Rob Burbea, 1965-2020

We are saddened to write that Rob Burbea, a dear friend, beloved dharma teacher, and one of the co-founders of DANCE has recently passed away. Rob was one of the central driving forces behind the creation of DANCE back in 2013. At a time when climate change wasn’t as commonly addressed in the context of the dharma as it is now, Rob was already keenly aware of the crisis and would regularly include themes around climate and the environment on the retreats that he led.

Whilst much of his teaching happened within the cloistered walls of Gaia House, a silent retreat centre in rural England, Rob’s own vision for the dharma always resisted any constraint. Through his talks and personal guidance he opened up conceptions of the dharma that made students radically question everything they thought they knew, about what it was and where it could lead. Rob emphasised in his teachings the importance of re-enchanting our perceptions of the world, seeing it as something sacred and beautiful, and treating it as such. He would advocate active and at times even disruptive participation in the world in the spirit of the Bodhisattva ideal. Activism was effectively legitimised and encouraged as a profound avenue of practice, both for cultivating and for giving expression to the liberated heart. It was a talk of his from 2011, ‘The Meditator as Revolutionary’, that inspired so many of us to take our practice off the cushion and into the world.

In addition to talking about these issues in the meditation hall, Rob was also deeply committed to the cause in his personal life. Amongst many other lifestyle choices that he made, he refrained from flying and was a familiar face at climate demonstrations and protest gatherings. Already in 2009, together with a number of other meditators, Rob travelled overland to Copenhagen for the COP15 meeting. This climate pilgrimage was a profound experience for the many practitioners who joined, and a way of bringing an embodiment to their compassion and courage. Most recently, although Rob was rarely able to attend Extinction Rebellion protests due to his ill health, he was widely supportive of their actions and championed the need for civil disobedience.

Rob passed away peacefully in his home in Devon on 7th May 2020, in the early morning hours under the full moon of Vesak. We are tremendously grateful for all that he has given, and for all that he has inspired in so many others. Our words could never be sufficient. May his legacy prevail and continue to benefit all beings everywhere, for a very long time to come.

with love and gratitude ~ Juha Penttilä and Mark Ovland

Rob left a profound wealth of dharma teachings which can be explored at dharmaseed.org. For further listening and reading regarding his thoughts on practice, nature, and activism we can recommend the following:

The Buddha and the Sacred Earth – an article for Resurgence Magazine on Buddhist beliefs about and attitudes to Nature

An Ecology of Love – a talk about love, eros, metta, and the Dharma; about our sense of the Earth, and a sense of the sacred.

The Meditator as Revolutionary – the name says it all