Author: M G Chitkara
Publisher: APH Publishing Corporation
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 464
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8176481831
Description
This volume, part of a 21-volume series, stresses that the planet is the home of all living beings. Every being has right to live and letothers live. Man will survive as long as the Earth survives.
There is only one world to live in and if we pollute and ruin, it, then there may not be any of the worlds. The clear message is that we have to keep our earth clean and pollution free. Such is the unwritten moral code of Buddhism. We can never escape from the consequences of our good or evil deeds.
Neither in the sky nor in the midst of the sea.
Nor by entering into the clefts of
Mountains is there known a place on earth
Where stationing himself, A man can escape from
(The consequences of) his evil deed.- Dhammapada verse (127)
The word environment is of broad spectrum, which brings within its ambit hygienic atmosphere and ecological balance, it is therefore, not only the duty of the state but also the duty of every citizen to maintain hygienic environment. Hygienic environment is an integral facet of right to healthy life and it would be impossible to live with human dignity without a humane and healthy environment.
Environmental protection has now become a matter of grave concern for human existence in which humanity and nature can live together in harmony. The Buddhist attitude is one contentment, and there may be some connection with our attitude towards the environment. Bhddhists believe not to indiscriminately consume. They put a limit on their consumption. They admire simple living and individual responsibility. They considered themselves as part of environment.
Ancient scriptures speak of the container and the contained. The world is the container our house – and we are the contained – the contents of the container. From these simple facts we deduce a special relationship, because without the container, the contents cannot be contained. Without the contents, the container contains nothing, it’ meaningless.
But everything has its limit. Too much consumption or effort to make money is no good. Neither is too much contentment. In principles, contentment is a goal, but pure contentment becomes almost like suicide. Destruction of nature and natural resources results from ignorance, greed, and lack of respect for the earth’s living things. This lack of respect extends even to the earth’s human descendants the future generations who will inherit a vastly degraded planet if world peace does not become a reality and if destruction of the natural environment continues at the present rate.
Contents
Introduction
Buddhist Concept of Environment
Earth: A Common Heritage
Trusteeship is Humanism Par Excellence
Trusteeship Heritage
Dalit, The Oppressed and Earth
Eco System in its Equilibrium
Eco Friendly System
Harmony with Nature
Nature and Nomadic life
Equilibrium in Nature
Nature Our Mother
Safety Valve to Impending ecocide
Concept in legends and Folklore
Wildlife conservation
Concept of Bodhi Tree and Forestation
Be Natural
Man, Environment & Global Concerns
Human Rights and Environment]
Environment, Human Rights and Tibet
Reincarnation Theory
Desire: The Seed of Mind
Population Poverty and Environment
Cold War Legacy
Environmental catastrophe
Dilution: No Solution to Pollution
Panchsheel and Environment
Consumerism: Lead to Environmental Degradation
Eco-tourism is Eco-development
Sustainable Development
Vision for Sustainable Water Future
Contentment Not consumerism
Vasudhiv Kutumbbkum and Environment
Interdependence: Fundamental Law of Nature
Bring Child Face to Face with his Divinity
Environmental education: Some Reflections
Loving Life and Fearing death
Excel Excellence with Indian Ethos
Appraisal
Appendices
The Wheel of Life and the Noosphere
Environment
Prayer (Ecological Responsibility)
Bibliography
Index