I am an non believer but very interested in Buddhism. My Permaculture Ethics: Earth Care, People Care and Fair Shares support a green lifestyle. How dose your Religion/Spirituality support/contradict a Green Lifestyle?
2007-08-29 20:59:03 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Good day! If you're interested in Buddhism, here are a few things I recommend for "beginners." (Will address Green issue in a moment)
1. Start with reading "The Accidental Buddhist" by Dinty Moore. A small, light, fun book about a middle-class U.S. journalist who starts out to write a story about Buddhism in America and ends up becoming a Buddhist himself. Very easy to relate to and makes Buddhism very approachable.
2. Pick up a copy of The Complete Idiots Guide to Buddhism by Gary Gach. No kidding. It is a great reference and covers all the basics. You'll learn enough here to discover if Buddhism is for you, and what school of Buddhism is going to work best for you, etc.
3. Spend some time on www.urbandharma.org, especially I would recommend listing to some of the "Intro to Buddhism" podcasts by Rev. Kusula. Kusula is an extremely affable teacher, easy to listen to and relate to. Don't let the Buddhist name fool you, he's an American Buddhist and grew up with all the typical western influences before coming to Buddhism. his podcasts are available free on iTUNES as well.
4. www.buddhanet.net is a great resource
5. pick up the phone book, find a temple or meditation center near you, and get started!
The foundation of Buddhism is the interdependence of all things in the universe, and so it is just very, very basic to Buddhism that we be kind to all sentient beings, including not killing off other life forms with our pollution, and that we be good stewards of the earth. I have found that my Buddhist ethics and my environmental ethics continuously reinforce one another.
Thanks for asking, good luck. E-mail me if you have other questions. Wishing you peace, love and abundant joy in this and every day.
2007-08-30 03:25:50 · answer #1 · answered by buddhamonkeyboy 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Green lifestyle? Why would I or anyone else have or want a green lifestyle. I mean im all for keeping things clean, but there are alot of wacky things from the environmental movement that are more cultlike than any religion ive ever studied. Heck, Al Gore and his carbon emissions indulgences to allow the rich to pollute all they want are extremely creepy.
My philosophy is to be good stewards over what you've been given. Dont kill what you wont use. And keep things clean.
2007-08-30 04:04:55 · answer #2 · answered by Avatar_defender_of_the_light 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I believe that everything in the universe is interconnected so what i do has a much greater effect.
Therefore I try to make lifestyle choices that do not impact harmfully on the earth or other people.
So I've been pretty 'green' most of my life and that sits well with my conscience.
2007-08-30 04:06:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The Bible says in English we have dominion over the earth. I don't know what it says exactly in Hebrew or Aramaic. As a Native American, I believe we are keepers of the earth. I wonder if the word translated dominion didn't more closely align with keeper.
2007-08-30 04:03:30 · answer #4 · answered by javadic 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I flush the Green Lifestyle. I hate the Green Lifestyle. To me, it represents government control, and lunacy. It has the ultimate stupid motto,"Save the Earth." The Earth will not be saved by recycling, Green Movements, or government restrictions because "There might be a chance that we are causing Global Warming and Ozone Holes, so let's tax people more."
I will tomorrow, flick an unlit cigarette in a gutter. Maybe it'll get wet and algae will grow on it. That will be green.
PLEASE give me MORE thumbs down! I am one voice telling you people that you are acting as those under the power of "Popular Thought." Popular thought controls the masses. All the government has to do is convince you that they are right, and scare you into it. Pay a couple of stupid rock bands to play a few songs.
2007-08-30 04:08:01 · answer #5 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 1⤊ 5⤋
My church has been a longtime supporter of recycling, and sometimes sponsors environmental conferences and speakers. There's another church that I visit on occasion that sponsored a large environmenal awareness display.
2007-08-30 04:11:35 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't take much care of the environment, not because of my religion, but because I am just lazy. I eat junky food, my room is a mess..... and someone has the audacity to think I will actually clean up the entire earth? You wish.
2007-08-30 04:05:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
I like to think of it as the Native Americans put it "We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children."
2007-08-30 04:06:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Without need for a religious structure, I turn to a simple principle:
"Waste not, want not.
2007-08-30 04:15:41 · answer #9 · answered by novangelis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We say "responsibility to the responsible", and emphasize self-responsibility in general. That would include not being reckless about my environment.
2007-08-30 04:05:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋