Theravada

Environment

He who sits alone,
He who rests alone,
He who is strenuous,
He who subdues self alone,
Will seek delight in the forest depths

Dhammapada 16./305

Climate Change and Buddhism
Since the 1950s, scientists have been trying to warn politicians and people on Earth that there is a radical increase in the amount of carbon dioxide and other Green House Gases which are causing a warming of the planet.

For the last 1000 years, CO2 has been quite stable in the atmosphere, increasing and decreasing on a seasonal and daily basis, but maintaining an overall equilibrium. Over greater lengths of time, carbon rises and falls coincide with massive climactic changes expressed as glaciation periods (when the much of the Earth became covered with ice and inhospitable to many life forms).

The current levels of CO2 have risen steeply over the last 200 years, and exponentially over the last 50 years. Scientists are unanimous that the current levels are due to human industrial pollution (mostly the burning of fossil fuels such as petrol in cars), and other industrial emissions. Some 20% of current emissions are caused by rapid and dangerous deforestation at the equator by industrial lumber companies from America, Europe and increasinly China and East Asia.

The impact of such extreme carbon emissions is very serious and is giving rise to sudden temperature surges at the two polar ice caps and in the world's oceans. Scientists are not sure how the planet will react to the rapidly rising temperatures. Evidently the ice caps are melting much faster than anticipated pouring vast quantities of fresh water into the seawater oceans at both poles. This is likely to disturb circulation of water in the oceans, change currents of warm and cold water, and cause more radical weather patterns, including hurricanes and tornados (also increasing their geographic spread).

CO2 and the other 5 main Green House Gases (GHG) are building up in the atmosphere and cannot be absorbed back into nature, which is also being destroyed by industrialisation. It can take up to 2000 years for carbon to be absorbed by plants, soils and water on earth. This means that even if all industrial carbon emissions stopped tomorrow, the world would be in a very unstable state for the next two millennia.

Instead, the Western World has not been willing to seriously change its over consumption and pollution. They are now being matched by growing consumption and pollution coming from China, Malaysia, Vietnam and other Asian tigers. Even South Africa and Nigeria are starting to become major GHG emitters.

In the worse case, the Earth will be plunged into an ice-age again, or the agricultural capacity of the planet will collapse in the face of extreme drought and weather, hundreds of millions of people will be flooded out from major urban areas, extreme weather will cause much suffering. Millions of Africans will be forced to leave the rural areas and head into the cities where there will be inadequate food or water to cope. The scenarios are deeply disturbing and can only be transformed through action by governments, the private sector and citizens to reduce GHG emissions, change our lifestyles, help the poor adapt to the new conditions, conserve biodiversity, change energy usage patterns, and commit to a simpler life.

A simpler life... is this not what the Buddha was trying to teach us all along? Is over consumption not an expression of greed, of fear of dying, of wanting suffering and impermanence to be tricked away with wealth accumulation, pleasures of the body, over-eating and turning one's back on the needs and rights of other people?

Climate change is a Buddhist issue. Join us in the awakening to a sustainble zero-carbon life... a simpler and happier life...

If you have not done so already, take the time to see Al Gore's documentary: An Inconvenient Truth. And then take time to meditate on the dhamma over greed, grasping and impermance.

The Lord Buddha was born under a tree, became enlightened under a tree and passed on under a tree. The Indian custom of preserving sacred groves of trees predates the life of the Buddha. The Buddha maintained this respect and reverence for nature. There is a recurring theme within the teachings of the Buddha that we know ourselves best and find peace when we immerse ourselves in the natural world.

The Buddha rebuked monks who were not mindful of protecting trees.

''How can these recluses, sons of the Sakyans, cut down trees and have them cut down? These recluses, sons of the Sakyans, are harming life that is one-faculty,'' said the people. The Buddha called the monks and asked them, ''Is it true, as is said, that you, monks, cut down trees and had them cut down?''.

''It is true, lord,'' they said.

The Enlightened one, the lord, rebuked them, saying: ''How can you, monks, cut down trees and have them cut down? It is not, monks, for pleasing those who are not yet pleased. And thus, monks, this rule of training should be set forth: For destruction of vegetable growth there is an offence of expiation''.

(Quoted from Prof. J B Dissanayaka)

Forest Based Buddhism in Thailand

In the 19th century, Buddhism underwent a major revival and refocusing in Thailand under the inspired leadership of King Mongkut, son of King Rama II. Mongkut founded a fresh monastic order, the Thammayut Nikaya (“those adhering strictly to the monastic discipline'') to revive monastic discipline and the Buddha’s Forest tradition.

The revived forest tradition was particularly strong in North East Thailand on the border of Laos. Three masters arose in succession who emphasised the importance of forest based practice and meditation. These were Phra Ajahn Sao Kantasilo Mahathera (1861 – 1941), Phra Ajahn Mun Bhuridatta (1870 – 1949) and Luang Por Ajahn Chah (1918 - 1992). Ajahn Chah founded a Theravadan monastery oriented to foreigners who wish to study the Dhamma and ordain in the forest tradition, Wat Pah Nanachat.

Today we are faced with the realities of climate change, global warming, rapid deforestation, destruction of biological diversity, desertification and growing poverty. These are primarily caused by human actions, greed, carelessness and a lack of wisdom. Buddhism is one way in which we can pay more attention to our impact on others and this world we live in. You don't have to change the world, but if you change yourself - for the better - it will have a lasting impact...


Environmental Links

	Association of Buddhists for the Environment
		Thai Buddhists unite for the Environment


	Buddhism and Forests
		Laura Kay Johnson looks at Buddhism and nature and implications for forest policy


	Dharma House & Permaculture
		This site has some interesting environmental links for Buddhists and those mindful of our world.


	Ecology Monks & Ordination of a Tree
		Report on Eco-monks in Thailand


	''Green Bishop''
		Geoff Davies is interviewed about his work on Faith & Environment by Ekklesia


	Harvard Review of Buddhism and Environmental Conservation



	South African Faith Communities Environment Institute
		This week Bishop Geoff Davies, one of the leading voices of faith and environment comes to the Hout Bay Centre to talk about SAFCEI. See the website, hear the man.