Sambodhi 2014 Vol 37

Author(s): J B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 57

Vol. XXXVII, 2014
Ethical Aspect of Buddhism
49
produced by machine unknown during the dinosaur age. While metal machines physically pollute the atmosphere, billions of human machines also add psychogenic toxins to carbon-dioxide they breathe out. Therefore we can say that pollution in the psycho-sphere is a crucial factor in the environmental crisis man is faced with today, the physical pollution caused by emissions from machinery and over exploitation of natural resources is the result of man's greed for luxury, wealth and power. Therefore Buddhism states that the environmental pollutions is really the external manifestation of the internal moral pollution of modern man. As long as the human mind is motivated by morally wholesome intensions, man can lead a comparatively happy life and nature would be manageable hospitable. When the motivational roots are evil, man experiences misery. Now it appears that evil is so widespread, even nature has been adversely affected, rendering it more inhospitable. The environmental crisis has to be treated as the result of moral crisis. Man has to cultivate morally wholesome attitude and life style for a change for better and this has to be accepted as a survival imperative.
Buddhism, to avoid exploitation of natural resources and stop environmental pollution, emphasizes on simplicity in life. Happiness is to be found through the restraint of desire in a life of contentment rather than through the proliferation of desire. Humankind must learn to satisfy its real needs and not desires. The resources of the world are not unlimited whereas humankind's greed shows neither limit nor satiation. Modern man's unbridled veracious greed for pleasure and acquisition of wealth has exploited nature to the point of near impoverishment. To increase positive thinking of the mind, Buddhism suggests "Vipaśyanā' meditation. This meditation technique offers a relevant practical method to affect a wholesome attitudinal change in man to give him a sense of direction and goal in life and also teach him to restore the sustainability of nature. Vipaśyanā meditation cleanses man of his psychological pollution produced by man. Hence the spread of crime, terrorism and the like an epidemic in society, pollution related diseases threatening human life. The Vipaśyanā' - the Buddhist meditational method teaches man to lead a simple life satisfying his needs. The ability to be satisfied with little is methodically cultivated as a virtue of great value; it is cultivated collectively by mankind, giving the present trend of consumerism by which the sting of the eco-crisis can be mitigated. All the ills of large scale deforestation, soil erosion, landslides, changes in weather pattern, draught, etc., are fundamentally related to consumerism. Without changing to a simple life style, effective solutions to these life threatening problems cannot be worked out.