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The Buddhist life is a simple life.
Buddhists aspire to meet their basic needs and to seek happiness
beyond material pleasures. Although greed has always been part of
human nature, we have now become the dominant species and our technological
power vastly magnifies the impact of our greed upon the rest of
life. The stakes have been raised. We have all been seduced by materialism,
now humanity's dominant ideology, and for our own sakes as well
as that of the planet we need to see it for the illusion that it
is.
Effective Buddhist practice involves
us in continuously reviewing patterns of consumption and their effects,
identifying what our real needs are, and asking how they can best
be met without harmful consequences.
2 CONSUMING MORE WISELY
- including GOING ENERGY-EFFICIENT and GOING RENEWABLE
Like it or not, we have to operate
in the world, and therefore must find ways to express our values
within it. The modern consumer economy offers us a great number
of choices, with deregulation and privatisation adding to the alternatives
open to us. We have a duty to learn what options are currently available
and to make our choices wisely. For instance, it is now possible
to purchase electricity generated from 100% renewable sources <how:
link>.
The Buddha's fundamental insight
into Pratitya Samutpada <explain: link> teaches us that everything
arises in dependence upon conditions. Through our intentions we
are continually recreating the world. Every purchase we make is
a vote for the kind of world we want. In each purchase we are 'commissioning'
more of the same, produced and supplied by the same people in the
same way.
Our purchases can therefore encourage
many positive initiatives: the organic and vegan movements, fair
trade, local produce, new solutions, and the work of ethically-aware
people generally. Although many of these may cost a bit more money,
it is money well-spent - and with thought, it can be offset against
savings made by reducing unnecessary consumption or by acquiring
things second-hand where possible.
Energy-efficiency is an example of
an area where the money spent is an investment which will be recouped
over time - in addition to the clear environmental benefits.
3. GOING CARBON-NEUTRAL
Climate change has come to be widely considered the
most pressing environmental concern <explain: link>. This
is caused by the emission of greenhouse gases, especially carbon
dioxide (CO2). Carbon dioxide is emitted by burning fossil fuels
- coal, oil and gas - both directly, as in our car and air travel,
and indirectly, by our consumption of electricity and other goods
and services. We should do whatever we can to reduce our carbon
emissions, as outlined in points (1) and (2) above, but some will
inevitably remain. We urge all Buddhists to calculate their remaining
emissions and take positive action to offset them by planting trees
<how: link> and in particular by establishing woodlands. Woods
are an excellent way of both 'fixing' carbon from the atmosphere
and providing conditions for diversity of life.
4. CREATING AND SAFEGUARDING HAVENS FOR WILD-LIFE
The key problem that leads to environmental degradation
is basically a spiritual one. It arises from a lack of insight into
the inter-connectedness of all actions and all life. We need to
work to strengthen our imaginative connection with other forms of
life, as the Buddha exhorts us in the Karaniya Metta sutta <text:
link>. Perhaps the most effective method for this is simply doing
things that directly benefit the wild-life around us. Even the smallest
garden or balcony can provide food and shelter for many creatures.
We can also work with others and support local, national, or international
projects.
5. RAISING AWARENESS fsfsfssf
We need to integrate Buddhist principles
with an appropriate response to the environmental crisis. We are
aiming to establish ecological awareness as a necessary part of
the vision and ethical practice of modern Western Buddhists, rather
than allow it to be an alternative fringe or 'special interest group'
within the Buddhist community. Because the environmental crisis
is global, we need to act collectively and communicate effectively
to as many people as possible.
In many ways we have an extraordinary
opportunity today to deepen our understanding of the Dharma: the
scale of the problems we are confronted with force us into ever-deeper
understandings of the Buddha's message and into ever-closer co-operation
with others. May we make full use this precious opportunity, aspiring
to the vow of Samantabhadra:
As long as the earth exists,
As long as all beings exist,
As long as acts and afflictions exist,
So long may my vow remain.
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