Mongolia: Buddhists

The following information has been extracted from the Mongolian Buddhists Protecting Nature Handbook which can be downloaded in English and in Mongolian.

Since 1990, Mongolia has seen a massive increase in the number of groups working in the environmental sector. There are groups helping to reduce pollution, address deforestation, bring in eco-tourism, save species and achieve many other things.

However, surprisingly few of them have established direct relationships with one of the most historical, sizeable, and influential sectors of Mongolian society: the Buddhist sangha. ARC, in collaboration with Gandan Monastery and the World Bank’s NEMO fund in Mongolia has created a new handbook in an attempt to address this.

The handbook can be downloaded here, in full, in English here and in Mongolian here.

It is the first comprehensive guide to approaching and working with Buddhist communities in Mongolia, and it explains why this is an area of action and outreach which could, and should, be explored by environmental groups from both within and outside Mongolia.

	Launch of the handbook in UB in February 2009

It is in four sections. The first is full of stories and examples, and is an exploration of just why the Buddhist monasteries and organisations have such potential to achieve so much within the environmental movement – through their own beliefs, teachings and structures – and an outline of the potential of these communities for future environmental work. It gives an idea of some of the ancient Buddhist wisdom on taking care of nature and it also provides a practical and useful guide to how to make contact with the sangha in Mongolia, and what the correct etiquette is during meetings and temple visits.

The second part includes a number of case studies from around Mongolia, of Buddhist monasteries that have already made sizeable steps to increase their environmental activism, and improve the natural environment around their communities. These include stories of monks helping people in mining areas deal with - and take steps to prevent - pollution, as well as tree-planting programmes, and a monastery-led project to protect the huge Mongolian salmon called the taimen.

The third part is much more list-based. It also includes details of some of the major monasteries, as well as the major secular environmental organisations operating in Mongolia, with contact details, a glossary, and a more detailed outline of Buddhism in Mongolia for those who are interested.

And the fourth consists of the Mongolian Buddhist Eight Year Plan, which can be downloaded here.

“We need to live as the Buddha taught us to live, in peace and harmony with nature, but this must start with ourselves. If we are going to save this planet we need to seek a new ecological order, to look at the life we lead and then work together for the benefit of all; unless we work together no solution can be found. By moving away from self-centeredness, sharing wealth more, being more responsible for ourselves, and agreeing to live more simply, we can help decrease much of the suffering in the world,” from the Buddhist Statement on Ecology 1996.

Pages about Mongolian Environmental Wisdom, taken from the Handbook.

Other links to Mongolian Buddhism and the Environment