The Buddha warned that disruption of seasonal rains would usher in a period of famine followed by war and strife. Darfur in the African plains has already suffered this sequence of disasters.
As such, it is perhaps the first major casualty of global warming, but unless the tide is turned – and turned soon – it will not be the last.
After much debate, global warming is finally accepted as a reality, and pollution clearly identified as the main culprit. Scientists produce copious amounts of data to prove the validity of these conclusions and various accords aimed at reducing our carbon footprints are ratified. I’m sure the Buddha would applaud all this, but he would take the preventative measures a step further. In his warning of famine and conflict, he did not refer to carbon footprints, but instead identified excessive greed and distorted values as the root cause. Pollution is merely a symptom of these wrong views.
So, what is right view and how does it help solve global warming? One of the four tenants of Buddhism is that all things are interconnected. Take a table as an example. It is made of wood that comes from a tree. The tree grew from a seed that matured through interaction with moisture, sunlight and nutrition.
If any one of these factors is absent, the tree would not grow and a table would not be produced. Everything we can see, hear or touch is the same. Even our thoughts develop because of many contributing factors, such as past experiences and educational influences.
When we do not recognize that things are interconnected in this way, we feel that our action is unrelated to the world around us. We throw garbage on the streets of Thimphu without recognizing that it is us who will reap the repercussions if tourists shun the city or disease becomes rampant. Such a scenario is similar to the liver or kidneys selfishly polluting the body without understanding that they are an integral part of the whole structure and will be adversely affected by the sickness that follows.
These are the consequences that industrialists face today. Without understanding their intrinsic connection to the world around them, humans tend to act in short-sighted and self destructive ways. They consider only their personal interests and do not realize that destruction of the eco-system is in fact a window into their own demise.
“Think globally. Act locally” is a common environmentalist slogan. In other words, we need to fully recognize the dire state of the environment on a global scale, while working at a local and personal level to enact positive change. In a recently composed aspirational prayer directed at environmental concerns, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche pledges to refrain from allowing tap water to run when brushing his teeth. While this may not appear an earth shattering initiative, it fully accords with the Buddha’s observation that intention is the precursor of action. Even the Great Wall of China or major social reforms such as democracy began as a single thought in one person’s mind. Therefore, transforming the mind and correcting our view is the basis of creating a healthy society and environment.
As a citizen of a small country hidden in the folds of the Himalayas, some people might question whether their individual efforts can effect positive change on a global scale. The answer is definitely yes. As the sea is comprised of many small droplets of water, so society is comprised of many people. If some of these begin to transform their view, a surge of positive change will be initiated. Like a rock dropped into a pool of water, the ripples will reach shores far from the place of impact.
Therefore, next time we offer butter lamps at a lhakhang or water and incense to a statue, we should not do so as though we are offering a gift to appease some external god. Instead, we should use the opportunity as a means to transform our mind, and this we do by sincerely dedicating the offering to the well-being of the planet and to the happiness all beings.
If just a single thought can give rise to the Great Wall of China or a major reform movement, consider the effects of everyone in Thimphu or Bhutan starting the day with awareness about the environment and arousing magnanimous thoughts about their fellow beings. In this way, a simple custom like offering a butter lamp or refraining from leaving the tap water running while brushing our teeth becomes a dynamic wellspring for change.
From today, therefore, let us not only remember to turn off the water when brushing our teeth, but also to use only reusable bags when purchasing goods and to buy only organically grown fruit and vegetables. These may appear symbolic gestures in the face of a huge challenge like global warming, but as the Buddha himself said, “Even a tiny spark of fire can burn a mountain-high heap of grass.”
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