World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 984

undermining the autonomous self over against the 'other', be it human, animal or vegetable. This Buddhist world is a rejection of hierarchical dominance of one human over another, or humans over nature, and is the basis of an ethic of empathetic compassion which respects of bio-diversity and social justice."
Buddhism recognizes intrinsic value of all living beings and views human as just one particular strand in the web of life. Humankind is a part of nature and no sharp distinction can be drawn between itself and its surroundings, as everything is impermanent and subject to the same natural laws. The awareness of the fact that humankind is subject to laws of causality must be seen as an important basis for a proper understanding of humankind's role in nature. Such awareness promotes humility and thoughtfulness. We must realize that everything in this universe is mutually dependent and co-operative. The Thai Monk Buddhadasa Bhikku clarifies this Buddhist idea by stating that 'The entire cosmos is a co-operative. The Sun, the Moon and the stars live together as a co-operative. The same is true for humans and animals, trees and the earth. When we realize that the world is mutual, interdependent, co-operative enterprise, than we can build a noble environment. If our lives are not based on this truth, then we shall perish".
This doctrine of world view engenders a strong sense of humility towards nature and encourages 'loving kindness' in our interaction with it. The concept of interconnectedness and interdependence of all beings and all things helps humans go beyond anthropocentric consciousness. The personal self becomes an ecological self and comes to include all other beings and the planet itself. This breaks the illusion that we humans are separate from the rest of the nature. In Buddhist view, one cannot draw a firm distinction between 'self and the 'world'. In this respect Buddhism provides approaches to promote self-reflection and healthy relationship between oneself and others, including nature.
We know that mankind has failed to take account of the intimate connections within the eco-system, between himself and the world, arrogantly and irrationally applying new found technological powers , destabilizing intricate systems of ecological organization, the complexity of which, we are only just beginning to realize. If we are to exist in a way which no longer perpetuates the damage done so far and begins to heal some of the ecological and social wounds we have created, we must appreciate more and more our own interconnectedness and the intimate relations which exist between things in the world around us.
Buddhism believes that natural processes are affected by human morals. Several Sutras of Pali Canon show that there is a close relationship between human morality and the natural environment. In reality, Buddhism believes that environmental pollution is but the external manifestation of
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