Our new initiatives through the National Council of Churches: the National Buddhist-Christian Dialogue and National Hindu- Christian Dialogue.
Since its beginning in the late 15th century, the Sikh faith has been built on the message of the “oneness of Creation.” Sikhism believes an almighty God created the universe and is master of all its forms. God is responsible for all modes of nature and the world’s elements. Sikhs firmly believes God to be the source of the birth, life and death of all things.
Their faith teaches that the natural environment and the survival of all life forms are closely linked in the rhythm of nature. The history of the Sikh Gurus abounds with stories of their love for and special relationship with animals, vegetation, earth, rivers, mountains and the sky. Sikhism also has a strong vegetarian tradition.
Those who kill for lust of hunting, eating or to make sacrifices are condemned. In their hymns Sikhs often refer to God as the provider for all life, which God loves and is loved by. God as both father and mother guarantees that man and woman are equal in faith and compassion toward all beings and nature.
This post is part of a series on Faith and the Environment
-Dalai Lama
Buddhists believe that all life is interrelated and interdependent. Nature, or our natural environment, is alive and at least partly conscious. It is neither sacred and perfect, or evil. Nature’s deep reality is part of Buddha-nature—our nature when we reach full enlightenment.
From the Buddhist viewpoint, humans are not distinct from or superior to other sentient beings. All sentient beings have the potential to become fully enlightened. Buddhists do not see non-human sentient beings as objects for consumption.
Enlightened beings do not harm sentient life. They have compassion for unenlightened beings, who are attached to our polluted world, filled with suffering, and do not experience peace.
This post is part of a series on Faith and the Environment
Nature as wilderness is important to Buddhists because it provides a place where rapid progress in Buddhist practice, or self-cultivation, can be made. Nature grounds us and can soothe us. Unspoiled natural locations, usually places in the wilderness where the natural energies are peaceful, are the ideal places for Buddhist practice.
“…The more desolate and distant the place is from human habitation, with wild beasts roaming freely about, the more prepared is the mind to soar up from the abyss of defilements, being at all times like a bird about to fly. The defilements are still there in the depths of the mind, but in such an environment the power of the mind is greatly developed and appears to have gotten rid of hundreds of defilements, with only few remaining. This is the influence of environment which gives encouragement to an aspirant at all times.” ~ Ajahn Mun (1870-1949), a great modern Thai Buddhist master from the forest meditation tradition
For over 20 years, the Bahá’ís of the United States have worked with others to advance environmental awareness and sustainable development. Much of their inspiration comes from the Bahá’í sacred writings, which convey deep respect for the natural world and the interconnectedness of all things.
Bahá’ís view nature as a divine trust that reflects the qualities and attributes of God and thus should be cherished. As in other faith traditions, Bahá’í calls believers to be stewards of the environment.
Bahá’í teachings also stress that sustainable development depends on ethical and spiritual principles that foster economic, social and environmental well-being. Pivotal among these principles is humanity’s oneness. This unity is the fundamental spiritual and social truth shaping our age. Such a comprehensive vision of a global society is needed to inspire individuals to take responsibility for our common future.