AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION IN BUDDHISM

Abstract

The thematic paper entitled ‘An Environmental Conservation in Buddhism’ consists of two objectives as 1) to study the environmental concept in Buddhism and 2) to study the approach for an environmental conservation in Buddhism. The research was conducted through the qualitative research method based on the academics documents and the Buddhist Canon.

            The results revealed that the Buddhist environmental concept was found in the Buddhist Canon as the term called ‘parivāra’ or retinue. It refers to things that are existed around human, which is divided into 2 categories viz. 1) Natural Environment such as 1.1) the non-living environment or it is called the physical law and 1.2) the living environments - they are called the biological law, psychic law, karmic law and general law. 2) The Man-Made Environments are divided into 2 categories as 2.1) the concrete environment – religious buildings and religious objects, 2.2) the non-concrete environment – culture and laws. 

          Regarding the Buddhist approach for an environmental conservation in Buddhism, it is based on two guidelines as 1) the Seven Agreeable Things or Sappàya and 2) the Four Developments or Bhàvanà. According to the Seven Suitable Things or Sappàya, they are the suitable abode, suitable resort, suitable speech, suitable person, suitable food, suitable climate and suitable posture. And the Four Developments or Bhàvanà are 1) Physical Development, 2) Social Development, 3) Emotional Development and 4) Wisdom Development. It refers to Trainings for developing a suitable temple.