Page 36 - EH72

34 EASTERN HORIZON | FACE TO FACE

be a cause for religious harmony to relate to secular ethics much better grounded in Buddhist principles of
flourish in India and beyond and for than dharmic language. This is my non-wastage and mindfulness and
everyone to live in love and peace.” experience teaching the dharma at respect for the right of others to live,
Buddhist centres even. including future generations.
You are a monastic as well as a
university lecturer. How do you As an environmental research How can our future generation
integrate your spiritual study and scientist, what commonalities do learn from Buddhism that can
practice as a nun and your more you find between environmental help us save our planet from
mundane role as a teacher in a science and Buddhism? serious ecological crisis we are
secular university? experiencing today?
Environmental science is based on
If one understands the Dharma well, the principles of interrelatedness, Buddhism has a lot to offer our
the distinctions between mundane i.e., every single component in future generations especially
and supramundane, spiritual nature is related to one another. through the teaching of karma or
and secular etc. will become Buddhism expounds that everything cause and effect. Whatever that
blurred. Applying the bodhicitta that exists depends on causes humankind is experiencing in the
principle of Mahayana Buddhism and conditions and if we look form of climate change and other
is the foundation of “being” for deeply, we will come to the same environmental issues are a direct
any Tibetan Buddhist practitioner, understanding or realization that result of greed and selfishness.
i.e., whatever activity which one there is nothing in this world that Greed is wreaking havoc in the
does in life, is motivated by the is standalone. Everything exists in world today and everyone, not
sincere wish to benefit all sentient dependence on another. only our future generations must
beings. This way, the thoughts, appreciate that if we continue to
speech and actions become the Buddhism teaches us to respect all live as if the earth’s resources are
dharma, no matter what work one life forms and not to cause harm infinite, but the human race will
is carrying out. Also, the practice of to any living being. Environmental also not prevail in the next century.
mindfulness is very helpful in the science shows us the detrimental Only through understanding that we
working environment where one effects of harming elements of are all interrelated and that what
guards one’s three doors at all times nature because eventually, it will goes around comes around, will we
so as not to slip into the ordinary harm humankind in return. Thus, start to take personal responsibility
mode of “being”. Being a lecturer karma and vipakha (cause and and become more aware of our
is absolutely fulfilling as I see effect) can also be discerned from consumption patterns. It all begins
my role as a guide and mentor to environmental science, the best in the human mind.
young people who are finding their example would be climate change.
Can you share some practices
place in this world and they could
certainly use a helping hand. Buddhism expounds that desire is that you strongly advocate so
the root of suffering. Environmental that Malaysians can be more
Dharma can be incorporated into science shows us the ill effects of ecologically mindful of the
so-called mundane subjects through overconsumption and greed in a fragility of our planet?
secular language. The subjects capitalist world system and seeks
which I teach require basic human to minimise the exploitation of If Malaysians could first and
values and these are incorporated natural resources and keep human foremost refrain from wastage
into my teaching using non-dharmic consumption patterns in check, of any kind, that would be very
language. I still get the point across, lest, there be nothing left for future beneficial. I noticed that Malaysians,
without the religious terminology. generations. The very concept especially young people, waste
Students understand and can of sustainable development is a lot of food without sparing a