지혜와 자비로 본 불교의 생태윤리

Abstract

This study examined the dependent origination, the vision of the world in Buddhism and the matter for ecological ethics, a principle of practicing. Until now, human-oriented world view has caused a critical situation in the ecosystem so it investigated the dependent origination-oriented ecological view of Buddhism as an alternative to turn to ecosystem-centered world view. In Buddhism, life and environment are interdependently open to each other in dependent originated relationship. All things are related to each other mutual dependently and it suggests the way of co-existence along with other existence. The world view of dependent origination is a start point for wisdom and compassion. In the Lotus sutra, it gives an example of the ten essential qualities for details of the Reality of All Existence. So, this study suggested a frame using this to analyze ecosystem. In addition, as a frame of practice, compassion is a start point of Buddhist practice and, at the same time, a conclusion. It studied compassion, most important principle in practice of all social activities and not discriminating myself and others, is the best virtue. For the ecological ethics in Buddhism as a frame of wisdom and compassion, it investigated the overall situation of Buddhist ethics toward precepts. A start point of the ecological ethics is to respect all life through non-violation, the least virtue. With those, it tried to find out the way of co-existence by studying compassion, which gives a life, as a principle of active practice. In other words, the way is in the active practice of the world view of dependent origination, treating me and others in a same way. This study demonstrated that wisdom finds out immanent principles of various existence composed of ecosystem and compassion leads the ecosystem-oriented practice of human being followed by the frame of wisdom. Those things are Buddhism-directed ecological ethics through wisdom and compassion. Besides, it called the conversion to ecological view of dependent origination as wisdom and ecological practice is performed via such wisdom and compassion. Ecosystem-oriented human being directs to practice of wisdom and compassion. With a duet of wisdom and compassion, it meant that ecological relationship and its direction are in the practice of compassion and it suggested co-existence and harmony that all existence lives together. We hope that this study may contribute to that the ecological ethics in Buddhism makes an active discussion for establishment of new ecological ethics in the aspect of wisdom and compassion.