July 18

3:00 – 4:30 p.m. EST / 8:00 – 9:30 p.m. CEST

About the Session

At Work in the Ruins is an exploration of how we can find our place in the world in a time of science, climate change, pandemics, and all the other emergencies we face in this current age. “Climate change asks us questions that climate science cannot answer,” Dougald says. Questions like, how did we end up in this mess? Is it just a piece of bad luck with atmospheric chemistry – or is it the result of a way of approaching the world that would always have brought us to such a pass? How we answer such questions also has consequences. Through our over-reliance on the single lens of science, Dougald posits that we are blinded to the nature of the crises around and ahead of us, leading to ‘solutions’ that can only make things worse. Join a conversation that suggests if we stand firmly forward and face the depth of the trouble we are in, it can help us find the work that is worth doing, even in the ruins.

About Dougald

Dougald Hine is a social thinker, writer and speaker. After an early career as a BBC journalist, he co-founded organisations including the Dark Mountain Project and a school called HOME. He has collaborated with scientists, artists and activists, serving as a leader of artistic development at Riksteatern (Sweden’s national theatre) and as an associate of the Centre for Environment and Development Studies at Uppsala University. His latest book is At Work in the Ruins: Finding Our Place in the Time of Science, Climate Change, Pandemics & All the Other Emergencies (2023). He co-hosts The Great Humbling podcast and publishes a Substack called Writing Home.

About the Eco-Dharma Talk Series

July 16-20

3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Eastern / 8:00 – 9:30 p.m. CEST

15 USD / EUR per session

This event is part of the Eco-Dharma Talk Series: Exploring Where A Mindful Life and Ecology Meet with Dougald Hine, Helena Norberg-Hodge, Adam Lobel, Catherine McGee, Liane Stephan, and Christian Daniel Wahl.

Topics in this five-day Eco-Dharma Talk series range from circular economies, the importance of local food, finding our way in the midst of climate and other crises, ”inner dimensions of sustainability,” and our connection to the sacred earth. This talk series is being offered by Shambhala Online, in collaboration with Dechen Chöling Retreat Centre in France, and hosted by the Shambhala Touching the Earth Collective.

Session Topics and Presenters:

July 16 – Designing Regenerative Cultures with Christian Daniel Wahl 

July 17 – Local Food Can Save the World with Helena Norberg-Hodge 

July 18 – At Work in the Ruins: Finding Our Way In A Chaotic World with Dougald Hine

July 19 – Inner Green Deal with Liane Stephan

July 20 – This Sacred Earth with Catherine McGee and Adam Lobel

Each live session will include:

• A brief guided meditation
• A one-hour presentation
• Time for exchange and questions
• Connection with other meditation practitioners interested in the intersection between a mindful life, Buddhism, ecology, and care for our planet

Join one session or join them all. We can’t wait to see you there!

This online talk series is part of an in-person retreat being hosted at Dechen Chöling Retreat Centre in Limoges, France. To find out more and join in-person at Dechen Chöling, visit the Dechen Chöling retreat registration page.