LJM Global Family for Love and Peace witnesses participation of a 3-year-old creator during International Day of the Oceans activities
The United Nations has designated June 8th as World Oceans Day to raise global awareness about the ocean and to highlight the urgency of protecting marine ecosystems. In response to the 2024 United Nations World Oceans Day theme, “Awaken New Depths”, the Ling Jiou Mountain Buddhist Society (LJM) has hosted a series of events at the LJM Chan Space in New York. These activities included the innovative and highly interactive "Listening to the Life of Rivers," which combines Chinese culture, philosophy, and meditation. Participants wrote down their memories of water on World Oceans Day to establish a spiritual connection between humans and the ocean.
The World Oceans Day 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. The events also feature the appreciation and collaborative creation of environmentally themed artworks. Through discussion sessions, like-minded individuals who care about the Earth can connect and exchange ideas, bringing the concept of "environmental protection" closer to daily life.
In the morning walking meditation, participants took a cable car across the East River to Roosevelt Island. From this new vantage point, they had a bird's-eye view of the familiar New York City. Guided by a LJM master, they walked leisurely across this mysterious island, rich with captivating history. Throughout the journey, participants learned to pause and slow down, appreciating the pure beauty of nature.
The LJM Chan Space creates a community creative platform, with the youngest artist being only 3 years old
In the "Art Laboratory on Earth" segment at the Chan Space, participants admired ocean-themed photography by students of the Here on Earth program. The exhibition also featured creations from participants in World Earth Day activities. This group of ecology enthusiasts responded to the LJM's Earth Day event, contributing over 20 pieces that day. These 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.
After the rich visual feast, participants, guided by the instructor, expressed their gratitude and blessings for the Earth through poetry, painting, and other forms of art. The World Oceans Day exhibition at the LJM New York Chan Space will continue until the end of September, coinciding with the New York Climate March from September 22nd to 29th. Through the close connections fostered by this event, the LJM New York Chan Space is gradually becoming a community hub for collective creativity and is strengthening its ties with the local community.
The Chan Space's Oceans Day also featured an innovative and engaging interactive experience called "Listening to the Life of Rivers." Experts collected sounds from the East River, and through an interactive sound map, people could choose locations of interest and listen to the river's sounds from those specific spots. This experience allowed participants to feel the rhythmic life of the river through its various sounds.
The organizers hope that through a diverse and highly interactive range of activities, participants will understand that environmental protection is not just a cold slogan or an abstract concept, but a dynamic and vital reality. The spirit of Chan permeates the entire event, combining Chinese culture, philosophy, and meditation to create lasting memories for World Oceans Day. In the afternoon, the calligraphy and Tai Chi sessions centered around the character for "water," a symbol of nourishing life and the soul. By integrating mindfulness meditation and artistic expression, the activities highlight the importance of water in our environment and lives, both in the past, present, and future.
The mindfulness meditation through calligraphy began with a video of Thich Nhat Hanh talking about calligraphy, helping participants to calm their minds. As they moved their wrists, they felt the flow of water and energy, allowing for a gentle pause and accumulation of strength to face life's challenges. The Tai Chi session guided participants to move their bodies slowly and softly, promoting balance and flexibility. This gentle rhythm ensured smooth circulation of energy and blood throughout the body, fostering harmony between mind and body.
The participants of this event included several individuals serving in environmental organizations, such as Jolly Patel, a senior speaker from Climate Café; Ben Dillon, a volunteer from International Vipassana Center; and Andrew Tomasulo, the director of the Interdependence Project. The event was organized by the LJM Global Family for Love and Peace (GFLP) Education and Training Program, led by director Lu Chi-Lan, along with numerous local community members interested in environmental issues.
During the group discussion, like-minded participants exchanged ideas, sparking remarkable insights. Jolly Patel from Climate Café, an international environmental organization dedicated to community outreach and climate change awareness, 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 Chi-Lan from GFLP shared that each person is like a small raindrop, gathering together from streams to oceans, forming a tremendous force. Andrew Tomasulo from the International Vipassana Center 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. They deeply reflected on the relationship between nature and humanity, inspiring spiritual thinking and igniting the power of action. The affirmation from participants of various environmental organizations also 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.
Web address of Global Family of Love & Peace
The World Oceans Day 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. The events also feature the appreciation and collaborative creation of environmentally themed artworks. Through discussion sessions, like-minded individuals who care about the Earth can connect and exchange ideas, bringing the concept of "environmental protection" closer to daily life.
In the morning walking meditation, participants took a cable car across the East River to Roosevelt Island. From this new vantage point, they had a bird's-eye view of the familiar New York City. Guided by a LJM master, they walked leisurely across this mysterious island, rich with captivating history. Throughout the journey, participants learned to pause and slow down, appreciating the pure beauty of nature.
The LJM Chan Space creates a community creative platform, with the youngest artist being only 3 years old
In the "Art Laboratory on Earth" segment at the Chan Space, participants admired ocean-themed photography by students of the Here on Earth program. The exhibition also featured creations from participants in World Earth Day activities. This group of ecology enthusiasts responded to the LJM's Earth Day event, contributing over 20 pieces that day. These 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.
After the rich visual feast, participants, guided by the instructor, expressed their gratitude and blessings for the Earth through poetry, painting, and other forms of art. The World Oceans Day exhibition at the LJM New York Chan Space will continue until the end of September, coinciding with the New York Climate March from September 22nd to 29th. Through the close connections fostered by this event, the LJM New York Chan Space is gradually becoming a community hub for collective creativity and is strengthening its ties with the local community.
The Chan Space's Oceans Day also featured an innovative and engaging interactive experience called "Listening to the Life of Rivers." Experts collected sounds from the East River, and through an interactive sound map, people could choose locations of interest and listen to the river's sounds from those specific spots. This experience allowed participants to feel the rhythmic life of the river through its various sounds.
The organizers hope that through a diverse and highly interactive range of activities, participants will understand that environmental protection is not just a cold slogan or an abstract concept, but a dynamic and vital reality. The spirit of Chan permeates the entire event, combining Chinese culture, philosophy, and meditation to create lasting memories for World Oceans Day. In the afternoon, the calligraphy and Tai Chi sessions centered around the character for "water," a symbol of nourishing life and the soul. By integrating mindfulness meditation and artistic expression, the activities highlight the importance of water in our environment and lives, both in the past, present, and future.
The mindfulness meditation through calligraphy began with a video of Thich Nhat Hanh talking about calligraphy, helping participants to calm their minds. As they moved their wrists, they felt the flow of water and energy, allowing for a gentle pause and accumulation of strength to face life's challenges. The Tai Chi session guided participants to move their bodies slowly and softly, promoting balance and flexibility. This gentle rhythm ensured smooth circulation of energy and blood throughout the body, fostering harmony between mind and body.
The participants of this event included several individuals serving in environmental organizations, such as Jolly Patel, a senior speaker from Climate Café; Ben Dillon, a volunteer from International Vipassana Center; and Andrew Tomasulo, the director of the Interdependence Project. The event was organized by the LJM Global Family for Love and Peace (GFLP) Education and Training Program, led by director Lu Chi-Lan, along with numerous local community members interested in environmental issues.
During the group discussion, like-minded participants exchanged ideas, sparking remarkable insights. Jolly Patel from Climate Café, an international environmental organization dedicated to community outreach and climate change awareness, 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 Chi-Lan from GFLP shared that each person is like a small raindrop, gathering together from streams to oceans, forming a tremendous force. Andrew Tomasulo from the International Vipassana Center 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. They deeply reflected on the relationship between nature and humanity, inspiring spiritual thinking and igniting the power of action. The affirmation from participants of various environmental organizations also 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.
Web address of Global Family of Love & Peace