Why I say Buddha was an Environmentalist by Practice

Why I say Buddha was an Environmentalist by Practice

I used to say Buddha did not utter any Stanzas regarding Mother Earth.

It is true he did not utter (not his prerogative anyway) any stanzas but by practice he was an environmentalist.

Read the Brahmajala Sutta and the “View of Buddha”.

In his opening questions from Ananda Thera, before outlining his Dhamma Principles, he laid down the prerequisite disciplines (even before sitting down on a meditation session).

In those principles environmental codes are the seventh in order of preferences.

I deal with the environmental issues first, before giving an outline of the three orders of discipline (Culasila, Majjhimasila and Maha sila).

Both before and after enlightenment he lived under trees or gardens, except during the rainy season (Vassana Season).

Then if you read the seven weeks after enlightenment he sat under four different trees for five weeks except the second and fourth weeks.

Why we venerate only Bodhi, the Pipal Tree?

We got it wrong.

We have to respect all plant lives.

They have up to 17 senses more than our six senses.

He forbade damaging to seeds and plant life-to plants propagated by roots, stems, shoots, joints, budding and seeds.

He sat under four trees.

Second week, gazing at the Bhodi tree as mark of respect and the third week walking (is a good exercise not jogging) at an easy pace and contemplating.

Below is a summary of seven weeks but this piece is about the three types of discipline (Sila) for both monks and laypersons should try to practice.

What is interesting in Bramajala Sutta is before dispensing Dhamma, he gave the above essential prerequisites for preparation for Bhavana (the Meditation in practice).

This should interest the monks who carry political messages between political parties, keep elephants as pets, deal with money, property and vehicles.

This is in addition to the 28 to 32 vulgar talks, prohibited, including talking about, kings, ministers, countries, garlands, weights and measures (gold and silver) and vehicles.

I will highlight only a few which our politicians also should be interested.

They are the basics of five precepts,eight precepts and ten precepts in various combination.

I will give the order only in the smaller version of Sila.

Small Disciplines or Culasila

1. Killing (no option but to be a vegetarian if one is practicing Dhamma)

2. Stealing (honesty is the only way)

3. Sexual misconduct including homosexuality (chastity as a virtue)

4. False speech and faked news (utter only the Truth)

5. Slander and political speech (Reconcile, conduce to concord for politicians)

6. Hash speech (again for political shows in TV and Media)

7. Idle or frivolous chatter (those new guys who would intend to contest presidential elections)

8. Musical shows (this applies mainly to Maharaja Organization)

9.Wearing garland (mainly to film stars)

10.Accepting gold and silver (Maligawa and Politicians around that Palace)

11. Elephant trade (Mahinda Mama and some monks)

12. Running messages (one version of Bodu Bala Sena)

13. Buying and Selling (Perpetual treasuries)

14. Bribery, deception and fraud (Finance ministry with P.M as head and the various parliament committees)

15.False measures and weights (Gold and Silver, Suwarnavahini included-not for bread and butter)

2. Come to Middle Order Disciplines (Majjhimasila)

1.Lottery

 

2. Buying and selling MP Vehicles

3. Gambling stalls

4. Massaging stalls (Chinese and Thai investments)

5.Games including cock fights, bull fights and elephant fights

6. Boxing, wrestling and karate

7. Cricket, football (Pirith Nula before championship tournaments, is a case in point)

8. Running errands for kings and politicians

9. Debating and wrangling arguments

10. Scheming and talking

3. Now the Long and the Mahala is intriguing

1. Palmistry

2. Astrology and astronomy

3. Interpreting dreams (my specialty)

4. Predictions and omens (good and bad)

5. Auspicious times (for elections, financial dealings, weddings)

6. Fortune telling (at Anuradhapura and various temples in India)

7.Weather forecasting (BBC is found fault with giving wrong prediction for Ceylon, before cricket matches)

8. Poison craft

9. Snake craft

10. Scorpion craft

11. Bird craft (my specialty-no fruit trees for them)

12. Predicting tsunamis

13. Predicting earthquakes

14. Predicting meteorites

15. Gifts for deities

16. Miscarriages or abortions

17. Virility and impotence

18. Fire sacrifices and fire goods

19. Ointments, medicine and surgery

20. Accounting, computing, calculation, and writing using Free Linux software.

It covers everything except for begging for food for monks.

Yes, I did all this for nearly one year except for begging for food but only a single meal (no coffee, cola and tea).

Yes I slept well without nasty dreams but I started even forgetting my bank PIN numbers.

So because this PIN number problem I gave it up and back to blogging but sparingly now.

Below is how Buddha spent 7 weeks after enlightment.

1. First seven days.

Under the Bodhi tree.

2. Second seven days

He stood at a certain distance gazing at the Bodhi tree with motionless eyes for one whole week.³

3^rd week

Did not give up the temporary residence at the Bodhi tree

4^th week

The fourth week he spent in a jeweled chamber (ratana-ghara)⁵ contemplating the intricacies of the Abhidhamma.

5. Fifth week

Under the Ajapála Banyan tree

Enjoyed the bliss of emancipation (vimutti-sukha)

6. Sixth week

Mucalinda tree

Here arose an unexpected great shower, Mucalinda, the serpent-king,⁹ came out of his abode, and coiling round the body of the Buddha seven times, remained keeping his large hood over the head of the Buddha so that he was not affected by the elements.

7^th week

Rájáyatana tree

Experiencing the bliss of emancipation and Enlightenment.