Ecological Principles and the Climate Crisis in Buddhism
By Basu Gautam
My Republica
May 4, 2023
The pressing issue of climate change and its devastating impact on our planet is on everyone's mind these days. As we witness rapid and unprecedented changes taking place in our environment, many are seeking advice on how to deal with this global crisis, turning to alternative philosophies and spiritual traditions. Buddhism is one such tradition that provides important insights into the fundamentals of ecology and climate change. A central idea of Buddhism is “mutual existence”, emphasizing the interdependence of all things. This idea shows that everything in the universe is interdependent and interconnected, and that our everyday actions affect the environment. With the help of this idea, we can better understand how climate change is affecting the environment and all living things, and can be understood to affect all living things.