Where the Mind Meets the Tree – A Conversation with Nature

On September 11th, 2022, Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre's Young People's Group invited Mr. Kyle Lemle, a forester, organizer, facilitator, strategy consultant, and musician, to share his work and vision through an interactive interview.
 
As a forester, Kyle travelled around the globe to work on restoring forests in many countries. From the pine forests of the Himalayas to the mangroves of Southeast Asia, to the urban forests in San Francisco, Kyle shared with the participants the connections observed not only between trees and humans, but also between one forest and another. He also touched upon the concept of spiritual ecology and discussed the relationship between our inner and outer environments. According to Kyle, when we find harmony between the two, we can　consequently be more mindful of our actions, as they would then be more aligned with our intentions.
 
Combining his passion for environment with social justice, Kyle co-founded the Lead-to-Life project that transforms guns into shovels. These shovels are then used to plant trees at sites where gun violence occurred and many lives were lost. The families of victims were invited to watch the guns being melted down and recast into shovels. They then used the re-casted shovels to plant trees at sites where their loved ones passed. Through this experience, Kyle witnessed the healing power of life and Nature.

Being a musician by nature, Kyle played one of his songs, called "Remember Me", which celebrates our relationship with Nature, leaving the audience moved in a way that was never before experienced.  
 
After sharing his experience, Kyle led a triad activity that allowed the participants to reflect on each member's vision from the perspectives of a citizen of the earth, an ancestor, and a future resident. Through this activity, participants had an opportunity to see the vertical connections we have with our ancestors and future generations as well as to reflect on the impacts we can make in our daily lives.
 
Kyle's work emphasized our relationship with each other and Nature. Seeing the connection that we have with ourselves, others, and Nature reminds us to be more mindful of the impact that our actions bring. On top of this, Kyle's talk also inspired us to think about what we can do in our daily lives to make the world a better place.
 
Please click here to view the recording of this talk!
 
Written by Monica Ho 2022.09.28
Photo: Dharma Drum Vancouver Centre 2022.09.28
Editing: Keith Brown