News
To find out more about what's been happening at Lam Rim have a look at Lam Rim News.
From time to time, we seek trustees, volunteers and helpers to assist us in running the centre.
At present we are looking for Residential Volunteer
We are also always looking for new Helping Hands
We are also looking for additional trustees.
In gratitude to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama we offer this Statement of Intent as a reflection of the collected aspirations of the assembled representatives and friends of Dharma Network, who participated in the seminar on "Dharma and Ecological Responsibility" at the Nottingham Arena.
Inspired by the wisdom, compassion and example of our beloved Refuge and Protector His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, we aspire to create a beneficial example of sustainable living within the context of our commitment to the Dharma as Buddhist practitioners.Our collective intention is to cultivate awareness within ourselves and others, to highlight the current urgency of climate change and to establish a means of preventing this from continuing.
Our aspirations direct us towards:-- Reducing our consumption
- Making ethical and sustainable choices about what, when and how we consume
- Putting something back into our physical and social environment, so as to nourish and educate both ourselves and each other on the impact of our being here and now
- Finding and establishing a gentle, open and appropriate means of engaging with others and achieving these aims together for the benefit of all beings
- Raising awareness based on ethical responsibility as an expression of compassion in action towards society as a whole.
Each one of us will endeavour to activate change in some way both independently and within our groups. We will initiate simple, practical, achievable, and realistic steps from a grass-roots level so that we can develop a personal and collective ability to respond to the current climate crisis we all face.
From personal investigation and analysis as well as sourcing up-to-date scientific information, and using links within Buddhist circles and wider media resources, we will share, support and communicate with each other to take our raised awareness out into local communities, to enable groups and families to make changes - especially the younger generations who will eventually inherit the consequences of our collective actions. We will reflect on the appropriateness of how we communicate our message so that we can be heard.
Knowing that in society there is poverty and great wealth, indifference, disability and an inability to respond to our aspirations for change, we realise that we will not reach out to others unless we practise kalyanamitra and listen more intently and openly to the deeper psychological issues which create barriers to ecological responsibility.
In not holding biases, but rather as co-existing, interdependent human beings, we will pursue inter-faith, inter-cultural and secular dialogue. Through the practice of lovingkindness and compassion we will support others who seek to change, and in our endeavours to be proactive, we will be making an offering to those who simply can't.
As a catalyst to broaden our view and encourage behaviour change, we will carry out environmental audits of our Dharma centres as well as our homes and life styles. Dharma centres will not only raise awareness but they will be able to lead by example. As well as being a light unto ourselves to find clarity along the path, each step we take, no matter how small, will remain simple so that we can consciously sustain engagement and share our endeavours as we go.
Where possible we will endeavour to designate specific days at Dharma centres for reflection and the sharing of information and ideas with each other, in the hope that this will spread out into and influence the wider community.
By developing our focus through regular communication, supporting new ideas, sharing practical suggestions and celebrating positive outcomes, we will be able to fine-tune the nature of our participation to reach a much wider audience through the use of the internet, meetings, workshops, ceremonies and talks. Through this we can also link to larger initiatives such as the transition-towns movement, co-housing, permaculture, local ecological and environmental projects, relevant publications and organisations, and eco-business ventures for mutual enrichment and support.
As the network widens, those elements which are obstacles to change such as ignorance, exploitation and deceit and reckless consumerism will hopefully have less impact. As a quintessential part of our Dharma practice, our realisation to tread lightly on this earth will harmonise our good intent with the miracle of life itself, for the benefit of all sentient beings in sustaining Mother Earth for future generations.