On Saturday, June 1, the 14th Buddhist Conference of Catalonia was held at Torre Jussana, under the title “Plum Blossom. Buddhism and Sustainability.”
Objective of the Conference on Buddhism and Sustainability
The goal of the conference was to provide a space where different organizations and individuals interested in Buddhism could exchange opinions, share perspectives, and broaden their understanding of the urgent need to return to a sustainable way of life — one that respects the environment while allowing for fair prosperity for all humanity.
The Buddhism and Sustainability Conference included several talks open to all attendees, each followed by a Q&A session. At the end of the presentations, there was a group discussion where the public contributed questions and reflections on the topics presented. At midday, participants enjoyed a vegetarian lunch, followed by a Vesak celebration ceremony open to everyone.
Talk by Lluís Nansen Salas
Among the eight talks presented on Buddhism and sustainability by the various member organizations of the Coordinating Council, one was given by Lluís Nansen Salas. Under the title “Half a Bucket of Water,” he explained how the teachings of the great Master Sakyamuni Buddha and the Zen Master Dōgen can inspire us to find a way of living that is respectful toward the environment and fosters fair growth for all humanity.
Video of the talk by Lluís Nansen
His lecture, titled “Half a Bucket of Water,” draws on the teachings of Buddha Sakyamuni and Zen Master Dōgen to reflect on how to find a way of life that is both ecologically responsible and socially just.
Evaluations of the 14th Conference on Buddhism and Sustainability
Organized by the Catalan Coordinator of Buddhist Entities, both the coordination and organization, as well as the promotion and publicity, were carried out by Lluís Nansen from Zen Kannon, who was accompanied at all times by volunteers from Zen Kannon and other groups. The participation of the various organizations was numerous and positive, as reflected in the testimonials of several participants from different Buddhist entities who attended the Conference on Buddhism and Sustainability:
“Yesterday, a beautiful gathering at Torre Jussana. Thanks to everyone who made it possible.”
“Please convey our gratitude to all the volunteers. They did an excellent job. Thanks to their dedication, everything went perfectly.”
“A magnificent and inspiring conference! Our recognition and thanks to the organizing team, the volunteers, and the speakers!”
“Many thanks to all the organizers, speakers, and volunteers! It was a very enriching and harmonious day.”
“Good morning, I believe the conference fulfilled its objective of creating a space for exchange and connection within the Buddhist community of Catalonia. It also offered valuable reflections on how to approach sustainability from the individual to society, based on the teachings of the Buddha. A thousand thanks to the organizers, volunteers, and speakers. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it. Until next time!”
