Climate Change / 気候変動

＊英文の下に日本文が続きます。

I visited Ulaanbaatar of Mongolia from July 24th through 28th. This mission was organized and coordinated by Religions for Peace International and headed by Rev. Kosho Niwano, co-president, and co-moderator of RfP International. I attended this vital mission as ACRP Secretary-General as well as a chief attendant to Rev. Niwano. Rev. Kyoichi Sugino, International Deputy Secretary-General guided us as a chief coordinator for this mission.

We met with policymakers, Buddhist leaders, religious leaders as well as with leaders of Civil Society, researchers, diplomats, etc. The central theme focused on the meetings was “Climate Change.”

Mongolia has also been/is affected by climate change in many fields such as desertification, lack of water supply for human beings and livestock, etc. All parties reached a consensus that the activities of humankind are root causes for recent drastic climate change in our modern times and us human beings should address to this most critical issue through examining and reflecting on our way of living from individual, family, society and global level.

Our co-moderator Rev. Niwano shared at the meetings one of the principal ways of living being taught by Buddha. I quote below what she stated.

Ryoanji is a Zen temple located in Kyoto, Japan. It is famous for its stone garden. At one corner of this stone garden, there exists a hand washing pot which was said to be donated by the then vice shogun of the Tokugawa Regime. On that pot is carved the phrase: “I only know satisfaction.”

 This phrase is called the “Symbol of knowing satisfaction.” It means that “I only know that I am satisfied.” It reveals that the ultimate source which makes us human beings happy is “the heart and mind of being satisfied.” Nothing makes us happy without a satisfied heart and mind. Mere financial, material, social or environmental blessings can never make us happy if our hearts and minds are not satisfied on a deeper level.

“A person who truly knows satisfaction is calm in heart and mind, and a person who does not know satisfaction is confused in heart and mind,” taught Shakyamuni Buddha. Namely, a “poor person” does not mean one who possesses nothing, but one who cannot be satisfied while possessing much. We should know that we already have enough because we exist. God and Buddha have already given us all that is needed by us. This phrase “I only know satisfaction” expresses the richness and affluence we already have been given and are blessed with.

We have been sustained all our lives by everything in the universe. Now we are facing the issue of climate change due to greenhouse gases. However, this challenge cannot be solved by human-centered convenience. Instead, I see it as an issue based on this philosophy of “I only know satisfaction.” It is a subtle point: greed, fear, and insecurity will not solve the challenge of climate change. Rather, re-claiming that we are already blessed with what we truly need must be and remain our starting point.

Climate change is a severe challenge. Is it not, however, a message from Mother Earth? It invites us to return to our original selves; the ones God and Buddha offer. Perhaps the threat of climate change is an invitation to respond to an authentic and in that sense “original” way of life?

The answer to the challenge is to return to our authentic and valid modes of being. Technical cures are necessary, but they will never suffice. Instead, we must return to our True Selves, our Original Hearts, and Minds.

We often use the expression of protecting the earth, protecting the environment or ecological system and so on. Are we human beings protecting or able to protect land or global environment? Are we not being protected by earth and global/cosmic environment?

In reality, our lives are being sustained by the earth, nature and the environment. I have deepened my determination to live a simple life based on the spirit of “I only know satisfaction,” instead of seeking more and more possession.

I would finally like to add that I was deeply moved by the calmness and compassionate smile and speaking of Mongolian people.

私は7月24日から28日まで、モンゴルのウランバートル市を訪問しました。このミッションは、レリジョン　フォア　ピース　インターナショナルによって準備、実施されたもので、レリジョン　フォア　ピース　インターナショナル共同会長兼共同議長である庭野師が責任者を務められました。私はACRP事務総長として、そして庭野師の主席随行として参加しました。インターナショナル副事務総長の杉野恭一師がチーフコーディネーターとして私たち一行を導いてくれました。

私たちは国会議員、仏教指導者、宗教指導者、市民社会、研究者、外交官などと精力的にお会いました。

会合の主なテーマは「気候変動」でした。 モンゴル共和国もまた、砂漠化、人間や家畜用の水の供給不足など、多くの分野で深刻な気候変動の影響を受けています。近代の急激な気候変動の根本的原因は私たち人類の営みと活動にあるとの基本的認識で合意に達しました。

私たち人類は、個人、家族、社会、地球レベルにおける自分たちの生き方そのものを吟味し、内省し、改めながらこの最も重要な問題に取り組まなければなりません。

共同議長である庭野師は、釈尊が説いた人間としての生き方の最も基本的な道を会合参加者と共有しました。以下に要約引用をいたします。

竜安寺は日本の京都にある禅寺です。石造りの庭園で有名です。この石庭の一角には、徳川政権の副将軍によって寄贈された手を洗うための石の鉢があります。その鉢には「吾、唯、足るを知る」という句が刻まれています。 この言葉は「知足の象徴」と呼ばれ、「私はただ満足することを知っている」という意味です。

人間を幸せにする究極の源は「足るを知る心」です。満足する心なしでは幸せにはなれません。私たちの心が深いレベルで満足しなければ、いかに財政的、物質的、社会的、環境的に恵まれていても私たちは幸せにはなれません。

「足る心を本当に知っている人は、心が穏やかであり、足るを知らない人は、心が混乱している」と、釈尊は説きました。すなわち、「貧しい人」とは、何も持たない人を意味するのではなく、多くを持ちながら満足することができない人を意味します。私たちは生きて存在していることで、既に十分与えられていることを知るべきです。神仏は既に私たちに必要なすべてを与えてくださっているのです。「吾、唯、足るを知る」は、既に与えられている豊かさと恵を表しています。