Buddhist Standpoint on the Environmental Psychology and its Relation on Environmental Conservation

Abstract

Environmental psychology is a modern filed of psychological study which has been specially designed to examine the interrelationship between human and environment. The field of Study is explained as, "Environmental psychology is a field of study that examines the interrelationship between environments and human affect, cognition and behavior" (Gifford 2007). In this paper the attention is focused on the examination of Environmental psychological features include in the Buddhist teachings. Even though still there is no such a field as Buddhist environmental psychology, through this research some important landmarks are expected to blurb for the future studies. In analyzing the Buddhist teachings on this context, in the Rāmaṇeyyakasutta of the Saṃyuttanikāya, clearly explains two fundamentals on this subject as Bhūmirāmaṇeyyaka (beauty of environment) and Manussarāmaṇeyyaka (Beauty of human). Here the Buddha clearly preaches that, Beauty of environment rely on the beauty of human. As the beauty of human it explains how human behavior becomes a serious factor in enjoying the environment beauty. This explains that environmental conservation methods should be introduced through a mental transformation of human. In this research all such factors are expected to discuss comparatively with the modern environmental psychology. Suttantapiṭaka of the Pālicanon is referred along with relevant commentaries in examining the Buddhist Standpoints and theories of environmental psychology are discussed quoting Environmental psychology by Gifford , Paradox of environmental psychology by D. Stokols, and Hand book of Environmental Psychology by D. Stokols and L. Altman, where it necessary.