Buddhism In Action for Peace

Buddhist dialogues: Oneness of Self and Environment

How are our inner lives connected to the world around us? Can transforming ourselves also transform our relationships, communities and environment? And what does it mean to see ourselves not as separate from our surroundings, but as deeply interconnected with them? These are some of the questions at the heart of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism, a Mahayana Buddhist tradition based on the Lotus Sutra and the writings of Nichiren Daishonin.

Event details

Where

The Roundhouse - Stag Hill Campus

When

Booking

Tickets: £0

Buddhism In Action for Peace - Mahayana tradition

Join us for an informal gathering open to UoS staff and students to explore how Buddhist philosophy and practice can help us understand our relationship with other people and the world we inhabit, and how our inner transformation can become a source of positive change in our surroundings.

This dialogue will explore the Buddhist concept of the oneness of self and environment (esho funi) - the idea that our lives and our environment are not separate, but mutually connected and inseparable. Through this perspective, we can consider how changing our own state of life can influence our relationships, communities and the wider world.

The meeting will start with a short demonstration of the chanting of the Buddhist mantra Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo by Buddhist community members. Then, through open discussion and reflection, we will explore how Buddhist philosophy and practice can help us cultivate greater awareness, connection and responsibility in our everyday lives.

The meeting will be held by Dr Roberta Discetti, lecturer in Sustainability at UoS, Buddhist practitioner, and member of the Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist global organisation based on the principles of human dignity, peace, and sustainable development.

Please note this meeting is in-person only. No previous experience or knowledge of Buddhism is necessary. You can find more information on Nichiren Buddhism here: SGI-UK