Source:
Universal Responsibility and Environment
Excerpts
from “My Tibet”, Dalai Lama XIV
Concern
for the environment is not necessarily holy, nor does it always require
compassion. We Buddhists express compassion for all sentient beings, but this
compassion is not necessarily extended to every rock or tree or house. Most of
us are somewhat concerned about our own house, but not really compassionate
about it. We keep it in order so that we can live and be happy. We know that to
have happy feelings in our house we must take care of it. So our feelings may
be of concern rather than compassion.
(...) It is not at all wrong for humans to use
nature to make useful things, but we must not exploit nature unnecessarily. It
is good to live in a house, to have medicines, and to be able to drive somewhere
in a car. In the right hands, a machine is not a luxury, but something very
useful. A camera, for example, can be used to make pictures that promote
understanding.
Peace
and survival of life on earth as we know it are threatened by human activities
that lack a commitment to humanitarian values. Destruction of nature and
natural resources results from ignorance, greed, and lack of respect for the
earth’s living things. This lack of respect extends even to the earth’s human
descendants, the future generations who will inherit a vastly degraded planet
if world peace doesn’t become a reality and if destruction of the natural
environment continues at the present rate.Our
ancestors viewed the earth as rich and bountiful, which it is. Many people in
the past also saw nature as inexhaustibly sustainable, which we now know is the
case only if we care for it. It is not difficult to forgive destruction in the
past that resulted from ignorance. Today, however, we have access to more
information. It is essential that we re-examine ethically what we have
inherited, what we are responsible for, and what we will pass on to coming
generations.
Clearly
this is a pivotal generation. Global communication is possible, yet
confrontations take place more often than meaningful dialogues for peace. Our
marvels of science and technology are matched, if not outweighed, by many
current tragedies, including human starvation in some parts of the world and
extinction of other life forms.
Exploration
of outer space takes place at the same time the earth’s own oceans, seas, and
freshwater areas grow increasingly polluted, and their life forms are still
largely unknown or misunderstood. Many of the earth’s habitats, animals,
plants, insects and even microorganisms that we know as rare may not be known
at all by future generations. We have the capability and the responsibility. We
must act before it is too late.
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