Karmapa on our connection to the environment
His Holiness the 17th Karmapa created a new logo for the Kagyu Monlam. It represents the connection between humans and the environment. Part of his explanation of the logo follows.
"Ever since the human race first appeared on this earth, we have used this earth heavily. It is said that ninety-nine percent of the resources and so on in this world come from the natural environment. We are using the earth until she is used up. The earth has given us immeasurable benefit, but what have we done for the earth in return? We always ask for something from the earth, but never give her anything back.
"We never have loving or protective thoughts for the earth. Whenever trees or anything else emerge from the ground, we cut them down. If there is a bit of level earth, we fight over it. To this day we perpetuate a continuous cycle of war and conflict over it. In fact, we have not done much of anything for the earth.
"Now the time has come when the earth is scowling at us; the time has come when the earth is giving up on us. The earth is about to treat us badly and give up on us. If she gives up on us, where can we live? There is talk of going to other planets that could support life, but only a few rich people could go. What would happen to all of us sentient beings who could not go?
"What should we do now that the situation has become so critical? The sentient beings living on the earth and the elements of the natural world need to join their hands together—the earth must not give up on sentient beings, and sentient beings must not give up on the earth. Each needs to grasp the other’s hand. So doesn’t the Monlam logo look like two hands clasping each other?
The full text is
here.
Labels: buddhism, environment, Tibet
Idealism vs realism
A few years ago I read
Satish Kumar's autobiography,
No Destination. I was deeply inspired by his peace walk undertaken across continents without carrying any money.
I read an
article about Satish in the Taipei Times today. It contained this wonderful quote:
"Is my approach unrealistic?" he asks. "Look at what realists have done for us. They have led us to war and climate change, poverty on an unimaginable scale and wholesale ecological destruction. Half of humanity goes to bed hungry because of all the realistic leaders in the world. I tell people who call me 'unrealistic' to show me what their realism has done. Realism is an outdated, overplayed and wholly exaggerated concept."
This echoes with me deeply. I often think I am overly idealistic, but perhaps I am not idealistic enough. I haven't had the courage to walk the path that Satish has walked. Another world is possible. We just need to have the courage and the wisdom to create it.
Labels: environment
Movies seen in 2007
Following on from the
list for 2006 here's a list of movies I saw at the cinema in 2007.
Curse of the Golden Flower
Blood Diamond
After this our exile
Apocalypto
Notes on a Scandal
Ghostrider
Little Miss Sunshine
Reflections
Spider Lilies
Island Etude
Sunshine
Next
The Nighttime Picnic
The Valley of Flowers
The Science of Sleep
The Summer Palace
Ten Canoes
The Wall-Passer
Pan's Labyrinth
Oceans Thirteen
Ming Ming
The Bourne Ultimatum
Knocked Up
Lust, Caution
The Drummer
The Most Distant Course
Michael Clayton
Labels: movies
2007 in photos
January 2007: Taiwan's high speed rail opened. I took a
trip to Xinzhu.
February 2007: I spent the Lunar New Year
in Indonesia with my family.
March 2007: I saw the
Tour de Taiwan and
Taipei Cycle Exhibition.
April 2007: More cycling, the
422 bikes on the road protest in Taipei. And I saw the wonderful Taiwanese movie,
Island Etude.
May 2007: I went to Siam (Thailand) and saw
Ajarn Sulak.
June 2007: I had a wonderful visit to the
Taipei Artist Village.
July 2007: The
Maokong Gondola opened in Taipei.
August 2007: My semester of
Chinese language study at Shi-Da came to an end.
September 2007: The
INEB Conference and study tour was held in Taiwan. At the end of the month I started studying for a Master's degree in Taiwan Studies at NCCU. I also enjoyed the
Daniel Pearl Day of Music in Taipei.
October 2007: The
UN for Taiwan torch relay was held.
Typhoon Krosa hit Taiwan.
November 2007: I was a volunteer at the
International Conference on Religious Culture & Gender Ethics at Hsuan Chuang University in Xinzhu.
December 2007: I visited
Smangus with Ben as part of a research project at NCCU. I also participated in the
1208 climate change action in Taipei.
Labels: personal
