A Buddhist Concept of Nature
Tonight I will say something about the Buddhist concept of nature.
Nagarjuna said that for a system where emptiness
is possible, it is also possible to have functionality, and since
functionality is possible, emptiness is also possible. So when we talk
about nature, the ultimate nature is emptiness. What is meant by
emptiness, or shunyata? It is not the emptiness of existence but rather
the emiPtiness of true or independent existence, which means that
things exist by dependence upon other factors.
So whether it is the environment that is
inhabited, or the inhabitants, both of them are composed of four or
five basic elements. These elements are earth, wind, fire, water and
vacuum, that is space. About space, in the Kalachakra tantra there is a
mention of what is known as the atom of space, particles of space. So
that forms the central force of the entire phenomenon. When the entire
system of the universe first evolved, it evolved from this central
force which is the particle of space, and also a system of universe and
would dissolve eventually into this particle of the space. So it is on
the basis of these five basic elements that there is a very close
inter-relatedness or interrelation between the habitat that is the
natural environment and inhabitants, the sentient beings living within
it.
Also, when we talk of the elements there are
internal elements which are existent inherently within sentient beings;
they are also of different levels- some are subtle and some are gross.
So ultimately according to Buddhist teachings the
innermost subtle consciousness is the sole sort of creator, itself
consisting of five elements, very subtle forms of elements. These
subtle elements serve as conditions for producing the internal
elements, which form sentient beings, and that in turn causes the
existence or evolution of the external elements. So there is a very
close interdependence or Interrelationship between the environment and
the inhabitants.
Within the meaning of interdependency there are
many different levels that things are dependent upon casual factors, or
upon their own parts, or the conceptual mind, which actually gives the
label, the designation.
The topic that we are discussing today is the
interrelationship or interdependence between the natural environment
and the sentient beings living within it.
Now here, you see, some of my friends told me that
basic human nature is something violent. Then I told my friends, I
don't think so. If we examine different mammals, say those
animals such as tigers or lions that very much depend on other's life
for their basic survival these animals because of their basic nature
have a special structure, their teeth and long nails, like that. So,
those peaceful animals, such as deer, which are completely herbivorous,
their teeth and nails are something different; gentler. So from that
viewpoint, we human beings belong to the gentle category, isn't that so? Our
teeth, our nails, these are very gentle. So I told my friends, I don't
agree with your viewpoint. Basically human beings have a non-violent
nature.
Also, about the question of human survival, human
beings are social animals. In order to survive you need other
companions; without other human beings there is simply no possibility
to survive; that is nature's law, that is nature.
Since I deeply believe that basically human beings
are of a gentle nature so I think the human attitude towards our
environment should be gentle. Therefore I believe that not only should
we keep our relationship with our other fellow human beings very gentle
and non-violent, but it is also very important to extend that kind of
attitude to the natural environment. I think morally speaking we can
think like that and we should all be concerned for our environment.
Then I think there is another viewpoint. In this
case It IS not a question of morality or ethics, not that question; is
a question of our own survival. Not only this generation, but for other
generations, the environment is something very important. If we exploit
the natural environment in an extreme way, today we might gee-some
other benefit but in the long run we ourselves will suffer and other
generations will suffer. So when the environment changes, climatic
conditions also change. When it changes dramatically, economic
structures and many other things also change, even our physical body.
So you can seethe great effect from that change. So from that viewpoint
this is not only a question of our own survival.
Therefore, in order to achieve more effective
results and in order to succeed in the protection, conservation and
preservation of the natural environment, first of all, I think, it is
also important to bring about internal balance within human beings
themselves. Since negligence of the environment - which has resulted in
lots of harm to the human community - came about by ignorance of the
very special importance of the environment, I think it is very
important first of all to instill this knowledge within human beings.
So, it is very important to teach or tell people about its importance
bring own
benefit.
Then, one of the other most important things
again, as I am always saying, is the importance of compassionate
thought. As I mentioned earlier, even from ones own selfish viewpoint,
you need other people. So, by showing concern for other people's
welfare, sharing other people's suffering, and by helping other people,
ultimately one will gain benefit. If one thinks only of oneself and
forgets about others, ultimately one will lose. This also is something
like nature's law. I think it is quite simple. If you do not show a
smile to other people, and show some kind of bad look or like that, the
other side wi1l also give a similar response. Isn't that right? If you
show other people a very sincere and open attitude there will also be a
similar response. So it is quite simple logic.
Everybody wants friends and does not want enemies.
The proper way to create friends is through a warm heart and not simply
money or power. Friends of power and friends of money are something
different. These are not friends.
. A true friend should be a real friend of heart, isn't it so? I
am always telling people that those friends who come to you when you
have money and power are not your true friends but friends of money and
power. Because as soon as your money and power disappear, those friends
are also ready to say goodbye, bye-bye. So you see these friends are
not reliable. Genuine and true human friends will always share your
sorrow, your burdens and will always come to you whether you are
successful or unlucky. So the way to create such a friend is not
through anger, not mere education, not mere intelligence, but by the
heart - a good heart.
So, as I always say if you think in a deeper way
if you are going to be selfish, then you should be wisely selfish, not
narrow mindedly selfish. From that viewpoint, the key thing is the
sense of Universal Responsibility, that is the real source of strength,
the real source of happiness.
From that perspective, if in our generation we
exploit every available thing: trees, water, mineral resources or
anything, without bothering about the next generation, about the
future, that's our guilt, isn't it? So if we have a genuine sense of
universal responsibility, as the central motivation and principle, then
from that direction our relations with the environment will be well
balanced. Similarly with every aspect of relationships, our relations
with our neighbors, our family neighbors, or country neighbors, will be
balanced from that direction.
Actually, in ancient rimes many great thinkers, as
well as great spiritual masters were produced in this country, India.
So, I feel in modern times these great Indian thinkers, such as Mahatma
Gandhi as well as some politicians, implemented these noble ideas like ahimsa in
the political arena. In a certain way India's foreign policy of
non-alignment is also related to with that kind of moral principle. So
I think further expansion, or further development of these noble ideas,
or noble actions, in this country is very relevant and very important.
Now in this respect, another thing which I feel to
be very important is what is consciousness, what is mind? Up to now,
especially I think in the Western world, during the last one or two
centuries science and technology have been very much emphasized and
that mainly deals with matter.
Now, today, some of the nuclear physicists and
neurologists have started investigating and analyzing particles in a
very detailed and deep way. While doing so, they found out some kind of
involvement from the observer's side which they sometimes call "the
knower". What is," the knower"? Simply speaking it is the being, the
human being, like the scientists through which ways do scientists know?
I think through the brain. Now, about the brain, Western scientists
have not yet fully identified the more than hundred billion of cells of
the brain. I think out of a hundred billion only a few hundred have
been identified so far. So now the mind, whether you call it mind or a
special energy of the brain, or consciousness, You will see that there
is a relationship between the brain and the mind and the mind and
matter. This I think is something important. I feel there should be
some sort of dialogue between eastern philosophy and Western science on
the basis of the relationship between mind and matter.
In any case, today our human mind is very much
looking at or very much involved with the external world. I think we
are failing to care for or study the internal world.
We need scientific and material developments in
order to survive, in order to get benefits and in order to have more
prosperity. Equally we need mental peace. Any doctor cannot inject
mental peace: no market can sell mental peace or happiness. With
millions and millions of rupees you can buy anything but if you go to a
supermarket and say I want peace of mind, then people will laugh. And
if you ask a doctor, I want genuine peace of mind, not a dull one, you
might get one sleeping pill, or some injection. Although you may get
rest, the rest is not in the right sense, is it?
So if you want genuine mental peace or mental
tranquility the doctor cannot provide it. A machine like the computer,
however sophisticated it may be, cannot provide you with mental peace.
Mental peace must come from the mind. So everyone wants happiness,
pleasure. Now, compare physical pleasure and physical pain with mental
pain or mental pleasure and you will find that the mind is superior,
more effective and more dominant. Therefore it is worthwhile to
increase mental peace through certain methods. In order to do that it
is important to know more about mind. That also, I always feel, is very
important. I think that is all.
So when you say environment, or preservation of
environment, it is related with many things. Ultimately the decision
must come from the human heart, isn't that right? So I think the key
point is genuine sense of universal responsibility which is based on
love, compassion and clear awareness.
Transcript of an address on February 4, 1992, at New Delhi, India
