- eco-chaplaincy -
​helping to find peace in a world of grief

Sometimes, even without realizing it, we can feel grief at the loss of parts of the more-than-human world around us.  Climate change.  De-forestation.  Wild fires. 
Or just inevitable death and decay?

For some of us, just losing a familiar old tree due to age or disease can leave us feeling bereft. 
But many communities have no mechanisms or rituals to recognize this grief.
​
The Dharma of Trees is a free eco-chaplaincy service for those who are seeking support in circumstances of eco-grief.

life

Placing the human being in the context of the more-than-human world, the Dharma of Trees recognizes and celebrates life in all its myriad forms.  "The earth, grass, trees, walls, tiles, and pebbles all have the Buddha nature."  

eco-Buddhism

 Inspired by the Eco-Buddhist and Eco-Dharma movement, the Dharma of Trees adopts a Buddhist perspective on life, death, and suffering. 
This does not mean that you have to be Buddhist to make use of the service.

death

Recognizing life in its myriad, more-than-human forms also means that we must recognize so many forms of death, passing, transformation, and loss.
"Seeing even the grasses wither today, how can we be without grief?"

It is well-know that Buddhism was born amongst the trees.  The historical Buddha, Siddhattha Gotama, was born as his mother leaned against a tree, and he died surrounded by trees.  He sat beneath a bodhi tree to meditate, vowing not to leave until he was awakened.  And, when he attained awakening, he touched his fingers into the soil, calling on the earth as his witness.

eco-grief

The closer we look, the clearer it becomes that life runs under every footstep.
​So, how should we walk this earth?
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services

more-than-human life

Narrate

Sometimes our intuition runs ahead of our ability to put things into words.  We might feel our connection with the natural world, but might not yet be able to make sense of its role in our lives.  Using therapeutic techniques, the Dharma of Trees can help narrate a life in the context of its more-than-human existence, revealing new textures and meaning.

connecting with life

Meditate

Many people today maintain a meditation practice, either for health or for spiritual reasons.  But most people practice meditation in a concrete box (ie. a building), sealed off the world around them, seeking the quiet of isolation. 
With classical practices, the Dharma of Trees can help migrate meditation back into the natural world of more-than-human connection.

accepting grief

Celebrate

Like us, our favourite trees and the living environments we love will change and eventually die.  For many of us, it's hard to know how to acknowledge or honour these losses - it's unusual to hold a funeral for a tree, and it might even feel weird to suggest it.  The Dharma of Trees can help guide you through eco-grief with compassion.

enter the more-than-human realm

Initiate

Many of us share an intuitive sense of our connection with the natural world, but we often struggle to find the language or concepts to give voice to this sense of community.  Using classical rites of ordination as the launching point, Dharma of Trees can help initiate people (and others) into the humilocene, into our more-than-human sangha.

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