Eco-Buddhism - 7194 Words

Sustainable development and Religion. Buddhism and the Climate-Energy Emergency Statue of Buddha Sakyamuni, Bodh Gaya, India It is in this way that we must train ourselves: by liberation of the self through love. We will develop love, we will practice it, we will make it both a way and a basis, take our stand upon it, store it up, and thoroughly set it going. The Buddha, Samyutta Nikaya Environmental and social breakdown is now vast and global in scale. Technological advances have provided the basis for a new kind of social evolution, beyond cultural, religious or spiritual boundaries. Technology, however, is not ultimately directed by reason, but by†¦show more content†¦If we ask why our social evolution has become so maladaptive, we come immediately upon the key influence of mass advertising. From an early age, we are bombarded by powerful imagery, deployed through a hypnotic medium, television, that bypasses conscious filters to directly influence our subconscious mind. The vivid imagery of television and movies create a seamless virtual reality that programs our collective nervous system. From America to China, consumerism has become an organizing principle for billions of peoples’ lives. Zen Buddhist philosopher David R. Loy states: Consumerism requires and develops a sense of our own impoverishment. By manipulating the gnawing sense of lack that haunts our insecure sense of self, the attention economy insinuates its basic message deep into our awareness: the solution to any discomfort we might have is consumption. Needless to say, this all-pervasive conditioning is incompatible with the liberative path of Buddhism. Consumption has replaced religion and citizenship as the way we participate in society. It is one of 4 Megaphenomena that have ‘spiked’ in intensity over the last century, combining to create unprecedented danger for the biosphere. Population growth, carbon gas emissions and species extinctions are the other three megaphenomena. Fossil fuels will be exhausted within this century. The productionShow MoreRelatedPersonal Experience Of Meditation And Meditation Sessions991 Words   |  4 Pagesin Greg’s morning yoga and meditation sessions, which I had only been to a handful of times) that I had ever really meditated with the intention to practice Buddhism. I don’t really know what I expected, but this indeed was different. The personal experience of meditating (and chanting) was different than I expected. It was hard. Back at the Eco Lodge, (where we had class and morning meditation) we would meditate for ten, maybe fifteen minutes maximum and there were only ever ten other people in theRead MoreYog Yoga And Yoga1370 Words   |  6 PagesIn addition to meditation, yoga is also an important practice in Hinduism as well as in Tibetan Buddhism. Yoga is used as a means to enlightenment and has influenced other religious and spiritual practices throughout the world. The Bhagavad Gita and the Yogasutra are some of the scriptures that establish the basis for yoga. The four main types of yoga are Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Raja Yoga. Yoga helps gain a mastery over the body and mind and can lead to the knowledge ofRead MoreReligion and Spirituality in the Workplace Essay1680 Words   |  7 Pagesaddressed and managed. In my paper I will be analyzing two scenarios of religious differences in the workplace and discuss how management, employees and coworker’s should respond to the situation. After analyzing these situations, I will discuss how Buddhism potentially impacts the workplace and draw upon my opinions to explain the importance of managing religious diversity. Scenario One Creating a Religious Diversity Culture In scenario one a recently hired employee, Sonia, begins to wear loose-fittingRead MoreBuddhism and Ecotourism1051 Words   |  5 Pagesbecome environmentally active by spreading their beliefs with their environmental traditions, as well as how to be environmentally responsible with eco-tourists. As a consequence of a decrease in government control over religions and increase in tourism due to China opening up internationally, a relationship has been built between the Buddhist community and Eco-tourists. Through this new relationship, an increase in environmental movements, both protests and teachings, have impacted state governmentsRead MoreThe Growth Of Technology And Consumerism1528 Words   |  7 Pagesactivity such as muggings, theft, and breaking and entering all to obtain material items. According the Won-Buddhism website â€Å"in contemporary society, where material civilization is rapidly advancing and dominates people s minds, materialism and consumerism make people dr iven, competitive and nervous.† Through background research and my experience of Won-Buddhism, I have found that Won-Buddhism helps participants cope with this contemporary world. The Fourfold Grace reminds individuals of theirRead MoreThe Western Relationship With Nature1735 Words   |  7 PagesIt serves in complete opposition of the idealistic view of the people completely in touch with nature, similar to those of traditional hunter-gatherer societies. The teachings of Buddhism, Confucianism and Shintoism all have differing concepts on the treatment of the surrounding environment. On a general note, Buddhism is engrained with a marked respect for all things natural and a basic belief is that all forms of life are interdependent and the principle ‘ahimsa’ is that no harm will be inflictedRead MoreComparative Advantage1258 Words   |  6 PagesComparative Advantage Christopher L Kearney University of Phoenix ECO/GM 561 International Economics Watson T. Ragin June 27, 2011 Comparative Advantage This writing will begin by defining the concept of comparative advantage while comparing the automobile industry in the United States and the industry in Japan and expound of the similarities and differences of both of the countries. According to InvestorWords.com comparative advantage is defined as the ability of a business entity toRead MoreThe Scenic Beauty Of India1327 Words   |  6 Pagesmillions of travelers all across the globe and so it is addressed as the ‘Lake District’ of India. Whether you crave for a romantic gateway or want some private moment at the lap of nature, Nainital is perfect. Enjoy boating, sightseeing activities, eco-tourism here. Shimla: the summer capital of British Shimla is one of the offbeat destinations in India that was once called ‘Summer Capital of British’. It is now the capital of Himachal Pradesh and certainly a delight for the eyes. Shimla is highlyRead MoreAncient Indi The Ancient Indian Civilization1369 Words   |  6 Pagesreligion helped them get ideas for their arts and pottery and weaving designs. There religion, Hinduism, gave them things to write about and things to make to decorate their pottery. Although Hinduism was the most popular, the other religions were Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Sikhism. The priests were called Brahmins. According to archaeological digs, archaeologists have found that the ancient Indians were very good at writing up blueprints for their cities and houses and rooms, the dimensionsRead MoreCountry Analysis - Japan5097 Words   |  21 Pagesof Soka Gakkai, Daisaku Ikeda. The party’s mission is to pioneer people-centered politics, a politics based on a humanitarianism that treats human life with the utmost respect and care (New Komeito, 2004). The Komeito party aims to make Soka Buddhism the official religion of Japan and ultimately the world. The Japan Communist Party (JCP) was formed on July 15, 1922. Some of JCP’s issues are; eliminating U.S. military bases in Japan, end serving interests to multi-national corporation s, end