Special Offering
At the Threshold: a four part series on Buddhist Eco-Chaplaincy (Panel 2)
July 21, 2026
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Location
Online
July 21, 2026
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
PANEL 2: The Dharma of Upheaval: What does Buddhist Eco Chaplaincy Look Like in the World?
As was discussed in the first panel, What is Buddhist Eco-Chaplaincy: Responding to Eco-Crisis from the Cushion to the Earth, Buddhist Eco-chaplaincy is an emerging field of spiritual care in the United States that offers a compassionate response to suffering, often engaging in Earth-based ritual as a way of grounding from within, and being resourced through our Interbeing.
In this second panel, The Dharma of Upheaval: What Does Buddhist Eco-Chaplaincy Look Like in the World?, we will hear from several Buddhist Eco-Chaplaincy practitioners whose work in the world includes prison chaplaincy, ecological disaster response, organizational training, dharma teaching, climate activism, community building, individual therapy, and academic teaching and scholarship. We will hear about the variety of modalities their work manifests, and the range of arenas in which Buddhist eco-chaplains respond to suffering in their communities and in the world.
This is the second in a four-part online series created in collaboration with BECA (Buddhist Eco-Chaplaincy Association). In this panel we explore Buddhist eco-chaplaincy with panelists offering different perspectives on ecological grief, spiritual care, and real-world application. Across four sessions, participants will gain insight into its foundations, intersectional relevance, and interfaith possibilities while experiencing the compassionate outlook this emerging field offers.
Time: 7:00–8:30 PM ET / 4:00–5:30 PM PT
Location: Online via Zoom (link will be provided to registrants)
Fee: $10–$75 sliding scale, per event.
(Find your rate through our Equitable Pricing Model. If this doesn’t work for you, apply for financial assistance. No one will be turned away due to financial constraints).
Financial assistance deadline: July 14, 11:59pm ET
Registration deadline: July 21 at 12:00 PM ET /9:00 AM PT — Register below.
Questions? Contact us at info@brooklynzen.org.
Chris Shunmyō Goto-Jones is a Buddhist Chaplain working in the field of EcoDharma on Vancouver Island, Canada, where he is also a therapist in private practice. He has been a Buddhist practitioner for more than 30 years, mostly in the Zen tradition. He is a Professor in Philosophy at the University of Victoria and an Honorary Professor in Asian Studies at UBC; he teaches mostly in the fields of Continental, Asian, and Environmental Philosophy.
Sarah Vekasi, M. Div., knows what it is to be on the ground organizing for social justice. As a member of the national network of trained facilitators of The Work That Reconnects, created by Joanna Macy, and a long-time engaged environmentalist, Vekasi addresses the importance of a mindful approach to the path ahead that recalls the title of Thích Nhất Hạnh’s book on walking meditation: The Long Road Turns to Joy.
Ram Appalaraju is a Buddhist practitioner, teacher, and contemplative chaplain whose work bridges meditation, service, and social care. Having studied Vedanta for over twenty years, Ram began practicing Buddhism in 2009 and has since deepened their training as a student of Gil Fronsdal at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, California. Ram serves as a Dharma leader and teacher at San Jose Insight Meditation, guiding students on the path of mindfulness and insight. He is also a faculty member of the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies, contributing to contemplative education on eco-chaplaincy. Rooted in a deep commitment to service, Ram works as both a jail chaplain and an eco-chaplain, offering spiritual care and presence to incarcerated individuals, people facing ecological loss and eco-anxiety, and those experiencing homelessness. He has completed four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), is certified in several areas of behavioral health, including trauma and grief, and brings this professional chaplaincy training to his care work. As the Executive Director of Insight World Aid, Ram leads efforts to bring Buddhist-informed support and resources to marginalized communities, extending the dharma beyond traditional settings and into the heart of human need.
Photo by Margo Evardson on Unsplash
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