LJM sees participation of a 3-year-old creator during World Ocean Day activities
(中央社訊息服務20240617 09:43:58)
To mark the 2024 United Nations World Oceans Day theme, “Awaken New Depths”, the Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society has hosted a series of events at the LJM Chan Space in New York. Participants wrote down their memories of water on World Oceans Day to establish a spiritual connection between humans and the ocean.
The activities, incorporating both movement and stillness, include riverbank walking meditation, calligraphy meditation, and Tai Chi dynamic meditation. These activities aim to teach participants to focus on the present moment and observe their inner thoughts and external phenomena through the ancient wisdom of meditation. This practice fosters a deep connection between the five senses and nature, promoting harmony with the ecosystem.
In the "Art Laboratory on Earth" segment, participants admired ocean-themed photography by students of the Here on Earth program. Their creations, filled with emotion and passion, drew significant attention from viewers. The youngest artist, only 3 years old, exemplified that love for Mother Earth transcends age.
The participants included several individuals serving in environmental organizations, such as Jolly Patel from Climate Café, Ben Dillon from International Vipassana Center, and Andrew Tomasulo of the Interdependence Project. The LJM Global Family for Love and Peace Education and Training Program, led by director Lu Chi-Lan, organized the event along with numerous local community members interested in environmental issues.
During the group discussion, Jolly Patel served as the moderator. She asked everyone to reflect on the day's activities and consider what form of water they would be if they were water.
Felix Harkness, a freshman, likened himself to a river, adapting to environmental changes, sometimes forging ahead and at other times needing to change course. Lu from GFLP shared that each person is like a small raindrop, gathering together from streams to oceans, forming a tremendous force. Andrew Tomasulo described himself as a waterfall, capable of withstanding great pressure and willing to exert immense strength to pursue his ideals, continuously pushing forward.
The rich and diverse World Oceans Day activities provided profound satisfaction for all participants, nurturing their body, mind, and spirit. The affirmation from participants of various environmental organizations reflects Venerable Hsin Tao’s spiritual ecology concept of coexistence and interdependence. Each group contributes in its own way, and when they come together, they form a tremendous force. This collective effort aims to ensure environmental sustainability and make the world a better place, turning ideals into practical realities.
