Buddhism and Deep Ecology
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This volume involves Buddhism and Deep Ecology (the latter can be considered the spiritual dimensions of the environmental movement) on a holistic, consciousness, and value basis. It presents some basic ideas, experiences, and examples on how Buddhism and Deep Ecology relate to each other and to protecting natural forests and the environment, including public participation aspects. Much of these interrelationships are based on the essential teachings of Buddha as they relate to Deep Ecology and visa versa, especially Oneness, ecocentric, and spiritual orientations.
Combined and integrated, these two areas present a unique, spiritual bridge of understanding, cross fertilization, and consciousness for ideas, values, and approaches which encompass compassion, loving-kindness, and care for all living beings for a wide spectrum of readers, both Buddhist and non- Buddhists with interests in ecological and environmental affairs.
Chapters of the book contain: (I) Buddhism and Values, (2) Dhamma, Deep Ecology, and Environment, (3) Dhamma, Deep Ecology, Ecology, and Tropical Forests, (4) Dhamma/Deep Ecology Experiential exercises, (5) Public Participation (with a case study), and (6) Dhamma and Ecology Glossary.
Potential readers for these unique, combined subjects would, obviously, include Buddhists, especially with their growing interests in environmental and ecological concerns. Deep Ecologists, Environmentalists, and Conservationists and people with spiritual concerns would also have a strong interest in this area, especially with more and more attention being paid to the spiritual/consciousness dimensions of the environment in recent years. David Brower, John Muir, and other American conservationists subscribed to the Buddhist approach. Many potential readers from the public may be attracted to the unique orientation and correlation of this unusual combination of Buddhism and Deep Ecology .
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About the Book
Buddhism And Deep Ecology (the latter can be considered the spiritual dimensions of the environmental movement) is approached on a holistic, consciousness, and value I basis. It presents basic ideas, knowledge, experiential exercises, examples, public participation aspects, and a Dhamma\ecology glossary on how Buddhism and Deep Ecology relate to each other and to protecting natural forests and the environment. The essential teaching of Buddha are related to Deep Ecology and visa versa, especially under Oneness, ecocentric, and spiritual orientations, for awareness, compassion, loving-kindness, and care for all living beings, including trees, for a wide spectrum of readers.
About the Author
Daniel H. Henning, Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Environmental Affairs, and Distinguished Scholar Professor, Montana State University, Billings. He has had over l2 years of experience studying and working with Buddhism, Deep Ecology, and Tropical Forests in Asia while residing in Thailand, often living in Buddhist Forest Monasteries. Dr. Henning has served as a protected area consultant/trainer for the United Nations, IUCN, and other international organizations. He has completed a United Nations study on the ecological and environmental teaching of Buddha and was invited by the Dalai Lama to participate in the Ecological Responsibility Conference in India.
A past Senior Fulbright Research Scholar for Southeast Asia, Dr. Henning has written numerous books and articles in the environmental field, including Managing the Environmental Crisis, Duke University Press, l999, and has presented a number of environmental papers at international conferences in Asia and Europe. He is the recipient of numerous honors and travel awards from the Smithsonian (India), National Academy of Science, Inter-academy Exchange Visiting Scientist (Czechoslovakia), National Science Foundation, Resources for the Future, National Wildlife Federation, etc. He has served as a park ranger naturalist at Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Parks and as a wilderness ranger in western national forests.
In his travels, Dr. Henning has made numerous presentations and workshops dealing with Buddhism and Deep Ecology, internationally and nationally. These included the World Fellowship of Buddhism, Bangkok; Wat Suan Mokkh, Thailand; the Chenrezig Institute, Australia; Kopan Monastery, Nepal; World Wilderness Congress, India; University of Oslo, Norway; Flathead Lake Biological Research Station, Montana; Bowling Green State University, Ohio, the American Center, United States Embassy, Myanmar, etc. He is currently doing consulting and volunteer work in helping to bring Buddhism and Deep Ecology into tropical forest protection in Asia during the winter, and to old-growth temperate forests of Montana during his summers in that part of the world.