Zen and the Art
of Saving the Planet
Join a 7-week journey to cultivate resilience, build community & stay engaged without burning out.
“I feel angry, anxious and exhausted. I’m fighting for the Earth with all my heart.
I want to stand in solidarity with all those facing injustice.
But sometimes the scale of the crisis feels unbearable. How can I keep showing up?”
If that voice sounds familiar, you’re not alone. It’s one that many of us engaged in activism, community organising and climate work know well.
Our teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, witnessed his homeland torn apart through war and spent nearly 40 years in exile because he called for peace. He learned to transform his suffering into engaged action, finding a way to care that didn’t destroy him. His teachings are at the heart of this course.
Over seven weeks, you are invited into a path that will support you to keep your heart open – even when it’s bleeding. You’ll practice alongside friends from all over the world, building community and collective action together for a more beautiful – and just – future.
What You’ll Experience
Learn to care for your climate emotions without being consumed by them.
Meet yourself where you are. Begin to embrace rest, and joy, as an act of resistance.
Participate in a community of refuge, doing the inner work for meaningful action, together.
Pricing & Registration
We have hundreds of scholarships available for those most impacted by the climate crisis. If you identify as from one of the following, you are eligible to apply for a scholarship that meets your needs. These scholarships are lovingly subsidised by friends paying the standard rate for the course.
- BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color)
- From a Global Majority country
- Young Person (under 35)
What This Course Offers
Thay’s Teachings
Discover rare archival teachings from Thich Nhat Hanh on Engaged Buddhism and learn to apply them to your climate leadership.
Live Sessions with Monastics
Reconnect with monastic teachers through online events; ask questions from the heart and deepen your practice alongside people who’ve devoted their lives to this path..
Dharma Teachings
Experience profound teachings for a world in crisis, and reflect on how they might apply to your work and climate action.
Daily Meditation Practices
Bring the teachings into your daily life through guided meditations, contemplations, and
reflection questions.
Small Groups for Deep Listening
Sharing groups offer a way to practice deep listening, mindful sharing, and experience the power of collective practice.
A Living Community
Connect with changemakers and practitioners across the globe. As Thich Nhat Hanh said,
“the next Buddha will be a community”.
Jump To Practicalities
What to Expect?
- For the Climate & Nature Leaders’ Community, the ZASP course (18th October – 6th December) is being offered in combination with the ZASP Alumni Pathway (continued access until end of 2028).
- As part of the upcoming ZASP course, there are 5 live events which you can access via Zoom. All events will be recorded if you’re unable to make it live:
- Opening Event – Sunday 18th October, 19:30-20:30 CET
- Q&A Event – Sunday 1st November, 19:30-2030 CET
- Deep Relaxation (optional) – Sunday 15th November, 19:30-20:30 CEST
- Workshop -Sunday 22nd November, 19:30-21:00 CEST
- Closing Event – Sunday 6th December, 19:30-20:30 CEST
- Following the course you will be given access to the ZASP Alumni Pathway, which will allow ongoing access to all content until end of 2028, plus further live events at the start of 2027.
Meet Your Teachers
Thich Nhat Hanh
Zen master, poet, peace activist and spiritual teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) devoted his life to helping people transform suffering and build a more conscious, compassionate world. His teachings are at the heart of this course.
Christiana Figueres
Christiana Figueres has spent decades bringing people and nations together for climate action. Thay’s teachings touched her deeply, and she now offers retreats with Plum Village for climate & nature leaders, such as you. She is also a teacher on the ZASP course.
Plum Village Monastics & Lay Teachers
Sister Từ Nghiêm, Felipe Viveros, Sister Peace, Sister True Dedication, Christiana Figueres, Brother Pháp Hữu, Dr. Larry Ward, Sister Lăng Nghiêm, Sister Trai Nghiêm, Anh Tran (Nho),
Sister Tuệ Nghiêm, Brother Pháp Linh, Sister Chân Không, Brother Pháp Xả, Brother Pháp Dung, Sister Định Nghiêm, John Bell, Sister Chân Đức
What Participants Are Saying
Participants from over
120 countries, across 6 continents.
More connected to nature,
hopeful, empowered, & supported.
Shifts in self-awareness, agency, and
engagement with the world.
Statistics from: Wamsler, C. (2026). The Seeds We Sow: From Polycrisis and -Isms to Interbeing and Societal Transformation, Journal of Awareness-Based Systems Change, 6(1), 92–140.
Course Trailer
