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Buddhism and Environmental Protection▪P4

  ..续本文上一页 important in the Buddhist literature.Buddha had taken several births as animals and birds and had performed several welfare activities for their community. Five precepts which are basic teachings of Buddha prohibit killing and slaughtering the animals. The Right lively hood of eight fold noble path prohibits to do trade of animals, meat etc. Monks also are not allowed to use the things made by bone, teeth and horn of an animals according to Ratana vagga pacittiya kanda[ Ibid pp. 220-221]. There are several Jatakas in which Boddhisattva as a leader got success in getting abhayadana (right to live without fear) from king for animal community. Hunting was one of the entertainments of Kings but the king who comes in contact with Buddha could not be seen going in hunting. In this way Buddha had given great contribution for preservation of animals which is the part of environmental protection

   Good physical environment for spiritual development

   The main goal of Buddha”s teachings is to get free from defilement and bondage by attaining enlightenment. One can achieve enlightenment only when sufficient effort is done. Buddha had shown the clear path to attain enlightenment or Nibbana. It is making effort to practice of Sila (morality), Samadhi (concentration), and Panna(wisdom). Specifically the only one path that makes the people free from the bondage is practice of Satipatthana[ Ten Suttas from Digha Nikaya, (Rangoon: Burma Pitaka Association, 1984), P 307] or Vipassana which is called Buddhist meditation. For practicing this type of meditation good physical environment is essential. Buddha had said good environment is needed for the proper practice of meditation. The Buddha, Arahats and other Bhikkhus regard the tranquil, calm and quiet environment of the forests as an ideal site for meditation. Buddha is Satipatthana sutta had traced the proper place may be at the forest (arranna gato), under the tree (rukkhamula), calm and quiet place (sunnyagara) etc. Buddha also had attained enlightement in the Uruvela forest of Gaya under Bodhi tree.

  In this way the forest, trees are the place where one can practice for the liberation. So Buddha had given more important to protect those places.

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  Preservation of Mental pollution

   As stated earlier mental pollution is also a significant factor that effects the environment. It is intangible things but has great effect in making good and bad environment. Buddha”s teachings emphasize to make good mentality in order to get peace of mind. The first verse of Dhammapada states mind as the forerunner of states. Mind is chief; mind -made are they. All the activities are based on the mind so if mind get polluted several problem would arise and if mind is free from pollution environment becomes so pure that every one will be able to enjoy calm and peace[ Op. cit. f.n. 8, P 1].

   Buddha”s had spent whole life in teaching how to develop good mind. According to him the cause of suffering is the polluted mind and to get free from it one should be free from the polluted mind. Cakka vatti sihanada sutta[ Op. cit. f.n. 15, pp. 355-365] of Digha Nikaya points out a close link between man”s morals and the natural resources available to him. It says that man”s moral deterioration accelerates the process of change in nature bringing adverse effects on human well being and happiness. Cittena Niyati Loko is a Buddhist theme, which means the world is governed by mind. Human mind dominated by greed, hatred and delusion produces pollution within and outside. Generosity, compassion, loving-kindness (Metta), altruistic joy and wisdom produce purity inside and outside of human mind. In abhidhamma Buddha had classified the mind into 89 and 121 in number and the classification is done according to the mental factor…

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