Buddhism and the Environment
Nirvana is called the extinction of passions, the uncreated, peaceful happiness, eternal bliss, suchness, oneness, and Buddha-nature.
Buddha-nature is none other than Tathagata.
The Tathagata pervades the countless worlds; it fills hearts and minds of the oceans of beings. Thus plants, trees, and land all attain Buddhahood. -Shinran

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Find Your Own Path
The morals within society dictate the rules and laws that tell us how to live our lives. They tell us that we should care for our planet. But Buddhism teaches us to ask, why? Why should I care about the environment? For my future or my child's? To save the planet? Is this just selfish or a selfless action?

Many people in the world don't even contemplate the first world's efforts to recycle or protect the ozone layer. Does their ignorance mean that they are not good Buddhists?

What is the Buddhist perspective on our environment?

Buddha's teachings say that we are all interconnected. Buddhism can claim to be the only religion that practices interdependence. Practices like meditation teaches us to become a part of the natural movement in the universe. Following the Eightfold path, our actions can improve the world around us and also puts the responsibility on the each individual. This is know as the ethical path. Although you may not be able to control the world around you, you can try to understand and self-reflect on your own actions. Buddhist have to discover their own path and make choices how they want to live, including the steps they need to take to care for the planet.

A Buddhist Prayer
May all beings be well and safe, may they be at ease. Whatever living beings there may be, whether moving or standing still, without exception, whether large, great, middling, or small, whether tiny or substantial, Whether seen or unseen, whether living near or far, born or unborn; may all begins be happy.

Let none deceive or despise another anywhere, Let none wish harm to another, in anger or in hate. Just as a mother would guard her child, her only child, with her own life, even so let me love for all beings in the work, above, below, and across, unhindered, without ill will or enmity. Standing, walking, seated, or lying down, free from torpor, let me as far as possible fix my attention on this recollection, This, they say is the divine, life right here.