Buddhism and Ecology: The Interconnection of Dharma and Deeds (Religions of the World and Ecology) [Paperback]

Mary Evelyn Tucker (Editor), Duncan Ryuken Williams (Editor), David Landis Barnhill (Contributor), Christopher Key Chapple (Contributor), Malcolm David Eckel (Contributor), Rita M. Gross (Contributor), Ruben L. F. Habito (Contributor), Ian Harris (Contributor), Paul O. Ingram (Contributor), Stephanie Kaza (Contributor), Kenneth Kraft (Contributor), Lewis Lancaster (Contributor), John Daido Loori (Contributor), Poranee Natadecha-Sponsel (Contributor), Steve Odin (Contributor), Graham Parkes (Contributor), Steven C. Rockefeller (Contributor), Alan Sponberg (Contributor), Leslie E. Sponsel (Contributor), Donald K. Swearer (Contributor), Jeff Yamauchi (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0945454147 | ISBN-13: 978-0945454144

Given the challenges of the environmental crisis, Buddhism's teaching of the interrelatedness of all life forms may be critical to the recovery of human reciprocity with nature. In this new work, twenty religionists and environmentalists examine Buddhism's understanding of the intricate web of life. In noting the cultural diversity of Buddhism, they highlight aspects of the tradition which may help formulate an effective environmental ethics, citing examples from both Asia and the United States of socially engaged Buddhist projects to protect the environment. The authors explore theoretical and methodological issues and analyze the prospects and problems of using Buddhism as an environmental resource in both theory and practice. This groundbreaking volume inaugurates a larger series examining the religions of the world and their ecological implications which will shape a new field of study involving religious issues, contemporary environmental ethics, and public policy concerns.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A volume of this kind is an important step in engaging scholarship to address critical issues of our time. The potential of religious traditions offering resources for rethinking our relation to the earth is one of the most exciting themes to emerge from scholarship in many years. This volume will be a first important step to the full understanding of the contribution humankind's perceptions of the sacred can make to the way we care for our earth.
--Rodney L. Taylor Professor of Religious Studies and Associate Dean of the Graduate School (University of Colorado )

What a significant advance these articles represent for the study of religion and ecology. The potential contribution to the new field of J religious ecology is immense. These papers will help to create a coherent field for the study of Buddhism and ecology. What is even more important, though this is not the precise task of scholarship, these papers will help define the modern Buddhist response to ecological ethics.
--John Berthrong, Associate Dean for Academic and Administrative Affairs (Boston University School of Theology, and Director, Institute for Dialogue among Religions )

Review

A volume of this kind is an important step in engaging scholarship to address critical issues of our time. The potential of religious traditions offering resources for rethinking our relation to the earth is one of the most exciting themes to emerge from scholarship in many years. This volume will be a first important step to the full understanding of the contribution humankind's perceptions of the sacred can make to the way we care for our earth. (Rodney L. Taylor Professor of Religious Studies and Associate Dean of the Graduate School University of Colorado ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 467 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press (January 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0945454147
• ISBN-13: 978-0945454144
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #551,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to Buddhist environmentalism, November 22, 2000

By 

R. Griffiths "bookchoice" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Buddhism and Ecology: The Interconnection of Dharma and Deeds (Religions of the World and Ecology) (Paperback)

This is a first rate academic introduction to Buddhist environmentalism. 'Buddhism and Ecology' is one of a series of volumes on world faiths and ecology produced by the Harvard University Center for the Study of World Religions. It contains 19 essays from a variety of perspectives, all seeking to make a Buddhist contribution to the ongoing discussion of the environmental crisis.

While a number of essays are philosophical in nature, practical outcomes are not neglected. The essays consider Buddhism as practised in Thailand, Japan, India, America and elsewhere. Theravada, Mahayana and Zen traditions are specifically considered, as is 'engaged Buddhism'.

I would recommend this work as an excellent introduction to a continuing discussion, with only the following two reservations. First, most of the essays are written by American, or American based, authors. This is not necessarily a problem, and it reflects the nature of the conference which produced the papers presented here. But given the wealth of writers on Buddhism around the world, a greater breadth could have been represented. This leads to my second minor gripe, which is that there are no essays specifically on Tibetan Buddhism. This is a great shame, although, clearly, not everything can be considered, even in a fairly weighty tome such as this.

There is an extremely useful bibliography, and I now recommend this book to interested people, alongside 'Dharma Gaia', which covers similar ground, but in a more populist, less academic way. 'Dharma Rain' is another recent work covering similar ground in a slightly less academic fashion.