Buddhism, Ayahuasca, and Oil Spills
Oneness of Life and its Environment
I was born into a family where both of my parents had established a daily Buddhist practice. For over 13 years, I have also been actively practicing Buddhism. One’s life and the environment are often viewed as being completely distinct, but from the comprehensive viewpoint of Buddhist philosophy, they are one and inseparable.
It is a common human tendency to blame our problems and sufferings on things outside ourselves—other people, circumstances beyond our control. The principle of the “oneness of life and its environment,” however, demonstrates that the causes of our joys and sorrows originate within us. As I began to base my life on this principle, I realized that the environment is a reflection of my inner state of life.
Arriving at the Largest Oil Disaster in the Amazon Rainforest
When I arrived in the Northern Amazon Rainforest, I witnessed one of the greatest human-caused environmental disasters. Most people probably don't realize this, but Ecuador's home to the largest oil spill in history. Between 1964 and 1992 the oil company Texaco, now owned by Chevron, dumped over 16 billion gallons of oil waste in Ecuador's Amazon region of Lago Agrio.
From the perspective of Buddhism, how could I personally take responsibility for this horrific catastrophe that I was witnessing before my eyes? One of the world's most vital rivers poisoned, thousands of indigenous people sick from contamination, and the most biodiverse forest on earth sinking in toxic waste. I began to reflect on the root cause.
As a Japanese American, I understood that the western world today is literary running on oil. Everything we consume somehow has been touched by oil. As a participant in the current oil run reality, a great inner resolve emerged as I decided to take responsibility to change my immediate environment. Filming the stories of those impacted by this environment for the film, The Roots Awaken, provided a solution to change poison into medicine. I felt empowered that I had the power to change my environment.
Drinking Ayahuasca with Cofan Tribe
The Cofan, are an indigenous people, that live in land that is impacted by the oil disaster. They have been environmental stewards of the ancestral territory long before oil began to spill into the pristine jungle. Soon after chanting to create hope from the disaster I saw, I was invited to an Ayahuasca ceremony with a prominent medicine man from the community.
I arrived in the community as the sun was setting. I walked through dense jungle brush before arriving to the maloka, or ceremonial house. Ayahuasca is an ancestral medicine that connects one back to the origin; the source of all life where everything that has existed, exits, and will exist collides.
After sipping the thick brew from a gourd, I sat back in my hammock and shut my eyes. After an hour I began to feel my soul slip between my ribs and rise towards the distant sky. In a profound state of grace with the cosmos I had a vision of a black snake slithering across the land; fires spreading across the jungle and heavy smoke filling the air. That was one of many things I saw throughout the night.
At dawn, the first light began to fill the ceremonial lodge, as I slowly moved my toes and fingers. I took a long slow inhale as tears began to slide down my cheeks; I am alive I told myself. Looking around at the beauty of the environment I felt a great blessing, to take yet another breath of life.
Indigenous Resistance
The Cofan have been battling the effects of the oil companies since they arrived in 1964. The longest ongoing environmental justice court case is still ongoing. To learn more and take action visit Amazon Frontlines. Many people understand the disastrous impact that large oil spills have on the environment and the people that live there. However, few people know the power of the Cofan wisdom and medicine. In addition to ayahuasca, there are thousands of medicinal plants in the jungle that can be used to heal and advance the consciousness of humanity.
Witnessing the worst environmental disaster and the greatest indigenous ancestral wisdom at the same time left me feeling that humanity must take responsibility for their actions. After drinking ayahuasca I felt the true interconnectedness between myself and all of life. Through undergoing my own inner human revolution, my Buddhist practice has allowed me to take action to change my environment. When we see that we are inseparable from the place we live, we begin to protect and care for the source of life. Stay tuned for more solutions in The Roots Awaken.
written by Kumiko Hayashi - kumiko@therootsawaken.com