Environmental Mindfulness Practice—Beyond the Middle Way
By Rick SantAngelo

As environmentalists, we must be mindful of how we live and the impact we have on the planet. We blame others, but the truth is that we are also complicit in environmental degradation. We may not be able to correct many of the large environmental sins in our society, but we can contribute a lot on an individual basis, and if we look deeply, we might find that there is so much more each of us can do. The key here is to educate ourselves and to be mindful in our lifestyle choices. Our love for Mother Earth will motivate us, but for best results, environmental mindfulness should be at the center of our practice.

My family and I practice environmental awareness at home. We eat vegan, we compost 100 percent of our food waste, and we use the compost in our garden. We never use chemical pesticides or herbicides, we grow some of our own food, and we buy in bulk, reusing food containers. As a family of four, we put out one trash can a month and inspect it to see what we can eliminate next time. It is certainly more effort, but we even tear the labels off of tin cans in order to recycle the paper as well as the metal. When eating out, we bring along food containers for our leftovers. We drive an electric car, and we have replaced all our light bulbs with LEDs. Our lifestyle seems extreme to some, but we love Mother Earth and try to find every way to express our love and concern for her. Each of these actions is practice, and it brings us joy. We feel like we do our best, and we make a difference.

When we make big decisions that have long-term impacts, like building a house or buying a new car, we need to be especially mindful. When buying your next car, consider an electric vehicle. We own a Nissan Leaf, and it brings us great pleasure to know that we consume little or no fossil fuel for driving because we charge at night when 100 percent of our electricity is generated by hydro and wind (here in the US Pacific Northwest). We would love to have solar power, but we would have to sacrifice a dozen magnificent, 70-foot-tall fir trees that shade our home, so we invested in a community solar project.

When we shine the light of mindfulness on the way we live, we can find many small ways to reduce our footprint. Each effort may seem puny, but when you add up the hundreds of meals, tin cans, cans of trash, and lifestyle choices we make every day, we can actually make a great difference. This is where we must start—right here at home.



Thay tells us that we must fall in love with Mother Earth. In our family, environmental awareness is a byproduct of deep love for the Earth. We cultivate this love by sitting with our trees and visiting the breathtaking sites of the Pacific Northwest. If you love the Earth, this lifestyle is fulfilling. We are joyfully mindful of our environment, and we do our best to be sure we are considering the environment above nearly all other factors. Our home practices often elicit comments and present an opportunity to discuss what each of us can do to make a difference. This type of awareness requires diligence. It is a central part of our lives. You might say we practice environmentalism.

Once we’ve cleaned up our own houses, we can then help others discover their love for the Earth and help them on the path to reducing their environmental footprints. We believe the best way to do this is to inspire and educate rather than condemn.

Much of what I have written might seem extreme. It may even seem like fanaticism. Thay suggests we reduce our footprint—perhaps cut our meat consumption and driving in half—but I feel it is important in my own life to serve as a role model. I often ask myself if I am practicing the Middle Way or looking for an excuse to slough off. As with all the mindfulness trainings, we do what is reasonable. We need to be mindful of how others view us, so we never compare our efforts with others’ or criticize others for their decisions. However, I do feel that some of us are justified in going beyond the Middle Way when it comes to protecting our planet. Oh, by the way, have you been to an Order of Interbeing monastery? I think you will find that our environmental practices are very similar to theirs, and it does not appear to be extreme at all.

Rick SantAngelo, ordained Chân Tang Uyên / True Sangha Garden in October 2013 at Deer Park, is a retired IT engineer. He and his family live in forested acreage near Vancouver, Washington, where Rick leads the Our True Home Sangha.

Encounter between the Trees and the Earth
By Natalie Neal

Make Friends with Beans
Tips from the Plant-Powered Earth Holders 

• If you are not used to digesting beans, it may be wise to make friends with them slowly. Buy a tub of tasty bean dip, and start with a spoonful a day, increasing gradually.     
• To avoid unpleasant side effects with your beans, soak the beans for 8 hours in water, discard the soak water, and then cook in fresh water. Bring the beans to a boil and cook until they are soft. The cooking time depends on the bean. (Mung beans and lentils do not need to be prepared as above. They are good to boil immediately!)

Here is a delicious recipe we are confident will convert many into bean lovers.


 
Moroccan Spiced Chickpea Soup
Offered by the Really Beneficial Sangha
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil (or less if you want a less rich, healthier soup)
1 large onion, medium dice
6-8 cloves of garlic, pressed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 heaping teaspoon sweet paprika
1 (14.5-oz) can chopped tomatoes
3 (15-oz) cans of chickpeas, drained and rinsed well
1 quart vegetable broth
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 (5-oz) package or bunch of baby spinach

• Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic. Sauté until the onion begins to turn translucent; lower the heat if the onion starts to brown. Add the spices and sauté for a minute.
• Add the tomatoes, chickpeas, broth, and sugar. Season with a couple of pinches of salt and 10 grinds of fresh pepper. Stir well.
• The chickpeas should be just covered with liquid. If the level is shy, add some water to cover them.
• Bring to a simmer, and then turn the heat to low and gently simmer for 45 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Use a potato masher to mash up some of the chickpeas right in the pot. You can also put half in a blender and process if you like a smoother soup.
• Stir in the spinach and let it heat through for a couple of minutes, until wilted.
• Season again, to taste, with salt and pepper, and you’re ready to share!