A Newsletter of Earth Holding Actions in the Plum Village Tradition, 2015 Winter Issue #5

My Move Toward a Plant-Based Diet: Cultivating Planetary Health, Personal Health, and Compassion

Marge Wurgel

It was Cinco de Mayo, 1993, and I was enjoying a beef taco at a potluck with the staff at the health department where I worked. One of the physicians came up to me and said, “Marge, I am surprised that with your environmental views that you still eat meat.” I had just recently started to learn about the environmental impact of our eating animal foods, and I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach by this doctor. She was calling me to task for my actions and food choices and their impact on the planet, and I hadn’t fared very well. I didn’t have an answer for her, but her question led to one of the biggest changes of my life.

I went home that day, talked to my husband, Keith Mesecher, about the incident, and we spent the next week learning more about the link between diet and the environment and diet and health. I was a public health professional, but I had never learned about the ways animal foods impacted my health. One week later, sitting across the dinner table from each other, Keith and I made the decision to let go of eating animal foods, including meat, dairy and eggs. That was possibly the most powerful and joyous decision we made over the last 22 years, and while we aren’t perfect with our food choices, we’ve never gone back on that decision.
In making this choice, and with studying this issue for the last 22 years as a happy plant-based eater, I’ve discovered these reasons, among many others, for choosing this path:

I create dramatically fewer greenhouse gases by eating only from the plant world, and I know that is the most powerful single action that an individual can take to help prevent global warming. Greenhouse gasses drive climate change. Animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than all forms of transportation combined (according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization).

I use far fewer planetary resources eating plants than animals, for growing animal foods uses approximately 10 times the amount of energy and about 14 times the amount of water than growing plant food. As a Californian experiencing extreme drought, I know I am lessening my impact on our water shortage.
By not eating animals, I care for the other living inhabitants in my environment more compassionately. Cows, chickens, pigs, and fish are also part of the earth and are treated very cruelly on production farms and when killed by the animal food industries. Daily this is the most powerful way I am able to honor the reverence for life asked of me by the 5 and 14 Mindfulness Trainings and by the teachings of the Buddha and Thay.

The other initially powerful factor in choosing to become a plant-centered eater was for creating healthier conditions for my own life. Diet is the most powerful tool I have against disease and sickness. From my own research I have found that I am less likely to have cancer, heart disease, strokes, autoimmune disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, kidney stones or blindness.

Once I started a plant-based, it wasn’t too difficult to continue. I realized eating is a deeply spiritual act, and the food choices I make reflect reverence for my own health and that of other beings and the earth. My food is a generous gift from the earth, and my daily experience of eating ties me directly to the earth in perhaps the most intimate encounter I have with our world - what I eat becomes a part of my body. Eating a plant-based diet allows me to honor life in a way that nothing else does, and allows me to bring into congruency my actions and my worldview of living peacefully, consciously, and gently on the planet.

I love taking this life-affirming message to other people, especially my sangha brothers and sisters. Also, as a volunteer, I teach plant-based eating and cooking classes and coach people wanting to become more plant-powered. It’s a joyous way to help friends on the Buddhist path to share in this compassionate and earth-friendly way of eating. Here, I offer this Blissfull Nut Balls recipe for a simple, delicious dessert that works wonderfully as a holiday treat. Enjoy!

Marge Wurgel was ordained as a member of the Order of Interbeing in 2013 and practices with the Open Heart Sangha in San Diego, California. She has a background and education in public health and loves to promote healthy eating. Her greatest desire is to empower people to make plant-based food choices to care for the planet, promote health and vitality, and treat our animal brothers and sisters with compassion and kindness.

Falling in Love with Earth: The Story of a Tree and its Journey in Me

Robb Kushner

A tree once captured my imagination and has never let go. This tree lives in the Arnold Arboretum, an incredible green jewel designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in Jamaica Plain, Boston.  My wife, Jill, and I discovered this tree one glorious fall morning while escaping from our studies at Boston University. Roaming the Arboretum’s undulating grounds, we had just crested one hill and were romping down the far slope when we stumbled upon a captivating scene. A massive tree had recently shed its leaves in a perfect golden circle. It was truly a vision. Almost as if harps were playing, it drew us under its branches.

Soon after discovering this spot, a craggy old man in a black cape ambled by. He seemed introverted, yet he stopped to show us some quinces he had gathered. He said if you put them in your drawer, they dry out and give off a wonderful fragrance. This guy was like out of a storybook, weaving himself into our adventure.

One of the lower branches was very long and thick, and dipped down in the middle – low enough so I could jump up, swing around, and perch on it, just like riding a horse. So I sat up there while Jill twirled around on the ground amidst the brilliant leaves. We took some photos in black & white which captured our sense of whimsy in this moment. And I found the tree tag labeled “blue sugar maple.”

Many times, we would return but could never manage to locate our enchanted tree. Despite numerous visits we had a hazy understanding of the Arboretum’s layout. We even introduced the place to our kids - when they were old enough to help in seeking the legendary tree and just young enough so they wouldn’t think it was an uncool thing to do. Still no luck but I was buoyed by the spirit of our quest - even if the goal remained elusive.

Several years later the internet changed everything and I saw a map of the Arboretum online. Clearly, the grounds were organized by tree type. Sure enough, there was a section labeled “Maples.” I felt a spark of hope.

It was December, and I was planning to travel to Boston for a 3-day workshop. Jill came with me, and we drove up from New Jersey a day early to beat the approach of a winter storm. We settled into our B&B as the snow was beginning. The next morning, bundled up, we trod
the thickening snow and hopped on the Orange Line of the T.

This was our first winter visit and exploring the grounds as the snow fell was magical. The map did the trick. Before long, we spotted a tree we suspected was “it” - but in such an altered landscape it was hard to be sure. We walked around it several times wondering “if this really the one? Is our old friend still here?” And slowly but surely, it became clear we had indeed found it. After thirty-four years the tree was still standing strong and we were reunited with our friend. This time, we noticed a tag dating the tree to the 1880's and this helped me see our time with the tree in a much broader perspective. How wonderful to think about this grand old being who grew and thrived as we got married, started careers, and raised two kids (now graduated from college). Our time together was just a fraction of its lifespan.

I’ve come to realize my deepening love for the natural world was kindled by time spent roaming the Arboretum. This love has taken me down many paths of sustainability and spirituality in my adulthood, including: promoting greenways for non-motorized travel; pursuing more walkable neighborhoods; studying well-designed public spaces; preserving and creating farmland, pocket parks, and rain gardens; exploring permaculture and organic farming; walking mindfully through woods, healing gardens, and labyrinths;  transitioning to renewable sources of energy; promoting green buildings; working to stop climate disruption; contemplating the interconnectedness of all species with Mother Earth.

Now, from the vantage of middle age, I see this tree symbolizes something very dear to me. Roaming the Arboretum’s emerald hills awakened a deep connection with and appreciation for nature—an appreciation that had been lying dormant. This tree is the centerpiece of a journey that continues to unfold.

Robb Kushner

is an OI Aspirant and co-leader of the Sun of Awareness Sangha in Jersey City, NJ. He recently discovered he is a renaissance soul. Robb taught his family how to juggle and taught himself how to ride the unicycle at age 45.

A Newsletter of Earth Holding Actions in the Plum Village Tradition.

Some inspiring guide posts on our adventure with the Earth Holding Initiative are:

to practice and act out of love, not fear

to have togetherness and inclusiveness at the base, not separation and discrimination

to be diligent and aimless in our efforts to support a collective awakening and healing

Earth Practice: My Move Toward a Plant-Based Diet

My Move Toward a Plant-Based Diet: Cultivating Planetary Health, Personal Health, and Compassion

Falling in Love with Earth: The Story of a Tree and its Journey in Me