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Burning a mountain with a single thought

20 October 2008

The Buddha warned that disruption of seasonal rains would usher in a period of famine followed by war and strife. Darfur in the African plains has already suffered this sequence of disasters.

As such, it is perhaps the first major casualty of global warming, but unless the tide is turned – and turned soon – it will not be the last.

After much debate, global warming is finally accepted as a reality, and pollution clearly identified as the main culprit. Scientists produce copious amounts of data to prove the validity of these conclusions and various accords aimed at reducing our carbon footprints are ratified. I’m sure the Buddha would applaud all this, but he would take the preventative measures a step further. In his warning of famine and conflict, he did not refer to carbon footprints, but instead identified excessive greed and distorted values as the root cause. Pollution is merely a symptom of these wrong views.

So, what is right view and how does it help solve global warming? One of the four tenants of Buddhism is that all things are interconnected. Take a table as an example. It is made of wood that comes from a tree. The tree grew from a seed that matured through interaction with moisture, sunlight and nutrition.

If any one of these factors is absent, the tree would not grow and a table would not be produced. Everything we can see, hear or touch is the same. Even our thoughts develop because of many contributing factors, such as past experiences and educational influences.

When we do not recognize that things are interconnected in this way, we feel that our action is unrelated to the world around us. We throw garbage on the streets of Thimphu without recognizing that it is us who will reap the repercussions if tourists shun the city or disease becomes rampant. Such a scenario is similar to the liver or kidneys selfishly polluting the body without understanding that they are an integral part of the whole structure and will be adversely affected by the sickness that follows.

These are the consequences that industrialists face today. Without understanding their intrinsic connection to the world around them, humans tend to act in short-sighted and self destructive ways. They consider only their personal interests and do not realize that destruction of the eco-system is in fact a window into their own demise.

“Think globally. Act locally” is a common environmentalist slogan. In other words, we need to fully recognize the dire state of the environment on a global scale, while working at a local and personal level to enact positive change. In a recently composed aspirational prayer directed at environmental concerns, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche pledges to refrain from allowing tap water to run when brushing his teeth. While this may not appear an earth shattering initiative, it fully accords with the Buddha’s observation that intention is the precursor of action. Even the Great Wall of China or major social reforms such as democracy began as a single thought in one person’s mind. Therefore, transforming the mind and correcting our view is the basis of creating a healthy society and environment.

As a citizen of a small country hidden in the folds of the Himalayas, some people might question whether their individual efforts can effect positive change on a global scale. The answer is definitely yes. As the sea is comprised of many small droplets of water, so society is comprised of many people. If some of these begin to transform their view, a surge of positive change will be initiated. Like a rock dropped into a pool of water, the ripples will reach shores far from the place of impact.

Therefore, next time we offer butter lamps at a lhakhang or water and incense to a statue, we should not do so as though we are offering a gift to appease some external god. Instead, we should use the opportunity as a means to transform our mind, and this we do by sincerely dedicating the offering to the well-being of the planet and to the happiness all beings.

If just a single thought can give rise to the Great Wall of China or a major reform movement, consider the effects of everyone in Thimphu or Bhutan starting the day with awareness about the environment and arousing magnanimous thoughts about their fellow beings. In this way, a simple custom like offering a butter lamp or refraining from leaving the tap water running while brushing our teeth becomes a dynamic wellspring for change.

From today, therefore, let us not only remember to turn off the water when brushing our teeth, but also to use only reusable bags when purchasing goods and to buy only organically grown fruit and vegetables. These may appear symbolic gestures in the face of a huge challenge like global warming, but as the Buddha himself said, “Even a tiny spark of fire can burn a mountain-high heap of grass.”


By Shenphen Zangpo
Thimphu

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Posted by Bhutan Observer · Filed Under Voices 

Comments

15 Responses to “Burning a mountain with a single thought”

  1. lucy in the sky with diamonds on October 22nd, 2008 3:50 pm

    ya got me!! A very constructive piece ,Thank you.

  2. Yeshe on October 23rd, 2008 11:15 am

    Nice Piece :)
    Go Green everybody !!!

  3. Ami on November 7th, 2008 8:22 am

    Good. And we don’t need to worry about being unknown, President-elect Barack Obama of the US, in his victory speech calls “…and all those in the forgotten corners of the world…”.. Even at that point, he may not have hinted “Bhutan” but he conveys how important every small thing, every small activity, every small nation is in striving for future betterment.

    My daughter, 3 yrs now, puts chocolate covers and hand tissues in my carry bag to be taken home, when we are trekking a bit around in the hills. Sure, if only everyone becomes responsible for oneself, there is lot of positive that could come out of every small effort. It would be a BIG achievement.

    Good Topic…

  4. Florence from Taiwan on November 19th, 2008 10:00 am

    Buddha’s wisdom “All things are interconnected.” decode all the good and bad I have encountered. I acknowledge there’s no one to be blamed and then step forward to take my own rsponsibility. Every incident seems to come from nowhere; however, we are living in the law of cause and effect. The problems we have is not solid, so we can turn the fate if we substitute our old bad habit with a new action.

    The deforestation and the emition from human’s activities cause global warming which indangers the polar bears, and now the consequences are attacking human’s existance. We may not like polar bears, but the truth is we are chained together in the universe.

    “Burning the mountain with a single thought.” Every individual can contibute a small action from today.

  5. kins on November 20th, 2008 10:43 pm

    nice article…actually we bhutanese have the same thought(to keep the safe environment),,,,,but some fails to act ,,, because we too have the weakness of shyness…….but this article remind us ……keep it up……nice job zangpo sir

  6. Geleg on November 24th, 2008 11:58 am

    Very useful article. Everybody should consider thinking a moment on how interconnected we are to everything and everyone. Good or bad….its all in our hands. We are the cause and we are the ones who will have effect. So, I think we should act in our own small way to make a beautiful world ..not only for us but also for our future generations.
    I guess this is what Gross National Happiness talks about too..

    Once again……..great job…keep up..

    Geleg

  7. homyang on February 10th, 2009 1:10 pm

    nicely thought out and written article.

  8. Tenzin P on February 13th, 2009 9:17 am

    That was a very inspirational article. But just reading doest not help in getting thuings better. I would appresiate if your positive thinkings could be put into action which is very important.

    Tenzin P

  9. kinley on March 13th, 2009 11:27 am

    Bhutan has a beautiful scene and nature , but the fact , these shrines are getting spoiled.hows is it ? this such type of question should be asked to the each and individual citizens of Bhutan . we are the responsible for a such mischief .Thimphu city was clean three years ago , now it looks more or less dirty and slummy . Can see people eating Doma and spitting here and there , also rubbing lime on the pillars and dumping papers in the street.. i think in next ten years thimphu city will be no more looking like a grave yard .Its my request try keep your home clean , bhutan is a place where we stood , try to keep clean and be wide for each other…any way fren zangpo hope like as u have suggested all the citizens will join hand together and implement so…

  10. dorji on May 29th, 2009 8:44 am

    the most apealing article……….

  11. upel on August 22nd, 2009 10:37 am

    its good la.

  12. upel on August 22nd, 2009 10:38 am

    tis good la

  13. Ramesh Khanal on November 9th, 2009 3:42 pm

    Will the comments sent to this site published in all cases? I do not hope so. They must be censored before deciding it to be published.

  14. tintin on December 22nd, 2009 12:40 pm

    that is a hell of a good work..i think people should read this…i, myself is very carefull person when it comes to throwing wastes and using the resources..this kind of things really depends on the atttitude of the people…whenever i travel in buses, people jus throw rubbish through windows..this is really disappointing..most of the time its the rural people…its jus that they r not educated…may be some day bhutanese will learn but that day wil be too late….

  15. pwang on February 24th, 2010 7:18 pm

    comments were really touching and beautiful……………….
    support,cooperation and enthusiasm my lovely drukpas showed makes me scream ………………….palden drukpa …….gaylo

    i can see bhutanese got positive view towards our prosperity and are ready to contribute for taking our society to the level all our bhutanese breaths everysingle day………

    support to the single man approach is the very vital example………….

    amen to the support,cooperation for all the times to come……….

    bhutan will go really far ,far,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,love u bhutan

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