2014 International Conference on “Animal Liberation, Animal Rights, and Equal Ecological Rights: Dialogues between Eastern and Western Philosophies and Religions”
Buddhist ecology=佛教生態學; Niklas Luhmann=盧曼; Tzu Chi=慈濟; eco-religious communication=宗教生態溝通
摘要
Many Buddhists or scholars promote Buddhism as holistically ecological. This view is popular and unquestioned for a long time so much so that there are terms such as ‘eco-Buddhism’ or ‘green Buddhism’. However, since the late twentieth century, this view has been challenged. Some scholars question whether Buddhism offer holistic and genuine discourse on ecology or it is a product of Buddhist apologists. This paper will use the case study of a Buddhist organization in Taiwan- Tzu Chi, to reflect on this debate. It will examine Tzu Chi’s environmental protection works through the standpoint of Niklas Luhmann’s systems theory. By so doing, I hope to offer a new perspective on the relationship between Buddhism and ecological discourse.
