Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Buddhism and the Environment

Among his many activities, Gyalwang Karmapa has taken a great interest in environmental issues and to this end has published a booklet on Environmental Guidelines for Karma Kagyu Buddhist Monasteries, Centers and Communities which is a fine little treatise well worth checking out, if only to see samples of his paintings (found on pages 6, 10, 13 and 19).
Download (PDF 3.1 Mb)
More information at the official website of Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

it´s only for kargyupa. happy birth day

pensum said...

Ah but we've had the great blessing of being in a lineage that combines both Kagyu and Nyingma, and let alone one whose lineage masters, like Tulku Urgyen and Samten Gyatso, took great pride in serving the Karmapa, so i'm sure everyone will be more than happy to act in accordance with his wishes.

And besides good principles and sound advice can be applied by all. If only the Kagyu put forth the effort to care for the environment the world not only will never become the pureland that it has the potential to be, but is simply doomed!

Anonymous said...

i made you happy:)

Anonymous said...

I would like to offer another piece of the environmental health puzzle.

The personal care and cleaning products made today are full of toxic petro-chemicals, especially the ones containing fragrance.

If all sangha members everywhere were to use only pure and natural products on their bodies and for washing clothing etc, the planet's air, water, land, and living beings would all be a lot healthier.

If you wish to learn more, I recommend starting with:

Toxic chemicals found in common scented laundry products, air fresheners
"Fragranced consumer products and undisclosed ingredients"

Dr. Steinemann's research PDF:
http://tinyurl.com/5ryj6g

Faculty webpage:
http://www.ce.washington.edu/people/faculty/bios/steinemann_a.html

pensum said...

excellent and rather startling stuff--thanks Linda!

Conceição said...

and you find all that produts in katmandu?

Anonymous said...

I have found that if you keep asking shopkeepers for something -- even though you know they don't carry "green stuff" -- they will think about it, and stock up on it sooner or later.

Anonymous said...

if you keep asking for ateaching you should have it.

pensum said...

good advice Johnny! the consumer actually has a lot of power and simple acts like asking for green products may seem small and inconsequential but may ultimately lead to major changes in both attitude and behaviour.

conceição, i regret to say that Nepal has a simply horrendous environmental record from deforestation to soil erosion to air and water pollution. the introduction of "western" products packaging has had a serious (negative)impact as well.

Erik Pema Kunsang said...

Conceição, I heard that you can get organic vegetables in Boudha, behind Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche's monastery, every Saturday.

pensum said...

Chodon, leaving aside respect for a lama's wisdom or even their time and well-being, it is often advised to view the lama-student relationship as that of a doctor and patient. so according to your logic a doctor should give you any medicine or treatment you ask for, simply because you are asking for it. this hardly seems sensible especially when the doctor is aware that a particular medicine might have adverse reactions, be unnecessary, harmful or even lead to one's death.

from the view that the teachings are a form of medicine, it would seem that there are many dharma junkies and hypochondriacs. so it is not surprising that lamas must keep their medicine cabinet under lock and key.

it is unfortunate that often people become frustrated due to their own grasping mind, especially when all the teachings are contained in something as basic and readily available as the standard four-line refuge prayer or ngondro.

Anonymous said...

why don´t you ask the karmapa or the dalai lama? I don´t know anything.)

Conceição said...

nepal far way from europe, but thats what i love about twitter we all have different opinions.

pensum said...

that's wonderful to hear Erik!

Conceição said...

bon apetit! lunch time. byby