Could a Virtual Buddhist Temple Help Save the Environment?
by greenz.jp, Tokyo, Japan on 08.26.08
A bunch of young Japanese monks have created a virtual temple online to talk about issues close to their hearts. They are based in Tokyo, where there are surprisingly many Buddhist temples, many as old as the city itself, dating back to the Edo Period (1603-1868) before the city started to modernize. They note that no matter how artificial our environment becomes, monks continue to pass on age-old wisdom from master to disciple, inheriting the modes of living, using the temple as its vehicle:
The continuity of such lifestyle will become an aid for those who hope, with all of their heart, for a life full of love and appreciation. The Japanese lifestyle made of culture and traits influenced from Buddhist beliefs is the heritage for Japanese people and could be shared amongst people all over the world. We hope to transform these Buddhist thoughts into a lamplight and deliver this message to the world. Hope to fill the world with smiles of joy.
Check out the Features section, with ideas about wrapping in cloth (instead of using plastic bags) and Seigaku's column with private notes about his life and practice.
One thought, shared with Buddhist monks everywhere from Tibet to China or Korea and Western countries too of course, marked the beginning of their website: "What does it mean to live?"
Living in harmony with nature is a crucial Buddhist practice. Of course we can say there are many similarities between early religious thoughts anywhere in the world - but one case in point is how Buddhism has inspired people to be vegetarians. In 1993 the Japanese Vegetarian Society (NPO) was formed as a result of concern about animal rights, global environmental issues, third world hunger and human health. They are eager to face these issues and are working hard both in Japan and globally.
Eisuke Ishikawa at Musashino Art University has written the book Japan In The Edo Period - An Ecologically-Conscious Society, outlining how people can manage to live in tune with nature - and have a good time too!
Some Western universities, like Antioch are now giving credits to student who want to go to Japan and study "themes and issues in contemporary Japanese Buddhism such as Buddhism and the environment, women in Buddhism, and Buddhism as a force for social change."
Kenneth Kraft at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. has written a wonderful essay called The Greening Of Buddhist Practice about "ecobuddhism" and Buddhist environmentalists:
Perennial assumptions about nature's power to harm human beings have been augmented by a fresh appreciation of humans' power to harm nature. In an early text the Buddha gives his monks a prayer which reads in part:
My love to the footless, my love to the twofooted, my love to the fourfooted, my love to the manyfooted. Let not the footless harm me, let not the twofooted harm me, let not the fourfooted harm me, let not the manyfooted harm me. All sentient beings, all breathing things, creatures without exception, let them all see good things, may no evil befall them.
Brought to you by Martin Frid at greenz.jp
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One of best posts ever on Treehugger, and I've been reading (and loving)TH for years. One note—Buddhists don't 'save' people, as your title implies. While Buddhism holds that life is full of suffering, there is no God, hell nor heaven—we're fundamentally okay and therefore have only to 'wake up' (that's the meaning of "Buddha." But it doesn't matter if you're Buddhist, Christian, agnostic, atheistic—we're all fundamentally okay, no matter how grave our problems—and therefore there's no need to proselytize (tough word to spell) or "save" anyone.
One critique of your kind comments for Buddhism, above—I'm second generation American Buddhist—and by and large the American Buddhist community, despite being overwhelmingly progressive/liberal, is no more 'eco' than anyone else. In fact, in many ways, we've been behind the curve. So are Buddhists really about 'harmony"? Sure, Buddhism is—but American Buddhists seem just as inclined toward navel-gazing, meat eating, SUV driving, solipsistic retreats and unproductive political intrigue as our Evangelical brethren.
I was intrigued to read Waylon Lewis' comment about the title implying that Buddhism "saves" people. From my reading of the title it asks a question, it does not imply anything. It asks if Buddhism can save the environment. To my way of reading; that means the environment, not the human race (bearing in mind the human race is the largest single destroyer of the environment) Pedantic? Perhaps; but I prefer things to be stated accurately and without surmise.
Having studied philosophy, I've had a passing interest in Buddhism for years, not least because my best friend was Buddhist and we'd spend many hours discussing its concepts.
When I came to write my novel, a suspense thriller, I wanted to add an extra dimension to the set it apart from the run of the mill thrillers, so decided to add a philosophical element. I researched Buddhism to include some of its philosophy and needed to ensure I got the facts straight. (I must have got it right as a Buddhist monk gave me a testimonial for the book.) It is a fascinating religion with much that Westerners could learn from. As Waylon says above, there's no deity, no heaven or hell, so from that point of view it is rather alien to the West. Where it gains is in its attitude to other living things and how we are all connected. To an outsider its teachings may sound strange initially, but after consideration many of them seem to be not only ethical but straightforward and simple common sense.
If these monks can bring some of that spirituality and grounded philosophy to the masses over the web, then good on them. I'm sure it could have a wonderful impact if the average Joe will simply approach these teachings with an open mind. I wish them every success.
Steve N. Lee
author of eco-blog http://www.lionsledbysheep.com
and suspense thriller 'What if...?' http://www.steve-n-lee.com
This is wonderful,
let us all share and "Live to love" ALL the beings !
there is still hope, even though human destruction of our nature and world seems so obvious and mighty.
Everything is possible.
live to love,
Jigme Kunzang Senge
SoulSpeaker: you're dead on, I have no idea why I thought the writer was implying Buddhists save anything in the religious sense; musta been hopped up on my morning dry cappuccino at the Trident Cafe in little ol' Boulder, Colorado.
We are all in it together. Thanks so much for the comments ;)
- Martin
I have been a regular follower of the Higan-ji website highlighted in this article and it pleases me that it is receiving attention in the West as well.
The internet gives groups of human beings a chance to organize and promote in ways that were simply not possible in the past. As a Buddhist monk with my own internet community, I believe that Buddhism can participate powerfully and positively in saving the environment and improving society. Thank you again for covering this story.