6_A Buddhist Perspective on Preserving and Safeguarding the Environment

A Buddhist Perspective

Background.

        Environmental problems have become a very serious issue for human civilization and development in the world today. Environmental issues have become news and hot topics discussed by many experts and society in general. In fact, many countries and non-governmental organisations have held various discussions to deal with these problems both at bilateral and international levels by bringing various issues in their respective countries. Therefore, environmental problems have become a very important problem and a matter that must be immediately found a solution because environmental problems have a negative impact on almost all countries, especially developing countries and countries that already have the ability and stability in the economy.

        Global warming ranks first in having a negative impact on environmental issues in the world today, especially climate change. In addition, the inability and lack of governance systems (poor governance) also have a significant impact on environmental issues. Here are some environmental issues and problems such as: food waste, biodiversity loss, plastic pollution, deforestation and illegal logging, air pollution, melting ice caps due to global warming, consumptive practices that harm the environment and so on.

        By looking at the various environmental issues described above, an effective and efficient solution is needed to reduce the negative impact of these environmental problems. The author tries to find a solution from the perspective of Buddhism.

Buddhist Perspectives: The Forest - Monastic Life

        The founder of Buddhism, Sakyamuni, can be said to be one of the figures in this world who can be said to be a figure who promotes protecting the environment. This can be seen from his life when he was alive how he was very compassionate to living things. He was born in a beautiful garden, the Lumbini Garden. He      even attained enlightenment and became a Buddha under the Bodhi tree (Latin: Ficus religiosa). Likewise, during his monastic life and spreading his teachings to mankind, especially in India, he always stayed and taught the Dharma in the deer park of Isipatana. In addition, he also stayed at Jetan Forest - Anāthapiṇḍada Park, he also stayed at Gandakuti Mount Gṛdhrakūṭa, and so forth.

        There was even a king named Bimbisara who donated a place called Veḷuvana, the Bamboo Grove, which was a most suitable place to practice and then handed it over to Lord Buddha and the members of the Saṅgha. In addition, in monastic life the Buddha taught his disciples to retreat in the rainy season (vassa), which means to provide and keep the newly growing plants from being trampled and dying when the monks perform pindapatra.

        With the brief explanation above, it can be seen that the Buddha through his life practice and the teachings that have been taught during his lifetime, without a doubt that he is one of the figures who made a great contribution to how one should protect the environment. Because the Buddha knew that by protecting the environment in the practice of monastic life, the environment will also provide a good condition for people to practice so that they have a calm and enlightened mind.

Practising Sila - Samādhi - Prajña

        In Buddhism, environmental problems are caused by ignorance, greed and hatred. Because of ignorance, humans do not have a clear view in using and utilizing the natural resources that have been provided by this earth at will, without thinking about the sustainability of the ecosystem. Likewise, due to greed, humans destroy forests (illegal logging, deforestation) under the pretext of economics, whether done legally with government policies or under any pretext for the advancement of the country or personal interests, without thinking about the negative impacts will certainly have a huge impact on the environment. In addition, hatred is also a source of war conflict, war has an impact on economic change throughout the world. To supply the needs of war, how many negative impacts of war have occurred. This is a reflection for all of us!

        Therefore, in Buddhism, if a person has the ability, can carry out and practice moral ethics (sīla) and the principles of life either personally as a person or realize that the personal self as one of the creatures that occupy this earth will certainly have good ethics and behaviors to protect and preserve the environment, living creatures and the universe. All this arises if one is truly capable and has good ethics (sīla). In addition, having peace of mind (samādhi) in every decision and policy - policies related to the environment carried out by policy makers (government), as well as the private sector (companies) and as individuals must really think about the impact that will occur from the decisions to be taken so that decisions related to the environment do not destroy the environment for a wrong decision and policy. Furthermore, clear thinking - wisdom (prajña) becomes the benchmark for filtering all current environmental problems and issues, must be resolved wisely, and real work from all human beings on this earth.

Sacred Practices : Buddhism - Avatamsaka Sūtra

        According to the Buddhāvataṃsaka-nāma-mahāvaipulya-sūtra section Sacred Life Practices 「淨行品第七」^[1] , Hyang Buddha taught practices to protect and love the environment, this is implied by the following stanza of the sūtra:

1. 「若見大樹，當願眾生，離我諍心，無有忿恨。"^[2]

If one sees a big tree, may all beings, far from thoughts of “I” and contention, be devoid of hatred.

1. 「若見叢林，當願眾生，一切敬禮，天人師仰。"^[3]

If one sees a wilderness, may all beings, have respect for divine and teachers.

1. 「若見高山，當願眾生，得無上善，莫能見頂。"^[4]

If one sees a high mountain, may all beings attain the supreme virtue of paramitas, and reach a high peak.

1. 「見樹茂葉，當願眾生，以道自蔭，入禪三昧。」^[5]

If one sees the roots and branches of a tree, may all beings follow the path of Dharma and enter samādhi.

1. 「見樹豐果，當願眾生，起道樹行，成無上果。"^[6]

If one sees a tree bearing great fruits, may all beings practicing the right path achieve the incomparable fruit of attainment.

1. 「見諸流水，當願眾生，得正法流，入佛智海。"^[7]

If one sees the clear flow of a river, may all beings acquire the right Dharma that enters the wisdom of Buddhahood.

1. 「若見泉水，當願眾生，善根無盡，境界無上。」^[8]

If one sees the source of the water, may all beings have an infinite root of virtue and attain incomparable tranquility.

        From the above quotations from the Buddhāvataṃsaka-nāma-mahāvaipulya-sūtra, it can be seen that Lord Buddha used metaphors such as big trees, wilderness, tall mountains, trees’ branches, fruit trees, streams and water sources to explain his teachings. Thus, Lord Buddha explicitly respects and preserves the environment, because the environment can be a source or support in the practices of monastic life. Why is it that we, as humans living in modern times, do not want to learn and take the noble values that have been taught by our predecessors in protecting the environment.

Conclusion

        From the various explanations that have been expressed above, it can be concluded that preserving and sustaining the environment is an obligation that every human being has on this earth. By practicing and emulating the monastic life of a Buddha in preaching the Dharma, practicing precepts - concentration - wisdom and emulating the practice of sacred life implied in the Avatamsaka Sūtra will certainly be a mental revolution for everyone to protect this universe - our home, a place to live.