BUDDHIST ETHICS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY

The modern lifestyle of human beings is affecting the environment, causing climate change and global warming. However, in the search for pleasure and happiness, the human being has been exploiting nature without any moral control to such an extent that nature has been rendered almost unable to sustain a pure and healthy life. Can Buddhism contribute to solving the current environmental crisis? The principle of ecology teaches people to protect the natural environment. Buddhist principles teach people to be kind to nature and treat nature as a part of life. Deep ecology asks deeper inquiries and actually observes the way we live and see how it fits with our deeper consciousness and values. Enquiring questions like "How do I live in a way that is moral for me, other people, and our planet with its several forms of life?" may lead us to deep changes in the way we live. Deep Ecology is very well-suited to Buddhist traditions and practices. The restating and interaction of Deep Ecology with Buddhist principles and ethics greatly contribute to one’s knowledge. Deep Ecology reflects mindfulness and concern about the intrinsic value of all living beings. Mindfulness, Kindness, compassion, and wisdom are the core concepts of Buddhism. Buddhism teaches us to be aware of the concessions of our actions, including that action that is responsible for destroying our environment. The Buddhist conception of society is not confined to humans only. In a profound ethical sense, it includes all living beings, animals as well as other creatures and plants. Buddha has given equal importance to all living beings. There are a number of verses related to the environment and its related human duty and human relations with the environment. Buddhism maintains that there is a close link between man's morals and the natural resources available to him