- eco-chaplaincy -
​serving peace in a world of grief

The Dharma of Trees works within the commitments of Zen Peacemakers International.  ZPI's Three Tenets echo the three tenets adopted during ordination into the Zen tradition.  The three tenets of Zen have been adapted many times over the centuries, enabling them to be supportive in different eras and cultures.  Especially influential for Dharma of Trees are the three pure precepts of Dōgen (1200-53): cease from evil (do no harm); do good; do good for others.  In 1994, inspired by the need for social engagement in the order, Rōshi Glassman articulated the three tenets of the Zen Peacemakers: not knowing; bearing witness; taking action.

not knowing

At the Dharma of Trees, the heart of 'not knowing' is refraining from judging others or the natural world; it resides in letting go of our own fixed ideas about how things are or should be; it is in seeking to reside in the open spaciousness of the present moment.  The opposite of 'not knowing' is arrogance and conceit, even when it is well-intentioned.
​
In 'not knowing' is our humble openness to life as it is.

bearing witness

 None of us can live entirely in 'not knowing' - we are thrown into the world and the world confronts us with challenges, difficulties, joys, and sufferings every day.  Supported by meditation practice, at the Dharma of Trees, 'bearing witness' calls us to see and feel a situation in its entirety, standing in open awareness, mindful also of our own thoughts and feelings.
 
​'Bearing witness' brings humanity into relationship with life as it is.

taking action

In the quest to be of service, it is not enough to reside in the quiet of practiced seclusion.  At the Dharma of Trees, 'not knowing' and 'bearing witness' shape the foundations for taking action in the world.  We seek to take action that arises from the full uniqueness of each situation, constantly mindful of internal and external events as they unfold.  

'Taking action' demands the spontaneity of compassion.

eco-grief

The more familiar we become with grief, the more we recognize it in the world around us. 
Some days, it's like there's a new grief hidden under every stone we turn.
​

Home     services     PROJECTS     TENETS     About     support