Actually, to make the main point in this case, Buddhism and nonviolence, we need look no further than the first precept: not to take life. The first precept in Buddhism refers to the training to abstain from harming living beings. Buddhism gives equal right to all living beings. Every living being have a right to their lives and that right should be respected.
The first precept, however, applies to all living creatures even a small insect. One very famous modern-day Buddhist teacher is Thich Nhat Hanh, a monk from Vietnam. He’s written dozens of great books on Buddhism. He has come up with a modern translation of the five precepts. Here is his version of the First Precept:
“Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I vow to cultivate compassion and learn ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life.”
The first precept, however, applies to all living creatures even a small insect. One very famous modern-day Buddhist teacher is Thich Nhat Hanh, a monk from Vietnam. He’s written dozens of great books on Buddhism. He has come up with a modern translation of the five precepts. Here is his version of the First Precept:
“Aware of the suffering caused by the destruction of life, I vow to cultivate compassion and learn ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life.”
The world we have P. 11
From this aspect, we can clearly understand how Buddhism have good attitude to nature. For monks in Buddhism, the Buddha teaches not only to abstain from killing human beings and animals but also to abstain from cutting the tree. It is an offence for monks who cut the tree even without volition. The Buddha laid down the rule for monk to avoid from cutting any plants and laid down the rule for monks to have a rain retreat for three months during the rainy season. This is because during the rain season, monks always walk along the farm field and step on the small insects and sometime destroy to the farmer’s plaints.
Buddhist attitude to the world is nonviolence and the ways lead to peace and happiness. History never record wars fought in the name of propagating Buddhism. Buddhist leaders always teach people to be kind and compassionate, teach people to love each other, live together in unity and compassion. Even a great spiritual leader of Tibetan, His Holiness, Dalai Lama has never suggested armed conflict to overcome the persecution and cruelty perpetrated by the Communist Chinese occupation forces. He has always advocated a peaceful and non-violent solution. Venerable Maha Ghosananda, the Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia has urged Cambodians to put aside their anger for the genocide of the Khmer Rouge and to unify to re-establish their nation.
He has written: The suffering of Cambodia has been deep. From this suffering comes great compassion. Great compassion makes a peaceful heart. A peaceful heart makes a peaceful person. A peaceful person makes a peaceful family. A peaceful family makes a peaceful community. A peaceful community makes a peaceful nation. A peaceful nation makes a peaceful world[1].
On the other hand, if we look back to the early history of Buddhism, on the story of the Emperor Asoka, who has successful military campaign, ruled over more than two thirds of the Indian subcontinent, but he had great remorse for the suffering that he had caused, Next he becomes the great supporter of Buddhism with spending a lot of his properties to support Buddhism by his great faithful. His pronouncements were written on rocks at the periphery of his kingdom and on pillars along the main roads and where pilgrims gathered. He also established many hospitals for both humans and animals. Some of his important rock edicts stated:
1. Asoka ordered that banyan trees and mango groves be planted, rest houses built and wells dug every half mile along the main roads.
2. He ordered the end to killing of any animal for use in the royal kitchens.3. He ordered the provision of medical facilities for humans and beasts.4. He commanded obedience to parents, generosity to priests and ascetics and frugality in spending.5. All officers must work for the welfare of the poor and the aged.6. He recorded his intention to promote the welfare of all beings in order to repay his debt to all beings.7. He honors men of all faiths[2].
So from the historical studies and ethical studies of Buddhism we understand how Buddhist ethics affect to environmental conservation. Buddhist ethics against to violence and decline every kind of harming the world. However not all Buddhists perfectly follow the nonviolence path, we can see some few cases that Buddhists take action to violence to protect their nation or some other cases that have capital punishment in Buddhist states like Bhutan and Cambodia. But, it is not the main case which we should confuse to Buddhist teaching. Some Buddhists lead their action to violence because their mind nature. But Buddhist ethics against to violence and give right and importance to all living being.
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