Spirituality in the Hungarian Permaculture Movement

This study aims to explore aspects of religion and spirituality within the Hungarian permaculture movement, demonstrating that while permaculture is first and foremost a rational and pragmatic practice grounded in ecological principles, its ethical and holistic approach remains open to various forms of spirituality. In the author’s view, religion and spirituality within the Hungarian community remain largely unseen at present: regarded as a private matter, the topic has not yet made its way into the movement’s dominant discourse. The author demonstrates how permaculture can be linked to Buddhist, Christian, esoteric, and natural spiritual (neo-pagan) worldviews through the medium of four practitioners following four different religious/spiritual traditions. The case studies illuminate how, for some, the practice of permaculture helps deepen spirituality, while for others, the pursuit remains limited to a more rational ecological framework. In general, however, the observation of nature and ‘co-operation with life’ inherent in the permaculture approach frequently result in a reinterpretation of the human–nature relationship. This study emphasises that there is no single permaculture spirituality, but rather a range of individual worldviews existing side by side. The movement’s strength lies in its diversity, openness, and tolerance for worldviews.