The Dharma of Mountains and Waters: Buddhism, Nature, and the Wild

William Edelglass (Marlboro College)

This talk will explore the relationship between some aspects of Buddhism and environmental thought.  It will begin with an overview of how contemporary Buddhist practitioners and thinkers often conceive of Buddhism as singularly attuned to the more-than-human world, before focusing on the work of the thirteenth century Zen thinker, Dogen.  According to Dogen, mountains and waters proclaim the Buddha dharma.  Finally, it will address how Dogen's thinking inspires thinking about contemporary environmental challenges.