Thursday 16 June 2011

The Green Buddha - Environmentalism and Buddhism


Would the Buddha have been ‘green’ in the modern use of the word? Would he have cared about saving the planet as well as your ‘soul’?


The Buddha of course taught that our unhappiness is a result of craving. In order to end suffering, he suggested self-restraint, a minimalist approach to possessions and things , and sharing what we had rather than a self-centred focus on "I, me, mine."


Modern belief that our self is something separate from the rest of the world is just that - an illusion – you could say that it is our most problematic delusion. The world in which we live and interact is not a collection of objects: it is truly a communion of subjects.


The rampant greed, relentless materialism and alienation from our natural environment that are hallmarks of our corporate-dominated planet are supported by the supine approach of "democratic" governments, which nowadays are largely controlled by the businesses they should be regulating. Their common worldview focuses on endless economic growth regardless of the long-term consequences. This "corporatocracy" is seemingly impregnable. Some environmental scientists have suggested that large-scale crop failures will be the trigger for a collective awakening. Sadly only extreme situations with extreme consequences will rouse us from our un-mindful stupor of excess.


A "perfect storm" of climate chaos is rapidly approaching and with it suffering on a scale the world has never seen. The teachings of the Buddha and his example which has been passed down to us by over 2500 years of the Buddhist tradition is surely needed more today than it has ever been. AMEN



"Were there a mountain all made of gold, doubled that would not be enough to satisfy a single man: know this and live accordingly" Buddha


The Buddha's Face

3 comments:

  1. Bonjour! I would like to know who is the artist of the green Buddha painting and if it is for sale somewhere. I cannot find it. Merci.

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  2. Semua Ahli-ahli MCA Malaysia yang dihormati,

    Segelintir pemimpin MCA seperti YIP KUM FOOK (lawyer, MCA Gombak) dan Yip Jiun Hann(pemuda MCA Gombak) perangainya sendiri pun tidak bermoral dan nama pun sangat busuk di Selangor. Khas nya di Kepong, Selayang, Rawang dan lain tempat, seperti makan wang SAMNAK SAMBODHI, DESA JAYA, KEPONG, merosakkan keluarga orang lain……..perangai sebegitu jahat.

    Mereka cuba suruh kita menyokong Donald lim Siang Chai, sekira kumpulan ini bermenang dalam parti MCA, saya yakin parti MCA akan tenggelam selama-lama di Malaysia

    Jangan kena jerat, sokong lah Saudara Dr Wee Ka Siong

    SAMNAK SAMBODHI COMMITTEES

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  3. Dear brother and sister,

    I am Myanmar who working in Malaysia more than 10 years and I would like to explain about SAMNAK SAMBODHI BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION. Therefore, recently I stayed at SASANARAKKHA BUDDHIST SANCTUARY (SBS), Taiping, Perak. I am very close with Ven. U Nandiya Maha Thero.

    My monk Ven. U Nandiya is very good heart and compassion to everyone in the world, also I heard when he stayed at Kuala Lumpur Buddhist Temple, he lends donation money to President of Temple (DATUK YIP KUM FOOK, MCA Gombak) with amount RM20,000.00 only and he said that money belong to Myanmar society in Malaysia.

    On the other hand, my monk said, also many things happened when he stayed there because committees always disturbing, I am very sadly about that matter, why committees are very poor and crooks. Others Temple, people come to Temple to respected Buddha and Monks, also give red packet to monks. Why this Temple, monks must give money to committees, this is opposite.

    If anyone receive or read this message, please inform to DATUK YIP KUM FOOK (president of Temple) to return that amount to my monk as soon as possible.

    My monk contact place:

    Ven. U Nandiya
    SASANA DAJA BUDDHIST TEMPLE
    49 Bombay Street, Lidcombe NSW 2141.
    Tel: (02) 9649-8124

    With kindness

    KO KO NAING
    Taiping, Perak, Malaysia
    Anyone visiting this Buddhist Temple must be careful with the committee members as they can suck your money and the president of the Temple is also more sucking monks’ money already, add and call the police to arrest Buddhist monks

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