By Andy Wistreich
In my twenties I was a revolutionary, wishing to change the world so people could lead happy lives. My Buddhist uncle told me, “You’ll never change the world like that; all you need is 200 enlightened beings.” I scoffed. At my Saturn return crisis at the end of my twenties, I lost faith in my political activism. It was all too ‘us and them’ and it was getting violent. After a search through various forms of self-development, I landed at the feet of my first Tibetan Guru, Geshe Jampa Thekchog, and discovered that there is a spiritual method for benefiting all beings, namely bodhicitta. Everything in my life changed as I studied and began to practise within the FPMT community. That was 1980, and it was 29 years before I found myself once again on the streets as an activist, this time sitting in meditation outside Barclays Bank in Yeovil, to protest at their investment in fossil fuels. The time had come to return to activism, this time as a Dharma practitioner.
When I joined Extinction Rebellion Buddhists I found myself in accord with Buddhist activists from a wide range of traditions, in particular, the Plum Village tradition, Triratna Buddhists and Insight meditation practitioners. Within FPMT, at that time, I felt a bit isolated. It was through the Planetary Crisis Summit project formed in 2023 by Jamyang London, that the possibility of FPMT waking up to engaged Buddhism opened up. Once again I felt that FPMT is my home.
Prayer helps, but as His Holiness the Dalai Lama has told us emphatically, “Prayer is not enough! You have to do something!” During my five years of engagement in Buddhist activism, around the climate crisis, compassion for refugees, and the Gaza conflict, I have learned that there is a spectrum with many shades between inner and outer activism. Inner activism is definitely anchored in the power of meditation and prayer, whilst outer activism supports movements towards a more compassionate, peaceful, ecologically harmonious world. Each of us, who cares about the suffering of the world, finds our place on this spectrum, in a position that may be subject to change as outer and inner circumstances unfold.
The weekend of 22nd and 23rd June 2024 was the second time I had stayed the night at Jamyang whilst in London for actions on the streets. The first time, in April was during a four-day action in central London called The Big One that was organised by a coalition of environmental organisations such as Extinction Rebellion and Greenpeace. A group of us from Somerset slept on the floor of the Tara Room at Jamyang. The feeling of nurture and support from the centre was so helpful during this time. To know that Dharma friends were in favour of what we were doing on the streets was wonderful.
That weekend in June 24 I slept on my own for one night in the small gompa on a mattress kindly loaned by Cynthia. As I did my morning practice in there on the Sunday morning, I felt the extraordinary power and support of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas who are present in that space, encouraging me to engage in compassionate action in the world. It can feel scary to get onto the streets in protest, or solidarity. The movements I associate with are motivated by universal responsibility, and committed to nonviolent actions as expressions of concern, love and equanimity. We take sides on behalf of all beings, regardless of their political persuasion, their species or their attitude towards us.
On Saturday 22nd June 2024 I caught a very early train up to London, and headed for Hyde Park Corner to lead a meditation session on the central reservation on Park Lane, in connection with the Restore Nature Now March. A mixed group of people showed up for the meditation session whose title was Nature in Mind. The meditations I led were oriented around the role of the mind in creating the planetary crisis, and its potential for solving it. This included focus on not only universal compassion, but also the wisdom of dependent origination, and the possibility of creating causes for an ecological civilisation through the transformation of consciousness.
After my nourishing night at Jamyang, rejoicing in the kind support of the team at the centre, I went again to Parliament Square for the Multi-faith Peace Walk focused on the Gaza conflict. The spirit of transcending divisions of faith and ethnicity pervaded this beautiful event that involved walking in silence to Trafalgar Square and back. For most of the participants this appeared to be a walking meditation. No banners, no shouting and above all, no anger helped to make this a very special event.
I feel extremely grateful and inspired by the energy and practical application of Dharma principles that motivated and pervaded the Planetary Crisis Summit at Jamyang in April 2024. During that summit a session was devoted to the question of how and with what conditions Dharma centres might provide a safe haven for activists. It was a huge turning point for me to be discussing this issue in front of the Buddha in the main temple at Jamyang. I believe this was a turning point for FPMT too, as the supportive words of representatives from the FPMT Board and Internation Office demonstrated. I look forward to participating in further activities as this new element of Dharma practice enables the centre to connect to a very wide audience of people concerned for the future of our families, communities and natural world.
