23_The Environment and Five Natural Laws

                         The Environment and Five Natural Laws





According in Buddhist philosophy, the name for the physical world, loka, also refers to the physical and mental nature of human beings. The Buddha's teachings consider human beings to be inseparable from the physical world. Therefore, the environment can be three-fold: Physical, mental, and social. Examples of the physical environment are well known –the flora and fauna, the surrounding terrain, climate, and other natural elements of the physical world. Our mental environment includes the conditions that either help, or hinder, intellectual, spiritual, religious, and ethical development. Finally, our social environment is defined by our relationship with other humans, as well as the larger community around us.
According to ancient Buddhist commentaries, there are groups of natural laws or cosmic order that interact with the environment such as: Physical, or inorganic laws, organic laws, moral laws, psychological laws, and causal laws.

To begin with, physical or inorganic laws (utu niyāma) the physical laws describe how physical things, including the four elements of fire, water, earth, and air, can interact. For instance, climate, seasonal changes, natural disasters, and other purely physical systems fall into this category, along with the plant life that we depend on to survive. Together, these laws not only guide our physical environment, but also have a huge impact on our social and mental environments as well. The climate can affect the way people structure their communities and even influence our psychological health. For instance, countries in colder, darker areas of the world often have much higher suicide rates. Physical laws are often the easiest to understand, but they also bring great suffering when they are ignored. Whenever human beings exploit the natural world through irresponsible and dangerous practices like overfishing, deforestation, and environmental contamination, we break these physical laws. Often the results are famine, drought, and irreversible ecological devastation. Human beings should earn their wealth without harming and exploiting the physical environment.

In addition to inorganic laws, organic laws (bija niyāma), are biological laws that govern all living things. For instance, the nature of germs, seeds, their genetic made up. When we plant a mango, we reap mango, but not apples. The organic laws interact with physical laws in order maintain a very health environment for sentient beings to survive and thrive.

Furthermore, moral laws (kamma niyāma) sometimes referred to collectively as the law of kamma (or karma), are the laws that govern the potential results of our actions. Simply put, our kamma is the sum of all our intentional actions. When we act in ways that hurt the world, we commit bad kamma and must deal with the results. Conversely, when we act with kindness and wisdom, we generate good kamma and enjoy the benefits both in the present and future. Selfishness and greed are unwholesome states of mind that lead to great suffering in our world. When we act out these desires, we bring great unwholesome kamma to ourselves. For instance, Civil war, ethnic conflict, and even genocide are all horribly negative actions, and the results of the kamma that comes from them is terrible.

Besides, psychological Laws (citta niyāma) are the laws that govern our minds, as opposed to our bodies. The processes of consciousness, sensation, thought, and focus are all governed by these laws, which help us to comprehend and make sense of the outside world. Understanding and respecting our psychological laws can create both superb mental health, as well as a healthy social environment. Those who fill their minds with thoughts of good will, generosity, kindness, and restraint, add a great deal of security and stability to their communities.

Moreover, causal laws (Dhamma niyāma) guide the interaction between all other laws, linking them in a complex web of co-dependent arising and ceasing. For example, cutting down forests may lead to the arising of poor air quality, which leads to the arising of sickness and discomfort. On the other hand, a kind deed towards a neighbor may lead to the arising of thoughts of kindness and compassion, which can in turn lead to the arising of a healthy and vibrant community. The Dhamma itself is the natural law that links us with everything else that exists in the natural world. Knowing this with wisdom and direct experience helps us treat our natural world with tender care, boundless loving-kindness, and deep compassion.

To sum up, inorganic, organic, moral, psychological, and causal laws together guide the universe and everything in it, connecting all things and beings in a large web of cause and effect. If we understand this truth deeply and directly, we can begin to act in ways that are in tune with these natural laws. Through our universal responsibility, we can save our planet, heal our communities, and transform our minds for the welfare, benefit, and happiness of all sentient beings.

May all sentient beings be well, happy and peaceful.

Author: Ven. Bhante Buddharakkhita
Abbot and President of the Uganda Buddhist Centre, Uganda.