The Oneness of Life and Environment

The essence of this principle is that no matter how dirty, unpleasant and repugnant one's environment may be, one can transform and improve it, first and foremost by improving one's own state of life.

"The ten directions are the 'environment', and living beings are 'life'. To illustrate, environment is like the shadow, and life, the body. Without the body, no shadow can exist, and without life, no environment. In the same way, life is shaped by its environment." (WND, p644)

"If the minds of living beings are impure, their land is also impure, but if their minds are pure, so is their land. There are not two lands, pure or impure in themselves. The difference lies solely in the good or evil of our minds." (WND, p4)

The next time you are faced with a difficult situation and you feel powerless and victimized, instead of blaming others or your environment for your suffering, remember that life and environment are two but not two - inseparable! More often than not, obstacles exist primarily within our hearts as we start telling ourselves, "I can't do this!" or "This is impossible for me!" or "Why does this always happen to me?" Remind yourself that when you strengthen your determination and resolve, your inner-life changes; and when your inner-life changes for the better, so too will your environment!

Let us not feel powerless and simply complain about the world we live in. The world can only become better when we as individuals strive to change it by first changing ourselves and then becoming a model for others to do the same.

President Ikeda states, "If one person stands up with earnest faith and shines with strong life force and wisdom, they can transform their family, their community, and even the nation. War is essentially caused by the human mind. It stems from hatred and antipathy, from the desire to have power, to control and conquer others. That's why human revolution is the foundation for world peace. Even the growing problem of environmental pollution is the product of greed in modern society. The relentless pursuit of convenience and wealth by people who have forgotten the importance of living in harmony with nature is a major cause of this issue. In light of the principle of 'the oneness of life and its environment', it is clear that the destruction of the environment leads directly to the suffering of human beings. This is why it is crucial that we establish a correct philosophy of life and strive to transform the way of life and the mindset of humanity. This is human revolution."

233/SSA Times/17/3/2006/Buddhism For Practice (For April Discussion Meeting)