Not to cut any living plant. Not to burn the forest. Not to throw waste through the window. Not to leave the toilet dirty without cleaning it or asking others to do so. Buddhists are encouraged to maintain the balance of nature and material development.
In Buddhist teaching, life is a part of nature. Everything is interdependent. So the concepts of natural conservation and ecological awareness can be found in the teaching of Buddhism in the early period. If we now take a trip to rural villages, we could visit the Buddhist monasteries and enjoy the feeling of serenity, fresh air, the beauty of flowers and trees, pets and tame animals living happily together with human beings.
Is it true that Buddhism is pessimistic? The belief that Buddhism is pessimistic derive from the misunderstanding of the First Noble Truth which teaches that all sentient beings are subject to the suffering of birth, old age and death. Only when one accepts the truth of this suffering will one begin to investigate the cause of suffering, the cessation of its cause and practice the path leading to its cessation.
In this sense we will see that Buddhism is neither pessimistic nor optimistic; It is rather realistic. The Buddha may be compared to a medical doctor who diagnosed that human beings do have a severe disease, but he did not stop there.
He pointed out that it can be overcome and further prescribed medicine to remedy it. Buddhism seeks to overcome human suffering. Each individual needs to develop morality, concentration, and wisdom in order to solve the problems of life. Buddhists are taught to face the world in its reality and try to overcome its binding forces and ultimately arrive at spiritual freedom which is known as Nirvana or Nibbana.
What is the purpose of Buddhists in worshipping and making Buddha images? Buddhists cast Buddha images and statues as reminders of the Buddha. People of various countries designed national flags to represent each of their own countries which are held as important, worth of respect. Such practice does not imply paying a respect to the cloth or its color but to the highest national institution.
In the same manner, Buddha images and statues also are objects of respect. They were boiled in dye to clean them and then stitched together. That is no longer the case, but they must be made of natural fibers—wool, silk, or plant fibers. The Saffron Robe. Mostly seen in southeast Asia , the Theravada Buddhist monks wear saffron-dyed robes, which date back centuries.
It is believed that this is the closest to what the original Buddha and his disciples wore. These robes are made of three parts, a large rectangle wrapped over both shoulders or just the left shoulder, the lower body sarong, and an extra layer used for warmth, which is often draped over a shoulder in warmer climates and secured with a yellow sash. Theravada nuns wear light pink or white robes. Typically only seen during morning almsgiving rituals, alms bowls are worn around the neck.
According to the Buddhist monks, the Buddhist clothing creates a visible way of uniformity and intention to the world. While it covers you from neck to the ankle, it strips down all the personal attributes and aspects that one would easily use to define you or identify who you are. It makes it clear that what you wear does not announce who you are before you can even speak.
The robe also serves the purpose of reminding the monks of their vocation which is to live apart from the world so they may be able to save and heal without getting trapped in temptations. Personal life experiences of the Buddhist monks reveal that most of them join the monastery from curiosity-driven instincts. Some of them will confess to having lost a loved one in unexpected drastic situations that left them powerless and in a quest to find the reason why. Through the process of trying to find that answer, many find Buddhism which helps guide their perspective to such questions while providing the opportunity to lead a life free of hurt, difficulties, challenges and complications that Buddhism offers.
At first it may feel strange, especially having to a wear the robe which forces the wearer to be cautious of how to move or be sloppy and trip over it. While this might be a challenge at first, wearing the uniform eventually creates awareness, presence, and grace which ultimately define their calling. Interestingly, as a requirement the monks eventually learn to sew their own robes.
In fact each one wears a robe that carries an embodied calligraphy of their name. This gives them a sense of ownership, and the depth of renowned attachment they hold to their uniforms is surprising.
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