A Human being lives depending on nature. We have to arouse caution to all kinds of wrong sense of values denying the interdependent relationships between nature and a human being. It is possible to find a solution ultimately for environmental problems...
A Human being lives depending on nature. We have to arouse caution to all kinds of wrong sense of values denying the interdependent relationships between nature and a human being. It is possible to find a solution ultimately for environmental problems when we recognize exactly the interdependent structure between nature and a human being. Rapid emerging environmental pollution and the destruction of ecosystem cause the natural disaster frequently, then a large-scale damage owing to such natural disaster threatens the survival of the natural ecosystem and a human being. The development of science and culture contributes largely to the economical convenience and easiness but on the other hand causes a fetal side effect on our life, such as increase of carbon dioxide, air pollution, etc as well as all kinds of deceases. In particular deceases cause a serious problem to our next generation, which we have to pay attention to.
Such diseases might be rampant in the world because we fill up artificial and processed goods in our living environment instead of nature, which has helped life on this planet to breathe fresh air since the ancient times. While the prosperity of material civilization improves the quality of our living, its side effect forces us to go through hardships and privations causing by the destruction of nature.
Recently Buddhism keeps pace with modernization for missionary work in the downtown. For instance, Temple Stay is one of the representative cases: Temple Stay is a program giving an opportunity of living with the Buddhist priests for a while and experiencing directly the ascetic practices and the culture in a mountain temple. This program aims at helping the participant to solve all kinds of problems in actual life under the teachings of the Buddha and seek “true ego” in the poor but honest life and temperate living of the temple after getting rid of tenacity and egocentricity by freeing oneself from everyday life in the complicated city. It is necessary for developing a lot of programs related to “Temple Stay” enabling to solve a variety of problems caused by rapid modernization by applying the merits of temple living together with nature.
As diverse programs for Temple Stay based on the ecology of Buddhism become visible, the children leading the next world will get to know nature, learn the wisdom how to live together with nature, and have a chance to consider the effect of nature on our health and life.
This study considers the theories related to the ecology of Buddhism through Buddhist view of nature, life, and mankind and attempts to grope for recovering human nature through Temple Stay programs.
This study, for the first time, analyzes the present state of Temple Stay and the case of Temple Stay program, and then wishes to develop and suggest a model of Temple Stay program related to the ecology of Buddhism.
This study employs theoretical and positive methodologies. As the aspect of theory, this study refers to the literature, such as books, research materials, statistics, etc related to the ecology of Buddhism and its operation. And on the other hand, this study collects and analyzes all kinds of materials for developing a program by visiting to the related temples and interviewing with the managers and the internet.
It may be usual that the concept of ecology reminds us of prohibition of disposable goods, a synthetic detergent, recycling, saving natural resources, etc but the education of ecology means the effort for recovering the destructed environment by the older generation and for planting the mind of green friendly life and insight to children. The education of environment performed by schools, in reality, is advancing for form's sake and ceremoniously. Therefore, Temple Stay is seemed to have a necessary and sufficient condition for satisfying the social needs related to the education of environment. The primary object of Temple Stay is for foreigner so that they are able to learn our traditional culture in a place where keeps the traditional space for accommodations, construction, and culture. Sine then, as the request of time, the program of Temple Stay has been developed.
The first intent was to strain one's ears to inner sound and seek the lost ego with staying in a temple but the present program of the ecology of Buddhism is connected to each local community for activating the regional characteristics by using the surroundings of a temple.
The Temple Stay based on the ecology of Buddhism may be a motive for our children, the future, to understand Buddhist culture and learn how to revive the ecology suffering severely due to environmental destruction and air pollution, and protect it naturally. Therefore a temple should develop a program based on the growth process of children under the support of expert and specialized know-how. Buddhism says that a human being and nature are all one as you and I are not separated. The development of Temple Stay based on the teachings of Buddha must offer a spiritual ground enabling our children to live. As part of such program, this study suggests that it would be better to include making a natural automobile, walking meditation, making terrestrial globe, triathlon, etc in the program of Temple Stay.