On July 19, 2025, the world lost a brilliant soul. Joanna Macya Buddhist scholar, environmental activist and beloved teacher, died peacefully in Berkeley, California, at the age of 96.
As a pioneering voice of ecodharma and the visionary behind The Work That Reconnects, he skillfully weaves deep ecology, systems thinking, and Buddhist wisdom into a profoundly transformative path of engaged spirituality.
His teachings have shaped countless generations of change-making, awareness-raising teachers and dedicated environmentalists – myself included. Although his passing leaves a deep void, his radiant spirit remains and inspires us all to meet the world with compassion, courage and reverence.
A life in interaction
Joanna Macy’s work is rooted in a radical truth:
Everything is connected.
He invited us to face our ecological despair, not as weakness, but as proof of our deep love of life.
Originally known as Despair and Empowerment Work, Work That Reconnects offered a revolutionary framework for healing. It guides us through four movements:
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Grounding in gratitude
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In honor of our pain for the world
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Seeing with new eyes
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Moving forward with renewed purpose
This cycle teaches that when we honor grief rather than repress it, it transforms into compassion and courageous action.
His words are still in my head:
“The world is wide and alive now, even holy. I am very grateful to be here and to serve.” — Joanna Macy
How Joanna Macy Changed My Path
Years ago, while living as a Buddhist monk, I discovered Joanna’s The Work That Reconnects. This book changed everything.
Until then, I thought that spiritual life meant withdrawing from the noise of the world. Joanna taught me the opposite, that true practice requires commitment, compassion, and courage in the face of suffering.
It was his influence that led me out of the monastery and into the community. I spent five years at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and then founded MindfulnessExercises.com to bring mindfulness to the world.
His teachings on humanity’s collective shift towards a life-sustaining society have become the heartbeat of my work. They have inspired initiatives like Mindful EPA and Mindful NOAA, where environmental awareness meets action and policy.
Joanna helped me understand that mindfulness is not withdrawal, but a responsibility rooted in love.
The activist is a mystic
Joanna Macy embodied what she taught. His life spanned decades of anti-nuclear activism, environmental education and global cooperation. He reminded us that hope is not about expecting ease, but about being present.
“There is no word for hope in Buddhadharma, because hope takes us out of the present moment. The present moment, however brief, is our gift, our point of choice.”
From the Spirit Dance to the Council of All Beings, Joanna’s practices have given form to collective healing, helping us express grief, celebrate life and remember our belonging in the web of existence.
Continuing your work
In honor of her memory, I invite you to explore Joanna’s free course:
This opportunity to participate in the teachings he so generously offers is a living expression of his wisdom.
This allows us to continue our mission: to reconnect with ourselves, each other, and the living Earth.
Joanna Macy may have passed on, but her teachings live on in every conscious breath, every courage, and every effort to restore balance to our world.
In gratitude
As I write this, I feel both grief and deep gratitude, grief for a mentor we lost and gratitude for the seeds he planted in all of us.
His life reminds us that awakening is not only personal, but planetary.
To honor him is to turn to life, again and again, with respect and determination.
“Let us hold with gratitude, cultivate reverence for life, and act with love and fierce curiosity.”
With a deep bow – for Joanna and for all of you to continue her work.
