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Buddhists/environmental ethics

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Expert: - 6/12/2010


Question
i am currently doing an assignment on buddhist environmental ethics. if would be a great help if you could answer as many of these questions as possible, as soon as possible. thankyou :)

1.   What branch of Buddhism are you part of?
2.   What do you believe are Buddhism’s environmental ethics?
3.   Do you believe the following statement is true or false? Buddhist monks and nuns vow to follow moral precepts that prohibit harming of the environment as it encourages the mind to be free from all ‘corrupting’ materialistic objects.
4.   Could you please state whether you support the environmental ethics and why? So just to elaborate, could you please state whether (or not) you support the environmental ethics and why(If you could further explain why you are against/for environmental ethics by making links to the 5 precepts, karma or various teachings of Buddha, that would be a great help)
5.   What is the Tibetan position on environmental ethics?
6.   Are there any circumstances in which these ethical issues are permissible?
7.   How do the 5 moral precepts, karma and other Tibetan teachings relate to these ethical issues?
8.   What teachings apply when evaluating Mahayana Buddhists position to environmental ethics? Also Theravada and Tibetan?
9.   How does Mahayana feel about environmental ethics?
10.   Do you think environmental ethics are big issues within the Buddhist community?
11.   Are there any teachings that condemn or condone environmental ethics?

Answer
1 Kagyu
2 Compassion and wisdom - the details are arguable
3 I wouldn't put it that way myself
4 I'm not sure what you mean by "support the environmental ethics". Compassion is always the guide.
5 I am European - you would do better to ask a Tibetan
6 I don't understand the question
7 That question demands at least an essay as an answer
8 Compassion
9 Mahayana is not a person
10 Ethics are a big issue, whether environmental or otherwise
11 I don't understand the question

You write as if there were a clear, agreed meaning to the term "environmental ethics". I think you need to clarify that more.

Don't forget that sentences normally start with a capital letter - first impressions do count, and failing to use clear, accepted punctuation does not get you off to a good start!

Good luck with your assignment
Alex W

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Alex Wilding

Expertise

I have practiced and studied Tibetan Buddhism in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions since the early 1970s, and have a good knowledge of theory, history and of the struggles of trying to practice the teachings, including meditation, while leading a normal, modern life. I am also available to provide background information for journalists.

Experience

I have been a practitioner since the early 1970s; have run a small Buddhist centre in the English Midlands and was vice-president of Kagyu Benchen Ling e.V. in Germany, for whom I managed three large Buddhist summer-camps. More importantly, I maintain a habit of personal practice. I am the "owner" of the Kagyu list at Yahoo.

Education/Credentials
My first degree was an M.A. from Oxford. I later obtained a Master of Philosophy degree for a research thesis in "Initiation in Tibetan Buddhism" from Leicester University. I also have engineering and educational qualifications.

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