Buddhist response to climate change

Author: Johan af Klint

Introduction

Buddhism is experiencing an increased interest in the western world - partly due to its peaceful message and non-missionary appearance coupled with the apparent similarities between the Buddhist thought and modern physics.

In parallel herewith, the general public has in a tangible manner from various natural disasters during the past few years become aware of the deteriorating aspects of the environment on a world wide basis -so much so that the Nobel Peace Price in 2007 was awarded to two advocates for a sounder environment - former US Vice President Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ("IPCC").

The underlying question is to what extent and in what manner Buddhism may contribute to a rectification of the environmental aspects on a worldwide basis?

Buddhism in Sweden

During the turn of the century 1800/1900, the interest in the religious western world centered primarily around the occult sources from western trains of thought, such as the theosophical view of Mme Blavatsky et al. and the anthroposophical aspects of Rudolf Steiner. The Swedish painter Hilma af Clint was intermingled in these thoughts and painted in January 1920 her view of various religions, as compared to the "basic origin". The close similarity of Buddhism to this "basic origin'" is apparent!

During the just past turn of the century (1900/2000) and presently, the interest in the religious western world is this time centered on the thoughts from Asia - with Buddhism as paramount. Buddhist temples and viharas have been erected in Europe and in North America. In Sweden, the first Buddhist temple was founded in 1984 and we have presently some 40 Buddhist schools and groups (2004) represented in some 16 places (2008) in the country with around 20 000 Buddhists from Asia and a couple of thousand Swedish converts (1996).

Buddhist Aspects - Our Western Point of View

Buddhism is the teaching about suffering and the manner in which this suffering is to be overcome - i.e. the doctrine of the Four Noble Truths.

In addition hereto, the basic Buddhist teaching is that everything is constantly changing and impermanent - and thereby anatta.

Intriguing is also the Buddhist concepts that everything is empty, mutually interpenetrating and mutually dependent.

The concept of the Boddhisattva is for us westerners a wonderful illustration of sacrificing love to its extreme.

Somewhat strange from our western point Buddhist concepts of the "ultimate truth" & "conventional truth» - with the latter devised to explain the former. The "ultimate truth" and the "conventional truth» symbolize the same thing - but they express them to different audiences.

The purpose of this paper is not to present esteemed gathering of Buddhist scholars. That would be presumptuous. Our aim-is limited only to addressing a few aspects - from our western viewpoint - deem could be discussing our environment and the world-wide climate change.

Buddhist Thought and Modern Physics

Scientists in the west have during the pas astonishment as to what they regard as apparent Buddhism and modern physics. Against this b initially start our paper by presenting a few view modern science.

The Elements

According to the Abhidhamma, Buddha define to be built up of units of small elements - kalapas supposed to be tiny, sub-atomic particles, which a (coming and going some million times a second interdependent of each other and by their repetitious the material substance.

These tallies well in with quantum physics, where lowest atom level is in constant and intensive pre annihilation. This process is so quick, that we are unable to identify these particles (virtual particles). The similarities with the "siring theory" of modern physics are apparent!

Aspect of Time

Buddha taught that the universe is infinite- in every way. If it is infinite, it is immeasurable.
There is then no beginning of time in either direction. Any point in time is then the centre of time - i.e. present, past and future is the same, as presented in the Avatamsakasutra. If we understand the present, we thus also understand the past and the future. Time per se seems irrelevant.
And that is exactly what modern physicists believe. In a quantum mechanical manner, the dynamics of the universe may be described as a network of correlations (e.g. Indra's net), rather than as an evolution over time.

Emptiness

О Sariputra, Form is no different from Emptiness, and
Emptiness is not different from
Form.
Form is Emptiness and Emptiness is Form;
Likewise the feelings, conceptions, impulses and consciousness.

These few lines from the Heart Sutra summarizes the concept in the prajnaparamita literature that all things and events - whether material, mental or even abstract concepts like time - are empty and lack objective independent existence (svabhava sunyam pasyati sma) does not mean that "nothing exists" — but rather an individual being, possessed by its own inherent

In modern physics one is now cognisant of the fact that "emptiness" is full of activity - a real "Particle Zero. This theory seems to be echoed by the system presented in Kalachakra of space not as total nothingness, but as a medium of "empty particles» - i.e. extremely subtle "material" particles.

Interdependence

One of the most fundamental of Buddhist physical or mental phenomenal arises by itself, phenomenon and events arise conditioned by phenomenon - without any particular phenomenon having a permanent substance.

This concept is presented in the Law of the Dependant Origination (paticca-samuppada), which we will discuss further.

In modern physics one is aware of the fact that not independent units. They may not be separated environment. Their characteristics can only be understood by means of their interchange with their respective environment may only exist in combination with other quarks. In accordance with the Mach-principle, this principle of interchange universe - if one unit disappears in all its forms of universe implodes.

Illusion

Fundamental in Buddhism is that we - human I what we may apprehend. Therefore, Buddha thaught in terms of "conventional truth" (samuti-sacca) in addition to his teachings in form of the "ultimate truth" (parumattha-sacca). What we apprehended with our limited five senses is but an illusion.

Modern physics advocate along the same lines. The special measurement problem in modern physics is based on the fact that the particle exists only in one specific place in form of a particle when we measure it - otherwise it is spread out all over the universe in its wave form.

So according to modern physics, it is we - by means of our observations - that create the universe!