The Loka Initiative

09/01/2026

On the UW-Madison campus, students are all moved in for the school year and classes commence tomorrow. As the energy of the semester buzzes across town, it is also felt here at Loka. What a perfect Tuesday for us all to take a breath.

The start of the school year can be a difficult time for first-generation college students and others of marginalized backgrounds. We see you, and offer this Lucille Clifton poem titled “won’t you celebrate with me” as a reminder of our inner strength and resilience:

“won't you celebrate with me
what i have shaped into
a kind of life? i had no model.
born in babylon
both nonwhite and woman
what did i see to be except myself?
i made it up
here on this bridge between
starshine and clay,
my one hand holding tight
my other hand; come celebrate
with me that everyday
something has tried to kill me
and has failed.”

Slow down to read and take in the lines of this poem.

& don’t forget to enjoy the below photo of Bucky Badger in the wild! 🌟 May we all experience the joy of a badger amidst low-hanging berry branches.

08/27/2026

Our hearts are in Nepal and Tibet today.

A massive glacial collapse in the Nepal-Tibet border led to an enormous landslide and flash flood yesterday killing hundreds of people (counted so far) and leaving thousands of people missing. The collapse caused a 5.2-magnitude earthquake and flooded the Bhotekoshi River system, along which tens of thousands of people live. We are in a time of climate collapse. The question we at Loka constantly ask ourselves is: What do we and our societal systems need to transform to address it?

We offer a recent talk that Loka founder and director, Dekila Chungyalpa provided for One Earth Sangha and their partners at Braided Wisdom and Spirit Rock titled “Compassion in Every Breath: Social Transformation Begins Right Here.” It feels timely to share it as she speaks of the necessity of facing the climate crisis with compassion and courage to do what is required. She offers a contemplative practice that may help navigate our grief, rage, and sorrow where the breath guides us to the greatest source of compassion: Mother Earth herself. By following the breath, we can begin to build our own resilience, be in interdependence with all communities, and dedicate ourselves to social transformation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9yGyJNFgF8&t=2462s.

EcoDharma Explorations - July 27, 2026Compassion in Every BreathS...

08/25/2026

Take a breath with us this Tuesday. We invite you to turn your attention to plants, grasses, leaves. What plant being exists closest to you? A potted one in your home? The grass outside your door? A tree on your street? Observe their fine details. What do you see? Smell? Feel?

In 2024, a volunteer of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Plant Monitoring Program rediscovered a rare plant that had not been seen in the state for over 100 years: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/release/92356

Like this Wisconsin resident, you could be witnessing plant history! 🙉

Plants are so full of wonder, and we hope you will take a sense of that into the rest of your week.

(Photo credit: Unsplash)

08/20/2026

This week, we are once again honored to highlight an event being hosted by one of Loka's esteemed collaborators, Faith in Place!

Over the course of two days, they will host four different sessions, with the ultimate goal of building resilience in order to sustain movements for environmental and racial justice.

Resilience begins with community, and we are truly so grateful to be in community with an organization that shares in Loka's vision for confronting the climate crisis.

You can register for the summit at the link below 🌱

Attend the 2026 Annual Environment & Spirituality Summit hosted by Faith in Place, where thought leaders and participants delve into the critical intersection of environmental sustainability, spiritual practices, and social justice. Engage in transformative discussions that promote eco-conscious

08/18/2026

Take a breath with us this Tuesday.

Today we are loving a recent article by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "Take a look at young animals captured by Snapshot Wisconsin trail cams."

This 2022 trail camera image by Snapshot Wisconsin features Canada goose goslings and an adult in Dodge County.

Scroll through for more wonderful imagery of deer, raccoons, sandhill cranes, and more. We deeply appreciate these glimpses into their lives, and are fortunate to share this planet with them 🦆

How many animals can you spot in the world today?

Link below: https://www.jsonline.com/picture-gallery/sports/outdoors/2026/06/23/young-animals-captured-by-snapshot-wisconsin-trail-cams/90658433007/

08/14/2026

Loka is excited to highlight this upcoming event hosted by one of our partners, The Fetzer Institute Environmental Collaborative!

In their words, “Reawakening Humanity’s Sacred Connection with Earth” is an invitation to honor the Earth and one another through spiritual and indigenous worldviews, which are vital to our efforts to address the climate crisis.

We are honored to share such an aligned vision with our partner for addressing the climate crisis, and are grateful for the community of people doing this crucial work.

This forum will take place virtually and in person on September 20, 2026 from 8:30am-5:30pm. If you find yourself in New York City this fall, you can join in person at Columbia University, The Lee Bollinger Forum!

Sign up is free - reserve your spot now at this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/reawakening-humanitys-sacred-connection-with-earth-tickets-1996127951437

08/11/2026

Loka invites you to take a breath with us this Tuesday.

As summer comes to a close, making way for a new season of abundance, the sun has begun to set a bit earlier each day.

When was the last time you watched as the sun traveled down into the horizon? How many colors could you count in the sky? Did you notice the air around you change as the moon rose?

This evening, if you can, step outside to watch the changing of day into night. Perhaps try to spot all the creatures--birds, bunnies, bugs--with whom you are in community. The season is changing for them too!

Breathe in the knowledge of our oneness with other living beings, and breathe out the demands of the day. Build the resilience you need to make the world better tomorrow.

08/06/2026

✨ Check out the July issue of our monthly newsletter to stay connected with all things Loka! This month’s offering includes: a conversation with Hafiz Muhammad Shafique and other community updates.

✨ Be sure to subscribe to read the full letter and follow along with upcoming stories and events from the Loka community!

Link below:
https://app.explore.wisc.edu/e/es?s=1427524768&e=2503415&elqTrackId=6bf940c8fcbe4d2896cdc087ece57e37&elq=80a790771c674d60b5a7d4ccc4b7096e&elqaid=85674&elqat=1&elqak=8AF5C8692CD04FC46A04B09CD991B38111F34DF2E67456FB06F57E583D938C7B7EFD

08/03/2026

You've heard about Loka gathering 35+ faith leaders in March, but you haven't yet heard from these faith leaders in their own words!

The illustrious 2026 Preparing Religious Environmental Plans (PREP) cohort members hailed from 15 different countries and 12 different US states. We are thrilled to be sharing more about them over the next few months.

One of the inaugural PREP cohort members was Garry Harris, Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Sustainable Communities.

In this clip, he shares the impact of the PREP online course and in-person gathering: "It pulls you out of your normal routine for 5 days, so there is a sacrifice there. But at the same time, tremendous benefits. Would not have traded it for anything," he says.

Learn more about Garry's work at: https://csc-atl.org/

The application window for PREP 2027 will open in the fall! Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear about it when it opens: https://explore.wisc.edu/loka

07/28/2026

Take a breath with us this Tuesday. Perhaps venture to a spot in nature where you can sit, feel grasses, smell flowers. Use all the senses you have to take in the natural world.

Remember that the Earth not only houses all our communities, but is a crucial member of all our communities. To sustain the health of both, we must care equally for both.

If you do not have access to a sit spot today, then from wherever you are: breathe in compassion, send it back out to the world around you.

Recommended poem: "A Small Needful Fact" by Ross Gay