The worldWhat does Buddhism teach about the environment?

People were not concerned with global environmental change at the time of the Buddha so he did not give teachings specifically on this subject. He did recognise that local communities could be affected by the behaviour of his followers and so, for example, he set rules that monks and nuns should never relieve themselves in or near running water, ie where people would want to wash or drink. Similarly, he also ruled that monks and nuns should not disrupt the established habitat of any other creature, nor kill other living creatures, for example when building new quarters.

Some forms of Chinese and Japanese Buddhism teach the idea of the inter-relatedness of everything. The belief is that humans depend on nature and nature depends on humans. Harming one part of this whole is the same as harming all of it. Therefore, if people learn to live simply and in harmony with the world, the whole of the environment will benefit.

Key teachings that Buddhists consider include the following.

Noble Eightfold Path

Eight guidelines taught by the Buddha to help humans escape suffering and approach enlightenment. These include 'right mindfulness'. If people are 'mindful' of the effects of their actions on the world, this is an effective way to avoid causing damage to nature and other living creatures.

Five Precepts

These are guidelines about how to act properly. Two of these Precepts have a direct bearing on a Buddhist attitude to the environment.

• Buddhists should abstain from taking life, and this includes any form of life. This is linked to the idea of rebirth that can include the possibility of being reborn as an animal. Rather than taking life, Buddhists are encouraged to show metta and compassion to all creatures and believe that all life-forms are special, not just human beings. This first Precept relates to the concept of ahimsa. This is based on the idea of "do no harm".
• A Buddhist may argue that destroying the natural habitats of animals is taking away something that does not belong to us and therefore breaks the second Precept. Therefore, by not acting thoughtlessly, Buddhists can protect the environment from destruction and exploitation.

Karma

Buddhism teaches that if a person has the right mindset, the actions they perform will be beneficial not just to themselves but to the whole world, including the environment. The belief is that people's actions affect the planet in a harmful way because they are selfish and they crave things. These actions will only result in more suffering in the future. The effects of karma will continue to work in a person's rebirth, so by being compassionate, they will improve their own future and that of the environment.

The Buddhist declaration at Assisi stresses the need for all people to have respect for wildlife and for the environment. The belief is that the main threat to the world so far has been that human beings have been indifferent to the effects of their actions on other creatures.

Many Buddhists believe that it is only when this indifference ends, and people become mindful and compassionate, that the world will return to peace, harmony and balance. The belief is that this will then allow people to live positive lives and break free from the negative effects of craving.

What does this mean in practice?

For many Buddhists, the guiding principles are to live simply in order to respect all life forms as well as the balance and peace in nature. Many Buddhists understand and apply these principles to the question of looking after the environment in a variety of ways. Because the Buddha did not have a lot to say about the environment in his day, most teachings about protecting the environment come from modern Buddhist teachers.

• The Dalai Lama said: We are the generation with the awareness of a great danger. We are the ones with the responsibility and the ability to take steps of concrete action, before it is too late. This means Buddhists have to make themselves aware of the damage they do to the environment so that they can then act to change it.
• Many Buddhists believe people need to live simply and respect the cycle and balance in nature so everything can continue for future generations. To some Buddhists, living 'skilfully' means to live without producing waste. The whole world benefits from avoiding needless exploitation.
• The whole of Buddhism could be described as being about changing the way people see the world. This is completely compatible with an environmental agenda. The belief is that changing people's attitudes about what they need, is a major step to changing how they treat the world and each other.
• Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh said In order to effect change we must recover ourselves, one must be whole. Since this requires the kind of environment favourable to one's healing, one must seek the kind of lifestyle that is free from the destruction of one's humanness.
• Buddhism accepts changes in nature. The belief is that change is an essential part of growth. People should allow for change in the world.