Eco-Spirituality: An Overview of Buddhist Approaches to Ecology

Abstract

The global ecological crisis, marked by climate change, deforestation, pollution, and biodiversity loss, threatens all life on Earth. The unsustainable use of resources and disregard for ecological balance have led to severe environmental degradation. While scientific and technological solutions exist, they often fail to address the deeper ethical and spiritual disconnect between humanity and nature. In this context, ancient spiritual traditions like Buddhism offer valuable ecological insights. Buddhism sees the natural world not as a resource to exploit but as a sacred entity, connected to the cosmic order and spiritual life. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of all beings and advocates for ecological responsibility through teachings of compassion, non-violence, moderation, and respect for all life forms. This paper explores Buddhist ecological philosophies, focusing on its ethical teachings for environmental preservation and their relevance to contemporary challenges. By examining Buddhist views on nature, it highlights their potential contribution to global ecological sustainability efforts.