Blending Myth and Science: Ling Jiou Mountain’s “Memory Portal Open Studio” Recognized by NYC Climate Education Awards
Dharma Master Hsin Tao, Founding Abbot of the Ling Jiou Mountain (LJM) Buddhist Society, has long championed a spiritual ecology grounded in the principle that “all life is interconnected.” In alignment with this vision, LJM’s affiliate NGO, the Global Family for Love & Peace (GFLP), launched the fourth edition of its “Here On Earth” Climate Leadership Training Program in New York City. This year’s initiative—Memory Portal Open Studio—earned a Climate Education Citation from the New York City Department of Education for its innovative fusion of Chinese mythology, namely the Classic of Mountains and Seas, with contemporary environmental education. The Memory Portal program hosted two creative workshops in May: Consciousness Engineering and Memory Portal 2D to 3D. A screening and climate leadership forum are scheduled for June 14 to showcase participants’ works and extend the conversation on environmental action.
The Memory Portal Open Studio project was curated under the guidance of Professor Amy Cheung of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, a seasoned scholar in public art and environmental engagement. The program welcomed the participation of community youth alongside subject-matter experts and scholars. Drawing creative inspiration from The Classic of Mountains and Seas, the curriculum combined public art with environmental education to encourage students to cultivate both the imaginative and narrative skills needed to respond to the climate crisis—along with a sense of personal responsibility. The program reflects a dynamic fusion of innovative pedagogy and spiritual awareness.
The program included large-scale creative workshops as well as a field visit to an organic farm. The Memory Portal 2D to 3D workshop featured a special interdisciplinary dialogue with Professor Kerry Reid, an evolutionary biologist from Yale University, and Griffin Deans, an environmental engineer and biologist from the State University of New York, joined by Professor Amy Cheung. HOE Youth Program Director Ruo Yang served as the mythological narrator, weaving in stories and symbols from The Classic of Mountains and Seas that reflect humanity’s relationship with nature. These ancient metaphors sparked reflection among participants, encouraging them to draw insights from traditional wisdom to understand today’s environmental challenges better.
The discussion highlighted mythological episodes that resonate with today’s environmental crises—such as the goddess Nüwa mending the broken sky, evoking the modern challenge of ozone depletion, and the ancient hero Da Yu’s approach to flood control, which favored redirecting water rather than blocking it. This stood in sharp contrast to the levee failures in Louisiana, where attempts to contain flooding by force backfired—an example of resisting, rather than working with, nature’s flow. The forum concluded with a shared understanding: truly effective environmental solutions often arise from aligning with nature rather than relying solely on technology, challenging the persistent myth of technological omnipotence.
Combining Film Empowerment with Deep Reflection to Inspire Impactful Creations
In partnership with New York Harbor School, the Consciousness Engineering workshop extended the creative lineage of “Bill,” a sculpture made of oyster shells and stone symbolizing the driving forces of capitalism, originally featured in Professor Amy Cheung’s award-winning environmental film TimeBank THE GAME. For this new chapter, Professor Cheung once again employed the same materials to craft “Will,” a new figure inspired by Eastern mythology and environmental science. Echoing the mythical beasts of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, “Will” embodies the spiritual will to protect the ocean.
“Will” is more than just a sculpture—it’s a fully functional multimedia underwater installation. Outfitted with a subaquatic camera, microphone, and sensing instruments, it was submerged into the ocean following a ceremonial launch. From that moment, it began collecting environmental data such as sound waves and seawater pH levels, contributing valuable material for future marine conservation research and environmental education. This creation fuses art, mythology, and science to showcase how the new generation responds to environmental crises with both creativity and a sense of responsibility. It also brings to life the idea that “empowerment is more than a concept—it can be realized as tangible, actionable technology.”
Lu Chih-Lan, Director of the Education and Training Program at GFLP (Global Family of Love & Peace), remarked, “Filmmaking is certainly a valuable skill—but ultimately, it’s just a tool. Without deep concern for and reflection on environmental issues, any resulting work risks being superficial.”With that in mind, the course was designed with two core pillars: one, training in visual storytelling and creative production; and two, cultivating deeper thinking around environmental topics. Only when these two elements work in tandem can a piece of work become truly impactful, serving as a powerful language in response to the world.
From Participation to Internalization: Turning Environmental Awareness into Transformative Power
The collaborative effort of students across two workshops culminated in two large collective paintings titled Deep Time, which stand as key achievements of the project. These 30-foot-long scrolls were initially sketched by Professor Amy Cheung , who used mythological imagery from the Classic of Mountains and Seas as the structural foundation. Following group discussions and exchanges, the students added layers of detail and imagination to the scrolls, symbolizing how collective participation shapes shared visions and values regarding the environment’s future.
Program Director Lu Chih-Lan noted that this participatory creative process not only sparks diverse reflections on environmental issues and public policy but also encourages each participant to ask themselves, “What can I do?” She emphasized that only through active, hands-on involvement can individuals experience profound value transformation, ultimately cultivating new social “genes” for change.
Lu further explained that contemporary environmental concerns often focus on the past 50 to 100 years. However, by extending our perspective to encompass “Deep Time” — the Earth’s long-term evolution over thousands of years — we can uncover solutions and strategies that transcend modern-day thinking. This was the inspiration behind the creation of Deep Time: using art to connect history and the future, and to awaken collective will rooted in cultural heritage.
The Memory Portal Open Studio project skillfully weaves together ancient mythology and contemporary thinking, inviting participants to reflect deeply on the interconnectedness of water, memory, and human responsibility. This vision echoes Dharma Master Hsin Tao’s advocacy for spiritual ecology and interdependent coexistence. Through creative, hands-on engagement and interdisciplinary dialogue, the younger generation is encouraged to deepen their understanding of the climate crisis, critically reflect on global environmental challenges, and explore their individual roles and potential within them. The program also expands the possibilities for how environmental education can be practiced and inspired. Following a rigorous selection process, three outstanding climate action proposals will be chosen from among the participants and further developed into real-world environmental initiatives — injecting fresh, innovative energy into the protection and restoration of marine ecosystems.
The Memory Portal Open Studio project was curated under the guidance of Professor Amy Cheung of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, a seasoned scholar in public art and environmental engagement. The program welcomed the participation of community youth alongside subject-matter experts and scholars. Drawing creative inspiration from The Classic of Mountains and Seas, the curriculum combined public art with environmental education to encourage students to cultivate both the imaginative and narrative skills needed to respond to the climate crisis—along with a sense of personal responsibility. The program reflects a dynamic fusion of innovative pedagogy and spiritual awareness.
The program included large-scale creative workshops as well as a field visit to an organic farm. The Memory Portal 2D to 3D workshop featured a special interdisciplinary dialogue with Professor Kerry Reid, an evolutionary biologist from Yale University, and Griffin Deans, an environmental engineer and biologist from the State University of New York, joined by Professor Amy Cheung. HOE Youth Program Director Ruo Yang served as the mythological narrator, weaving in stories and symbols from The Classic of Mountains and Seas that reflect humanity’s relationship with nature. These ancient metaphors sparked reflection among participants, encouraging them to draw insights from traditional wisdom to understand today’s environmental challenges better.
The discussion highlighted mythological episodes that resonate with today’s environmental crises—such as the goddess Nüwa mending the broken sky, evoking the modern challenge of ozone depletion, and the ancient hero Da Yu’s approach to flood control, which favored redirecting water rather than blocking it. This stood in sharp contrast to the levee failures in Louisiana, where attempts to contain flooding by force backfired—an example of resisting, rather than working with, nature’s flow. The forum concluded with a shared understanding: truly effective environmental solutions often arise from aligning with nature rather than relying solely on technology, challenging the persistent myth of technological omnipotence.
Combining Film Empowerment with Deep Reflection to Inspire Impactful Creations
In partnership with New York Harbor School, the Consciousness Engineering workshop extended the creative lineage of “Bill,” a sculpture made of oyster shells and stone symbolizing the driving forces of capitalism, originally featured in Professor Amy Cheung’s award-winning environmental film TimeBank THE GAME. For this new chapter, Professor Cheung once again employed the same materials to craft “Will,” a new figure inspired by Eastern mythology and environmental science. Echoing the mythical beasts of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, “Will” embodies the spiritual will to protect the ocean.
“Will” is more than just a sculpture—it’s a fully functional multimedia underwater installation. Outfitted with a subaquatic camera, microphone, and sensing instruments, it was submerged into the ocean following a ceremonial launch. From that moment, it began collecting environmental data such as sound waves and seawater pH levels, contributing valuable material for future marine conservation research and environmental education. This creation fuses art, mythology, and science to showcase how the new generation responds to environmental crises with both creativity and a sense of responsibility. It also brings to life the idea that “empowerment is more than a concept—it can be realized as tangible, actionable technology.”
Lu Chih-Lan, Director of the Education and Training Program at GFLP (Global Family of Love & Peace), remarked, “Filmmaking is certainly a valuable skill—but ultimately, it’s just a tool. Without deep concern for and reflection on environmental issues, any resulting work risks being superficial.”With that in mind, the course was designed with two core pillars: one, training in visual storytelling and creative production; and two, cultivating deeper thinking around environmental topics. Only when these two elements work in tandem can a piece of work become truly impactful, serving as a powerful language in response to the world.
From Participation to Internalization: Turning Environmental Awareness into Transformative Power
The collaborative effort of students across two workshops culminated in two large collective paintings titled Deep Time, which stand as key achievements of the project. These 30-foot-long scrolls were initially sketched by Professor Amy Cheung , who used mythological imagery from the Classic of Mountains and Seas as the structural foundation. Following group discussions and exchanges, the students added layers of detail and imagination to the scrolls, symbolizing how collective participation shapes shared visions and values regarding the environment’s future.
Program Director Lu Chih-Lan noted that this participatory creative process not only sparks diverse reflections on environmental issues and public policy but also encourages each participant to ask themselves, “What can I do?” She emphasized that only through active, hands-on involvement can individuals experience profound value transformation, ultimately cultivating new social “genes” for change.
Lu further explained that contemporary environmental concerns often focus on the past 50 to 100 years. However, by extending our perspective to encompass “Deep Time” — the Earth’s long-term evolution over thousands of years — we can uncover solutions and strategies that transcend modern-day thinking. This was the inspiration behind the creation of Deep Time: using art to connect history and the future, and to awaken collective will rooted in cultural heritage.
The Memory Portal Open Studio project skillfully weaves together ancient mythology and contemporary thinking, inviting participants to reflect deeply on the interconnectedness of water, memory, and human responsibility. This vision echoes Dharma Master Hsin Tao’s advocacy for spiritual ecology and interdependent coexistence. Through creative, hands-on engagement and interdisciplinary dialogue, the younger generation is encouraged to deepen their understanding of the climate crisis, critically reflect on global environmental challenges, and explore their individual roles and potential within them. The program also expands the possibilities for how environmental education can be practiced and inspired. Following a rigorous selection process, three outstanding climate action proposals will be chosen from among the participants and further developed into real-world environmental initiatives — injecting fresh, innovative energy into the protection and restoration of marine ecosystems.