Fighting Climate Change with Positivity

Fighting Climate Change with Positivity How A Buddhist monk in Myanmar believes we can fight the global climate crisis with our minds

Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita believes we can stop climate change by channeling positive energy to ourselves and to others.

Meet Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita

Before becoming an ordained monk in 1992, Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita worked as a psychological researcher at the University of Yangon in Myanmar.

"The world has plenty of money, material goods, and intellect. Yet something is missing. What is it?" - Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita

Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita believes the world needs more of what he calls "loving kindness." He opened a monastery in Mandalay, Myanmar with the mission of teaching others how to embrace and deliver loving kindness to the rest of the world.

A monastery with a mission of sending loving kindness across the universe

Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita's monastery is quietly tucked away in the outskirts of Mandalay in northern Myanmar. Here, his followers learn ancient chants that have the power to send loving kindness across the universe.

The power of meditation

"We need a profound transformation of our human consciousness to fight global warming. We can achieve that transformation through meditation." - Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita

"Meditation strives to produce a state of perfect mental health, equilibrium, and tranquility." - Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita

Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita teaches his followers a meditation technique known as anapanasati, where one focuses on the upper lip while rapidly breathing in and out of the nose.

"Lord Buddha taught us that the only way to attain purity is to overcome sorrow and to end pain and grief. We must enter upon the right path and reach the realization of Nibbhana (Nirvana). The first step to this realization is to meditate and clear one's mind." - Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita

Demonstrating the Power of Loving Kindness

Once a follower masters the art of meditation, Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita teaches his followers about climate change and how sending loving kindness can help stop it.

The Metta Sutta Chant

Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita sending loving kindness across the globe

Recite the following chant two times to send loving kindness:

May all sentient beings be cheerful and be endowed with a happy and secure life
May all the frail ones and the firm creatures be cheerful and be endowed with a happy and secure life
May all those who are seen and those unseen be cheerful and be endowed with a happy and secure life
May all those who are dwelling far and near be cheerful and be endowed with a happy and secure life
May all those who are already born and those still yet to be born be cheerful and be endowed with a happy and secure life
May all tall, short, and medium-sized beings be cheerful and be endowed with a happy and secure life
May all big, small and medium-sized beings be cheerful and be endowed with a happy and secure life
May all fat, thin and medium-sized beings be cheerful and be endowed with a happy and secure life
Let not one be angry with one another, let them not despise anyone in any place
By means of physical and verbal provocation or by frustrated enmity, let one not wish another's suffering

"If we all recite the Metta Sutta, we can save the world and protect it against global warming."

"The earth is getting hotter. And if it continues, we will suffer helplessly like a frog in a pot of boiling water. We can overcome this suffering by chanting Metta Sutta (Loving Kindness)." - Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita

"In this time of climate change, nature needs our loving kindness."

"We believe that water is the medium that loving kindness travels through. We are made of water. The earth is made of water. If we send loving kindness across the earth, we can stop the planet from warming."

A nun and monk in training prepare for the loving kindness ceremony.

Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita created an experiment to show the world the power of Metta Sutta (loving kindness).

"I want to show the world that we can fight climate change by channeling loving, positive energy within ourselves and to others. I created an experiment to demonstrate this."

The Experiment

Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita picks 4 papayas and assigns them into different experimental groups. He has his Yogis gather around the fruit and deliver different chants to show the power of loving kindness.

Group 1 - "World Peace Dhamma"

Yogis chanted the World Peace Dhamma, a chanting technique that delivers loving kindness (Metta Sutta) to the papaya.

Group 2 - "Love & Gratitude"

For this papaya, the Yogis chanted "thank you" three times to express love and gratitude.

Group 3 - Control Group

For the control group, the yogis sit silent and think neutral thoughts.

Group 4 - "Useless Fruit"

The Yogis scold this piece of fruit by chanting useless fruit nine times in a row.

Results

The Yogis conducted the experiment for two weeks. At the end of the trial, the papaya that received the "useless fruit" chant spoiled first while the papaya that received the world peace dhamma spoiled last.

"The results indicate that in order to fight climate change, we must recite and chant the World Peace Dhamma to spread loving kindness across the globe." - Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita

Sending loving kindness across the globe

Everyday, Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita and his followers send loving kindness across the globe with the hope of stopping climate change.

When news of a hurricane or typhoon breaks, Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita instructs his followers to focus their energy on a particular part of the globe. Pictured here, followers are sending loving energy to New Jersey to try and lessen the impact of an incoming hurricane.

"The method is most effective when practiced in a group. In a group, the energy is greatly magnified. The group is able to extend loving kindness through the universe as one."

Dr. Dhamma Rakkhita believes that the state of the outer world is a reflection of our inner selves.

"If we can fill our thoughts, actions, and words with loving kindness, we can change the world."

Created By

Jake Meyers

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All photos taken by Jake Meyers