In Search of the Ecosophy: Enviornmentalism in Buddhist Philosophy

Abstract

His Holiness Dalai Lama says, "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. This paper gives an in depth study on the notion of environmentalism in Buddhist Philosophy. A special mention is made of the Jataka tales that beautifully enumerates the environmental philosophy in Buddhism.