban Retreat—online or in-person!

We’re really looking forward to this retreat and exploring how the Dharma can support us in relation to the Climate and Ecological Crises. As Buddhists we have something unique to offer the world in this area.