Tag: Eightfold Path

Right Understanding is clear knowledge of the Four Noble Truths, encompassing the “Three Basic Facts of Existence”: Anicca (Impermanence), Anatta (Pali for “non self” or “insubstantiality”; in Sankrit Anatman) and Dukkha (suffering or unsatisfactoriness). Without understanding the Four Noble Truths (the “diseases”) of what use is the “cure” (The Eightfold Path)? So Four Noble Truth teaches us to live within our means and be moderate in our interaction with others and with the environment. As the three poisons (Ignorance, Greed, and Aversion) often tip our minds off balance unconsciously. We need to be very vigilant to the mindset/attitudes behind our thought processes, speeches, and actions. The eightfold path is the way to self-cultivation and self-actualization. Right Intention means do no harm, no killing, and compassion.

One of the cases in point is the discussion of Global Warming and Climate Change. These are on the agenda of the World Economic Forum as well as on that of many governments. A huge problem in modern political governments is the lacking of what Buddhism called the Right View. People are blind-minded by science, and they do not realize the limitation of science, and thus instead of believing in the Right View, they are believing in the superstition/bias of science. Modern governments do not take into account the input of Native indigenous heritage, religion, metaphysical study, or other disciplines of holistic research. Western democracy used to be the model for other “non/less democratic” countries. However, people have seen a lot of social unrest, violence, inequality, human rights violations, and abuse of political power in western countries. In recent years, people have started questioning the western way of democracy and whether western democracy is the ultimate solution for a fair society. Meanwhile, inside China, the disruptive impacts of the market economy over the last 40 years have reared their ugly head, resulting in the revival of Chinese traditional philosophies and Confucius principles. The internationally intellectual circle has started dialogues on these pressing issues. That is a huge topic we can further explore in the future.

But since we are talking about climate and environment, we can first start with the cosmology of traditional Chinese philosophy. Climate and environment were specifically discussed in ancient Chinese, but ancient Chinese philosophy is built on the relationship of human with Heaven and Earth. A fundamental concept is the resonances of humans’ energy with that of Heaven and Earth. (天人感应), Another is the dynamic equilibrium. Confucius believes that let states of equilibrium and harmony exist in perfection, and a happy order will prevail throughout heaven and earth, and all things will be nourished and flourish. Confucians took to heart that our human nature comes from Heaven and that the Way of Heaven is accessible through self-knowledge. To understand the Mandate of Heaven we must continuously cultivate ourselves. This completes the triad of Heaven, Earth and humankind (天地人三才. Confucian regards Humanity as a partner of both Heaven and Earth, and he regards the Earth as a living entity.

In the west, English writer and speaker Alan Wilson Watts (6 January 1915 – 16 November 1973) was well known for pioneering the interpretation and popularization of Japanese, Chinese and Indian traditions of Buddhist, Zen, Taoist, and Hindu philosophy for a large Western audience. Alan Watts has 5 most important commendations for the people in the 21st century. In answering the question “How does one bring oneself into accord with the Tao?” He wrote in Become What You Are, “If you try to accord with it(Tao), you will get away from it(Tao)”. For to imagine there is a “you” separate from life which somehow has to accord with life is to fall straight into the trap. If you try to find the Tao, you are at once presupposing a difference between yourself and the Tao.” This is very much the same interpreation of Buddhism’s teaching of One (non-ducality). Alan Watts continued to explain:

In the West, “nature” is something that’s equated with the countryside or the mountains — a place that is wild and out there. Nature is thus something you enjoy from the safety of your couch via a David Attenborough documentary or when you finally get out of the city on the weekend. This divide between our daily life and the natural world has grown so much that most of us don’t know where the food we eat every day comes from and feel out of place in the silence and vastness of open, cementless spaces. In Chinese, the word for nature is ziran(自然）, which means “self so”, or “so of itself”. Ziran doesn’t mean green pastures over yonder. There is no word to distinguish between “us” and “nature” in Chinese. It means a spontaneous process that happens in and of itself. This notion of ziran （自然） — the natural, spontaneous process of life — is the basis of the principle of “Tao”. The Chinese philosophy based around living in accordance with the Tao, and that is attributed to the person (or likely persons) Lao Tzu, is called Taoism.

To continue combatting the issue of climate change/environmental protection, the native Indigenous American should be brought into the discussion as well. Before the Whites came to America, Indigenous Native America has been living in harmony with Heaven and Earth. But nowadays Native tribes are experiencing an environmental peril exacerbated by policies — first imposed by white settlers and later by the United States. Everything that we do as humans affects the environment in some shape or form. This fundamental belief put the Native American human on equal footing with the animal they hunted for food or the berries they took from the bush. It is said that United States Constitution is based on the Iroquois Constitution, the oldest living Constitution, also known as The Great Law of Peace, shares the Field Museum in Chicago. Our Founding Fathers, including Benjamin Franklin, were in contact with the leaders of the Iroquois Confederacy, and they were invited to speak to the Continental Congress in 1776. In 1988, the U.S. Senate recognized the Great Law of Peace as an inspiration for the United States Constitution, stating, “The confederation of the original 13 colonies into one republic was influenced by the political system developed by the Iroquois Confederacy, as were many of the democratic principles which were incorporated into the constitution itself.” The Native Indigenous Americans helped the whites in many ways to adjust to the newfound land. Mother Teresa reminds us not to forget those who had helped us.

Among the religious group, there is quite a consensus on how the mind affects the climate and the unseen energy vibration. Here is what Pope Francis said on climate change:

Buddhist Monk Venerable ChinKung fully shares the view with that of Pope Francis. He said the craving mind of humanity accounts for the vibration of the magnetic field. This magnetic field to a large degree electrifies the personal level of individual circumstances and invigorates the collective level social atmosphere and environmental conditions. To testify to this point of view, we can look into the story of Master Xu Yun (虚云老和尚）prayed for the relief of severe drought conditions in the hot summer in August of 1900. During the war, the City of XiAn was in chaos: many people died, and disease and pandemics were rampant. The air was highly populated and smell very bad. Master XuYun led a group of over a thousand monks to pray and chant for seven straight days, eventually, the miracle happened and people got snow in the summertime. The Empress of that time, Chixi was so grateful that she made long bowed to Master XuYun.

So we definitely need to allocate resources to battle climate change. But we need to get into the root cause and have a holistic consideration. The resources should be given to the most needed area rather than political interest groups/or lobbying groups. Just like we are against a drug abuse economy, we are against a climate change economy. Science and technology, by themselves, will not be able to reverse the effect of climate change. Professor Chomsky explains why social, racial, and economic justice is just as crucial as science in determining how humans can reverse climate catastrophe. Looking into Green New Deal, the Degrowth movement, the tension between unions and the environmental movement, and climate change are more of a democracy problem rather than an economic issue.

Finally all it boils down to love and mind, Famous mystics and Astrologist Isabel Hicky summarized it the best: