Interreligious Dialogue toward Overcoming the Eco-crisis

The problem of eco-crisis is dualistic in nature, in that the human-centered view considers nature as an instrument for human benefit, whereas the eco-centered view rejects nature as merely instrumental, according value to its intrinsic worth apart from its benefit to humanity. According to eco-centrism, a human being is only an individual entity which constructs within nature. But this interpretation of a human being raises the problem as to who is responsible for the preservation of nature? Another limitation of the eco-centrist view is that it tends towards the metaphysical rather than the aspect of ethical practice. Thus, we propose that a curative way to overcome eco-crisis is through a religious perspective which supports a practical approach. The Buddhist law of Dependent Origination provides a blueprint for resolving the tension between dualism and anthropocentrism. Dependent Origination helps us to recognize that human beings and other beings are linked as one entity. Dependent Origination is not only a view of wisdom but also a view of compassion. Buddhist enlightenment is completed through the practice of ‘One Body of Great Compassion, ’ a view that offers a possibl