Eco-Dharma and Interbeing: Awakening to Power, Privilege, and Ecological Healing

The Work That Reconnects, much like Buddhism, works toward the liberation of humanity while simultaneously fostering the stewardship and protection of the Earth. Over time, however, some of the activities and explorations practiced within the Work That Reconnects framework have not always landed equally among all participants. What facilitators, in particular PIPOC (People of Indigenous, People of Colour) facilitators and participants, soon realised is that our society’s systems of oppression can easily show up in these liberating spaces, just as they do almost everywhere else in Western society. While we must work on transforming these systems, it is equally important to acknowledge these dynamics when they occur and focus on repair when harm is caused, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Oppression is experienced on multiple scales, ranging from subtle micro-aggressions to macro-level oppressions perpetuated by systemic structures. Examples include sexism, classism, racism, and ableism, which frequently overlap to reinforce one another. This phenomenon is known as interlocking systems of oppression, and anyone living at the intersection of these dynamics experiences a compounding negative impact. Legal scholar and Black feminist Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term intersectionality to describe this reality, noting that anyone challenging oppression must account for these interlocking systems, as their mutual reinforcement makes the overall system stronger. Just as our identities are interconnected—with positive, nourishing aspects that cannot be neatly separated, in a society that privileges white, cisgender maleness, the intersection of identity for a Black, cisgender woman results in a distinct, combined experience of both racism and sexism.

Because of how these systems interlock, any movement or campaign that addresses one form of oppression without acknowledging the others will ultimately fall short. When it comes to environmental stewardship, all beings exist within these interlocking systems. If we want to transform our communities and transition toward an inclusive, liberated, and diverse future, we must take these interconnected dynamics seriously.

Awareness is the central key supporting effective facilitation within the Work That Reconnects or any group focused on social and environmental justice. When working with groups, facilitators, practitioners, and participants alike need to cultivate awareness of how these interlocking systems function, both at the macro societal level and within the immediate container of a workshop or course. When leaders hold this awareness, participants are far more likely to feel safe, allowing an authentic practice experience to emerge.

Working with patterns of harm and oppression in the moment does not always mean instantly "fixing" or solving the issue. Instead, it invites leaders to use their authority to hold and skillfully craft the space when challenging dynamics surface. A grounded understanding of interlocking oppression allows facilitators to support everyone, particularly those from marginalised groups. In these moments, it is vital to pause, attend to the pain, and offer a meaningful response. Facilitators can draw upon their own compassion to set things right, ensuring affected individuals feel truly seen, heard, and understood, while providing clear, reassuring leadership and care for the wider group moving forward. Pausing in this way does not require abandoning the agenda; rather, it creates a space where attendees who experience systemic oppression feel recognised and supported by leadership that understands how power operates.

Unpacking our own conditioning around power and privilege is ongoing, challenging work—especially for white individuals who continuously benefit from these dynamics. Approaching this process with determination, humility, and compassion is essential. It requires breathing through the inevitable discomfort and aversion while opening our hearts to our shared humanity and recognising the ways we may be complicit in complex global systems.

Without a sustained effort to address these dynamics in our daily lives and offerings, we cannot fully experience the joy, intimacy, and wholeness that come from unlearning harmful ways of being. When we successfully navigate this shift, everyone steps into greater collective power. We begin to embody a shared humanity in our minds and bodies, what Thich Nhat Hanh describes as interbeing, a non-individualistic way of seeing and inhabiting the world. When we do the work of learning about intersectionality our Eco-Dharma and interbeing serves as a profound foundation for the Bodhisattvas path, dedicated to building interconnected communities and sustaining life on our planet.