At the time Stephanie Kaza compiled this annotated bibliography, she was teaching environmental ethics at the Starr King School of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, and serving as president of the board for the Berkeley Peace Fellowship. The books are listed in three sections, to make the point that Buddhism is not the only source of insight into the environment. The second two groupings are books that seem particularly compatible with a Buddhist perspective.

Buddhism and Ecology

1. Aitken, Robert. The Mind of Clover: Essays in Zen Buddhist Ethics. San Francisco: North Point Press. 1984.

These provocative essays, introducing the Ten Grave Precepts, shed light on a number of contemporary issues in Buddhist ethics, including the environment.

2. Callicot, J. Baird and Ames, Roger T., eds. Nature in Asian Tradition of Thought: Essays in Environmental Philosophy. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1989.

A collection of essays by primarily Western philosophers, drawing on Asian thought as a source for environmental ethics. Academic overviews of Japanese, Chinese, and Indian environmental philosophy, with a number of articles specifically on Buddhism and nature.

3. Davies, Shannon, ed. Tree of Life : Buddhism and Protection of Nature. Buddhist Perception of Nature Project, 1987.

The first collection of articles by the Asian-based Buddhist Perception of Nature Project, exploring pertinent Buddhist scriptures for teachings regarding the environment. Includes a statement from the Dalai Lama on the environment, and Thai and Tibetan language translations.

4. Eppsteiner, Fred, ed. The Path of Compassion: Writings on Socially Engaged Buddhism. Berkeley: Parallax Press, 1988.

The social and political dimensions of global problems as addressed by engaged Buddhists, with thought-provoking examples of social action undertaken from a Buddhist perspective and relevant to Buddhist environmentalism.

5. Fukuoka, Masanobu. The Road Back to Nature: Regaining the Paradise Lost. Tokyo: Japan Publications, 1987.

A Japanese organic farmer’s Taoist philosophy on the foundations of good farming — working with the earth harmoniously and understanding right action for people in the environment.

6. Hunt-Badiner, Alan, ed. Dharma Gaia: A Harvest of Essays in Buddhism and Ecology. Berkeley: Parallax Press, 1990.

Joanna Macy, Gary Snyder, Robert Aitken, and others present their views in a provocative and up-to-date collection of articles and poetry addressing the intersection of Buddhist and environmental thinking and perception.

7. Jones, Ken. The Social Face of Buddhism. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1989.

With a view that spiritual and social transformation are not separate, nor is one necessary before the other, this book has much to offer in the way of analysis and insight into Buddhist philosophy as it is relevant to social action and global understanding.

8. Kapleau, Philip. To Cherish All Life: A Buddhist Case for Becoming Vegetarian. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1982.

One day in Japan, Kapleau noticed there was something fishy—literally—about his diet. This book is a compelling argument for vegetarianism based on Buddhist thought.

9. Nhat Hanh, Thich. Interbeing: Commentaries on the Tiep Hien Precepts. Berkeley: Parallax Press, 1987.

Thich Naht Hanh’s modern version of the primary precepts for Buddhist practice, with emphasis on interrelatedness, especially appropriate for engaged Buddhists. This is an excellent resource for discussion groups and ceremonies of renewal.

10. Seed, John, Joanna Macy, Pat Fleming, and Arne Naess. Thinking Like a Mountain: Towards a Council of All Beings. Philadelphia, PA: New Society Publishers, 1988.

Introductory essays, excerpts, and poetry, weaving together deep ecology with Buddhist reverence for life, with guidelines for leading the Council of All Beings workshop/ceremony.

11. Snyder, Gary. The Practice of the Wild. San Francisco: North Point Press, 1990.

Exquisitely crafted essays from this well-known poet-philosopher revealing great depth of reflection and clarity on the natural world and Zen Buddhist teachings and practice.

Related Classics

1. Bateson, Gregory. Steps to an Ecology of Mind. New York: Ballantine Books, 1972.

A classic work on systems thinking, explaining basic principles of feedback which operate in human and environmental systems and relationships. A Western description of aspects of co-dependent origination.

2. Berry, Thomas. The Dream of the Earth. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1988.

The evolution story as sacred journey, interpreted as the new cosmology for our times. A new road map through bioregionalism and post-patriarchal values to a future vision of living in spiritual relationship with the earth.

3. Leopold, Aldo. A Sand County Almanac. New York: Ballantine Books, 1966. (First published in 1949.)

A landmark collection of seminal essays by the man who defined the environmental ethic for this century. The most well-known and often-quoted are “The Land Ethic” and “The Round River”.

4. Nash, Roderick. The Rights of Nature: A History of Environmental Ethics. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1989.

A history of environmental ethics with well-referenced chapters on the greening of ecology, philosophy, and religion. An excellent overview of various arguments and thinkers in this field, with many thorough footnotes.

Understanding Where You Live

Buddhist philosophy and practice has much to offer in living with the environment, but it is equally important to learn something about the ecology of where you live. Naturalists, birdwatchers, and botanists are good teachers for the patterns of life in your local area. It is essential to ground your practice in the concrete reality of a particular bioregion, watershed or neighborhood by developing relationships with the birds and plants, seasonal weather patterns, and local geographic formations. These are some sample books that may be helpful:

1. Andruss, Van, Plant C., Plant J., and Wright E. Home! A Bioregional Reader. Philadelphia: New Society Publishers, 1990.

Examples of nature, culture, and community and ways to get there from here. Ideas for restoration, reinhabitation, and growing a “life-place politics”. A new collection representing the bioregionalist voice.

2. Bakker, Elna. An Island Called California. Berkeley: U.C. Press, 1984.

Excellent overview of California’s natural communities, tying together the influences of climate, evolutionary change, and human impact, written in an unusually lucid style, accessible to anyone. Similar books exist on other states and regions.

3. Evens, Jules G. The Natural History of the Point Reyes Peninsula. Point Reyes National Seashore Association, 1988.

An example of natural history guides that look at a single place from a variety of perspectives, showing the relationships between soils and plant communities, migratory birds and flowering seasons, marine mammals and oceanic patterns. This genre of books are helpful in developing a whole system view of the environment, drawing on the specifics of one area.

4. Field Guide to the Birds of North America. National Geographic Society: New York, 1983.

A standard and highly recommended identification guide to birds of the continent, with drawings, range maps and information located side by side for easy reference. Most helpful when used with local lists of most common birds.

5. Trimble, Stephen, ed. Words from the Land. Salt Lake City: Peregrin Smith Books, 1989.

A collection of eloquent essays by naturalist writers, offering a way of observing nature directly—with care and detail, making a distinction between projection and reflection, a skill which takes practice and time to develop.

∞

From the Spring 1991 issue of Inquiring Mind (Vol. 7, No. 2)

Text © 1991–2022 by Stephanie Kaza