A spiritual dimension and environmental education: Buddhism and environmental crisis
1. Introduction Humankind is facing a global environmental crisis. Various strategies have been proposed to deal with environmental problems. While these efforts have been effective in solving some environmental problems, new problems are emerging because the roots of the environmental degradation have not been solved. Most strategies focus on end-of-the-pipeline control and treatment rather than prevention (Cremo & Goswami, 1995). Furthermore, many existing strategies are primarily based on the material world’s point-of-view (as opposed to the spiritual world’s), and have been unable to produce desirable results thus far. Arguably, the environmental crisis can be seen as a crisis of the human spirit. It has been argued that reducing the spiritual pollution in peoples' minds will also reduce natural pollution (Cremo & Goswami, 1995). Therefore, in solving these problems, special attention must be paid to the values of the spiritual world. Indeed, our spiritual relationship with the environment can play a crucial role in environmental protection. But it is regrettable that people are turning their backs on the spiritual world as they indulge themselves in endless greed and desire of the materialistic world that invariably lead to the destruction of the environment. To mitigate the adverse effects of such a phenomenon, the concept of good deeds and harmonious coexistence of all living things on earth needs to be reinstated in people’s mind. In this regard, all major religions in the world, which have a shared principle of promoting good deeds, denouncing bad deeds and fostering peace and happiness for all humankind, can play a crucial role (Chabhudbhuntarik, 1992; Thurman, 1992; McDermott, 1994; Payutto, 1994a; Cremo &
اولين افتخار ما اينست كه قرآن وسنت را بسيار دوست داريم ، يعني دين اسلام را دوست داريم و اين بدين معناست كه ما خدا و رسول او را دوست داريم ، ودين مقدس مان را كه ازقرآن وسنت حضرت پيامبر ص سر چشمه ميگيرد بر جانها و برآنچه كه در زندگي داريم ترجيح ميدهيم ، و اين درسي است كه ازمكتب اسلام و مكتب اصحاب واهلبيت به ما رسيده است و تنها راه سعادت را فقط در اين مسير ميدانيم .