Buddhist Environment Conservation

Abstract

This paper aims to present the Buddhist environmental conservation as Buddhism has presented the ethical system as the base to the supra-mundane state causing human beings to see all kinds of beings as friends, to realize the values of lives based on three dhammas: Special Conditionality (idappaccayatā, the Essence of Dependent Origination), Law of Kamma (kamma) and Loving Kindness (mettā).

1) Special Conditionality is the dhamma related to the natural law of rising, living and dissolving by mutual dependence. All things are related and conditioned to one another. The value of Special Conditionality on the environment leads to understanding and adaptation in existence between human being and environment.

2) Kamma influences human behaviors, particularly its concepts of fruitions in reduction of unwholesome deeds by forgiveness to oneself and other things. This leads to the practices such as Loy Krathong Festival, Sand Stupa Building Festival, Tree Ordination, Bird and Fish Release. The value of Law of Kamma towards environment can be seen as follows: 1) direct value causing human beings not to take human lives and animals; 2) indirect value causing the mutual managing of activities and cultures of the human in the society.

3) Loving kindness is the basic moral related to Law of Kamma. Without this dhamma, human being cannot give forgiveness to the others or beings. The loving kindness leads to environmental preservation and conservation for the existence of human and animals. The value of Loving kindness relies on generosity, forgiveness, useful conducts to the others, avoiding of taking lives and etc.