Vermont
Zen Center
Shelburne, Vermont
Date
of interview: November 14, 2004
Sensei Sunyana Graef
Size of congregation: 65
Religion: Zen Buddhist
Interview with: Randy Crosby, Maria, Heather, Kelly, and Sensei Sunyana
Graef
Activities: In order to minimize their impact on the earth and maintain a lower place on the food chain, the Center made the decision to be completely vegetarian in all meals served there and to compost all of the food waste for their garden.
Other measures have been taken at the Center to encourage ecologically-minded activities. The building uses only compact fluorescent light bulbs and maintains an "EnergyStar" system of radiant heating that is powered by propane instead of petroleum. Furthermore, only reusable dishware is used for meals at the Center. The building was also built using wood from members' local woodlots. The Center is also situated on an 80 acre plot that was donated on the agreement that the plot would not be subdivided and the land would be preserved.
In addition, the Center strongly encourages carpooling and the use of efficient cars. Almost all cars in the parking lot were compact and receive high gas mileage.
Motivations: There are many elements of the Zen Buddhist faith that promote ecological consciousness. The first precept of Zen Buddhism states "Not to kill, but to cherish all Life." Through this statement, Buddhists are called upon to see themselves as connected to all other entities on this earth. Thus, killing another being is ultimately killing oneself. When asked how faith inspires environmental beliefs, Randy Crosby cited the concept of karma, whereby each action that we take in this world has an effect on something else and this consequence is either positive or negative, depending on the nature of the initial action. This law teaches us to take responsibility for our actions and that every act we commit will have a consequence.
Another precept of Zen Buddhism addressed the issue of consumption of material objects in stating "Not to cause others to take substances that confuse the mind nor to do so oneself, but to keep the mind clear." Although this precept usually refers to the consumption of alcohol or other mind-altering substances, it can be interpreted as a prohibition of overconsumption and a call to live more simply on this earth.
Challenges: Similiar to many of the other congregations that we spoke with, financial constraints served as the greatest challenge to making a more serious commitment to caring for the earth. For example, the Zen Center wanted to install photovoltaic cells in the new building, but the funds available to do so were simply not sufficient.
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