Questions for Donald K. Swearer

1: “During the past half century, economic and social configurations have changed dramatically throughout the world as a consequence of population increases, urbanization, industrialization, and technical achievement. These changes have… created a common economic culture determined by the necessities of the modern nation-state and business interests of multinational corporations” (page 22) are these the only contributions to economic and social configurations?

2.  "Religious adherents throughout the world are seeking to understand and interpret their traditions in ways  that preserve the lasting insight and values of their faith, while at the same time engaging the realities of existence in today world than retreating from them." (Page 22) Is this a good idea? Is this the only way to preserve the insight and values of faith?

3.  On page 24 at the bottom of the page there is a passage where Buddhadasa’s ecological hermeneutic is found in his identification of the dhamma with nature. Do you agree with his concept? Why or why not?

4: “To care for nature is linked with a pervasive feeling of human empathy”.  (page 26) Do you think that this is the only way to care for nature?

5: “Human survival may depend on whether or not we are able to conserve our dwindling natural resources and solve the problem of our increasingly polluted natural environment.” Are there other ways that this could take place?  Or is this the only road to human survival?  (Page 28)

6: “Human happiness is dependent on our natural surroundings in two ways 1- simply living within natural sheeting engenders a greater sense of happiness and well-being and 2- nature serves as a teacher of both mind and spirit.” (Page 33) is human happiness really dependant on our natural surroundings? Are there other ways to have human happiness?

7:  on page 36 we are given a few rules that Monks must go by. Do you think that these interfere with Buddhist Environmentalism? the Buddha praise of the Forest?