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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 31
Can Buddhism
Save the Planet?
By Venerable Karma Tashi Choedron
Ven. Dr. Karma Tashi Choedron as a Fellow in the Advance HE To my surprise (or rather, shock),
(Savinder Kaur Gill) is a (formerly the Higher Education I ended up at the International
śrāmaṇerikā ordained by Academy), UK. She has authored Hermitage of Suan Mokkh, Chaiya,
Venerable Khenchen Thrangu two books on conservation and Surat Thani province, Thailand. My
Rinpoche in 2009. She is trained co-authored a book featuring friends left me there and drove off
as a civil engineer and holds a comparative study between into the sunset, literally!
a Ph.D. in Environment and Sikhism and Buddhism, “Two
Resource Studies from Mahidol Gurus One Message”. Benny Liow And there I was, registering for a 10-
day noble silence strict meditation
University, Thailand. She also reached out to Venerable Karma
retreat. I had to deposit my phone,
holds an M.A. in Buddhist Studies on how she became a Buddhist
wallet and books at the registration
from the International Buddhist nun, her study of Buddhism with
counter and could only bring my
College (IBC), Thailand. Dr her ancestral religion, and how clothes with me. I was given a
Karma is currently an Assistant she juggles her role as a spiritual wooden pillow and a mosquito
Professor in Development teacher and a secular teacher at net. When I entered my kuti, I was
Studies at the University of a university. horrified to see a cement slab as my
Nottingham Malaysia and the bed with absolutely nothing else in
Deputy Director of Education Benny: You are born into a there. It was the most austere place
at the Vajrayana Buddhist Punjabi family. How did you get I had ever seen in my life. It was
Council of Malaysia (VBCM) interested in Buddhism? challenging for me to wake up at
and Religious Advisor to the 3am and then bathe from a well at
Malaysian Buddhist Consultative Karma: My interest in Buddhism that unearthly hour and then rush
Council (MBCC). She has received was accidental. I happened to be off to the dhamma hall to listen to
numerous awards: Outstanding stressed at work around the age the daily morning reading of a sutra
with a zillion mosquitoes attacking
Woman in Buddhism Award of 27 in 2002. A career in civil
engineering was stressful and from all directions. The retreat was
in 2010 by the Association
competitive, so I was searching for very strict and regimented. I had a
for the Promotion of Status
some meaning in life. I needed to daily routine of meditation, yoga,
of Women in Thailand, Lord
get away from my work to unwind. then chores, breakfast, then dharma
Dearing Award for excellence
I requested my friends in Thailand talk and then meditation and then
in teaching in 2022, and Team to find me a place where I could do chores and then lunch and then
Award for Commitment to three things: 1) Relax at the beach, meditation etc…with an evening
Enhancing the Research Culture 2) Do some yoga and 3) meditate. chanting and walk around the
and Environment 2023 from My friends did their homework and stupa…near the beach! There was a
University of Nottingham, UK. Dr. sent me to a monastery in Southern hotspring but it was far too hot for
Karma has also been admitted Thailand which fit the description. my taste. No dinner, only soybean
