This article discusses the views of Buddha on the environment. Born Siddharta Gotama into a royal family in northern India in 5th century B.C., the young prince was overwhelmed by the universality of suffering, old age, illness and death that he witnessed whenever he was allowed outside the palace gates. As a result of his enlightenment, Gotama believed that forests are important not only because it is an environment preferred for spiritual practices such as meditation, but also because it is the place where laity sought instruction. Indeed, Buddha believed that the forest is an appropriate place to strive for the ultimate realization of Nirvana. Moreover, in Buddha's collected sermons there are calls to show due care and loving kindness towards all sentient creatures. In addition, his coded teachings contain innovative and vital knowledge about Buddha's thinking on the environment. One insight that is now seen as holding the key to the growth of Buddhist ecological consciousness is that of dependent rising, or, simply put, the causal principle of interdependence. This principle registers an ecological principle that integrated all aspects of the ecosphere--individuals and species--in terms of the principle of mutual codependence.
