[Buddha-l] Ecological Buddhism

[Mike Austin]

jkirk wrote:
>
>Joanna [Macy] finds that many people (especially those drawn to
>Eastern paths) have developed notions about spirituality that
>hinder them from realizing their power to effect change.? Among
>the 'spiritual traps' that cut the nerve of compassionate action
>are these:
>
>1. That the phenomenal world of beings is not real.? With this
>view the pain of others and the demands on us that are implicit
>in that pain are less tangible than the pleasures or aloofness we
>can find in transcending them.
>
>2. That any pain we may experience in beholding the world derives
>from our own cravings and attachments.? With this view, the ideal
>way to deal with suffering becomes nonattachment to the fate of
>all beings, not just nonattachment to matters of the ego.
>
>3. That we are constantly creating our world unilaterally through
>our subjective thoughts.? Confrontation is considered negative
>thinking, acceptance is positive.? Therefore it is concluded that
>when we confront the injustice and dangers of our world we are
>simply creating more conflict and misunderstanding.
>
>4. And the corollary, that the world is already perfect when we
>view it spiritually.? We feel so peaceful that the world itself
>will become peaceful without our need to act.


I think Joanna Macy may be applying a bit of 'overbend' here in order to 
achieve a straight pipe. There would be similar traps in her approach if 
one were to fully embrace it. One trap would be to direct one's critical 
eye away from oneself and to others - an attempt to 'fix' the phenomenal 
world.  The move would be from individual practitioner to politician, or 
activist. That is, a move from one who seeks to change 'self' to one who 
seeks to change 'other.'

It is very tempting to do this. When I read her four points, the thought 
arose in my mind, "Yes. I know other practitioners like this and we need 
to change them." Of course, I have these tendencies myself. It is easier 
to find a misunderstanding than an understanding, because there are more 
of them. It is easier to find an 'other' who seems to misunderstand than 
a 'self' who misunderstands, because there are more of them also.

It appears to me that attention to one's own behaviour is more likely to 
be productive than attention to the behaviour of others. Balance between 
these two is required, and the balance could be a bit different for each 
of us. I feel in no position to tackle the politics and economics of the 
world, but it may be within my capacity to help occasional individuals.

In my experience,  if I become engaged by taking a lot of external stuff 
on, it can lead to a scattered mind that jeopardises my ability to be of 
any real help in the future. It is not a sustainable option. It has less 
benefit in the long run.

There are many things 'wrong' in this world.  I do not hope to fix them, 
because I cannot fix them. Indeed, it would be like trying to repair the 
sea rather than rescuing people.  Joanna Macy's points are fine if taken 
as a critique of oneself, but could lead us astray, like the quail going 
out of its range (Sakunagghi Sutta - The Hawk. SN 47.6)

-- 
Metta
Mike Austin