The Earth Holder Community is an Earth Justice Initiative in the Plum Village International Community of Engaged Buddhism, founded by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. First created in the US in 2015 as the Earth Holder Sangha, the EHC is guided by the engaged Buddhist ethics of the Five Mindfulness Trainings and Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings.
The Origin of Our Name
Thich Nhat Hanh translated the name of the Bodhisattva Dharanimdhara as “Bodhisattva Protector of the Earth” or “Earth Holder.” He has written about Earth Holding in his books The World We Have, Love Letters to the Earth, and Peaceful Action, Open Heart.
Dharanimdhara
This Bodhisattva helps further communication between humans and other species… Earth Holder works to preserve this planet for living beings by taking care of the air, water, and soil… We have to take up the practice of Earth Holder Bodhisattva and make protecting and preserving the Earth a top priority… We cannot say that we are too busy to take up this work… We must work to increase awareness of the situation because only mindfulness, awareness of what is happening, can save us from the path of certain disaster we are currently on.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
The Earth Holder Community
What We Stand For
Mindfulness Practice
The root of everything we do is mindfulness. Our individual and collective practice awakens our inter-dependence with and love for Mother Earth. With mindfulness and deep looking into the challenges of our time, we cultivate peace, joy, fearlessness and the insight to know how to be and what to do.
Earth Justice
Earth Justice is a comprehensive term which includes
- Climate Justice
- Social Equity
- Regenerative Economics
- Democratic Process
- Rights of Nature
For more about how the Earth Holder Community is embodying Earth Justice, CLICK HERE>>
Collaboration
Earth Holders embody the teachings and methods of the Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism and bring our insight and healing energy to the momentum of good work happening locally, regionally, nationally, and globally. We contribute mindfulness and compassion to further the efforts of skillful and effective organizations. You’ll find links to some of the groups we partner with in the footer on the bottom of this page.
The world needs the peace, insight, and joy of our Plum Village practice. When we act as Earth Holders, we embody the teachings transmitted to us by our teacher Thich Nhat Hanh in order to help ourselves and others manifest true transformation and healing.
Direct Action
As members of the Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism, Earth Holders commit themselves to “Right” or Compassionate Direct Action in a variety of ways. Click here for some great ideas on how you can get involved.
