The Editorial – May 2025

The Karaṇīya Mettā Sutta declares: “May all beings be happy and secure.” The Buddha’s Dhamma does not present human beings as a special creation of divine beings, nor does it assert dominion or custodianship over animals and nature. Like all sentient beings, humans are also bound by limitations and conditions, caught within the framework of saṁsāra—the endless cycle of rebirth.

Humans exert influence on the environment not only through physical actions but also through moral and immoral qualities. The environment, in turn, responds to the moral integrity of humanity. It is neither a passive nor indifferent medium but one that can deliver consequences. Clearly, human beings must face the environmental repercussions of their actions.

Monasteries that depend on collective living are highly respected in the Buddhist tradition, yet solitary life in forest hermitages or mountainous regions also holds great value. Solitude, free from both external support and disturbance, provides a profound opportunity to cultivate human virtues. Within each individual reside both positive potentials and negative tendencies. As a result, time spent in close communion with animals and nature can contribute meaningfully to spiritual development.

According to the Buddhist ideal, the interrelationship between humans, animals, and the natural world is one of harmonious cooperation. The Dhamma emphasizes the importance of restraining and overcoming negative thoughts that arise in the human heart. Such an approach consistently fosters attitudes of friendliness and respect towards the environment.

The modern world is in a state of great upheaval. Valuable ethical traditions and well-structured systems are being destabilized. Materialist skepticism has begun to undermine the human qualities that are often identified with cultural values and customs. However, any individual concerned with culture and civility must also be concerned about ethical and practical issues—because moral discipline shapes human behavior.

At the core of Buddhist ethics lies the cultivation of satipaṭṭhāna (the foundations of mindfulness). A mind enriched with mindfulness and altruistic understanding determines how one acts toward other living beings. This mature and conscious approach becomes the guiding force behind harmonious and compassionate interactions with the world.

© Satipatthāna Magazine