An Essay on Mountains In Tibet, mountains are often considered the adobes
of deities. For example, Amnye Machen, a mountain in northeastern Tibet, is
regarded as the home of Machen Pomra, one of the most important deities of
Amdo, my home province. Because all the people of Amdo consider Machen Pomra
their special friend, many of team go round the foot of the mountain on
pilgrimage.
Tibetans generally have shown little interest in scaling the peaks that
surround them, perhaps out of deference to the presiding deities. However, I
think there is a more practical reason. Most Tibetans have to climb far too
many mountain passes to have any wish to climb higher than they must. When the
people of Lhasa sometimes climbed for pleasure, they chose hills of a
reasonable size, and on reaching the top would burn incense; say prayers and
relax with a picnic.
Travelers in Tibet traditionally add a stone to the Cairns at the tops of
hills or passes with a shout of "Lha-gyal-Io- Victory to the gods". Later,
'Mani stones', stones carved with prayers and other scriptures may be added
along with prayer flags. One practical outcoI1le of this traditional sense for
the environment is a deep-seated concern to protect it.
Only hermits, wild animals, and, in the summer, nomads and their herds
actually live high amongst them, but in the simplicity and quiet of our
mountains, there is more peace of mind than in most cities of the world. Since
the practice of Buddhism involves seeing phenomena as empty of inherent
existence, it is helpful for a mediator to be able to look into the vast, empty
space seen from a mountain - top.
In these stores of natural treasure, our doctors found many of the precious
herbs and plants from which they compounded their medicines, while nomads found
rich pasture for their animals, so crucial to the Tibetan economy. But of even
wider-ranging impact, the Land of Snow's mountains arc; the source of many of
Asia's great rivers. The recent massive floods on the Indian sub-continent and
in China can be attributed, in part, to the massive deforestation and
environmental destruction that has followed China's violent occupation of Tibet.
For over 1,000 years we Tibetans have adhered to spiritual and environmental
values in order to maintain the delicate balance of life across the high
plateau on which we live. Inspired by the Buddha's message of non-violence and
compassion and protected by our mountains, we have sought to respect every form
of life, while our neighbors lived undisturbed.
These days when we talk about preservation of the environment, whether we mean
the wildlife, forests, oceans, rivers or mountains, ultimately the decision to
act must come from our hearts. So, the key point, I think, is for all of us to
develop a genuine sense of universal responsibility, not only toward s this
beautiful blue planet that is our home, but also towards the innumerable
sentient beings with' whom we share it.
An article from July 161992 Newsweek.
Sumber : www.dalailama.com
__________________________________________________
Be aware of the contact between your feet and the Earth. Walk as if you are
kissing the Earth with your feet. We have caused a lot of damage to the Earth.
Now it is time for us to take good care of her. We bring our peace and calm to
the surface of the Earth and share the lesson of love. We walk in that spirit.
~ Thich Nhat Hanh ~
---------------------------------
Lelah menerima spam? Surat Yahoo! mempunyai perlindungan terbaik terhadap spam.
http://id.mail.yahoo.com/
