Poson from an environmental perspective
by N.A.A.P.K. Nedurana
Poson Poya is one of the most important days in Sri Lanka's Buddhist
calendar, as it was on a Poson Poya day that Arhath Mahinda from India,
formally introduced Buddhism to the people of Sri Lanka 2266 years ago (ie.
250 BC) to lift the veil of ignorance of the society and ultimately lead
individuals to the supreme emancipation or Nibbana. In fact, the story
of Arhat Mahinda and King Devanampiyatissa, which involves a deer and a
mango tree, clearly depicts the importance of preserving the
environment.
 In
Sri Lanka, the advent of Venerable Mahinda Thera not only established
the Buddha Sasana but founded the value system associated with it. This
value system placed a great emphasis on protecting and preserving the
ecosystems for the well being of mankind and all living beings of
present-day and the future. Other than this value system, there is no
other place to look for learning sustainable development, which has now
become a buzzword in almost every country and is a vital factor for
safeguarding ecosystems.
Disheartening
Nonetheless, it is certainly disheartening to see many anti-
environment activities in a land where such a value system was
inculcated and existed for over two millennia.
Sri Lankans of this era are marking this very significant day of
Poson Poya at a time the world is experiencing natural disasters of many
types and different magnitudes. But the intellectuals who are cognizant
of the real root causes of these phenomena have constantly been of the
view that these are not mere natural disasters but man-made tragedies.
Also, the environmental pollution caused by man's irresponsible acts is
serious. People of Sri Lanka who are really knowledgeable of the
environmental matters and are genuinely concerned of the dangers that
can befall on the country due to man's improper treatment to the
environment have always been voicing their concerns, but, most of the
time, to no avail.
Benefits
In most instances governments and people have chosen short term
benefits, which could be financial benefits or others, disregarding what
could befall on the environment owing to their activities, ranging from
using harmful pesticides, weedicides and toxic fertiliser to unplanned
and unmanaged acts of environmental destruction such as senseless
falling of trees done in the name of development and blasting of rocks
to fulfill needs. Even the monetary losses the country has to bear
consequent to natural disasters, the prime cause of which is
environmental degradation, are immense. Those losses totally negate the
short term benefits the country is gaining through improper handling of
environmental matters.
Recent devastating landslides in Aranayake and Bulathkohupitiya which
killed around thirty five people and badly affected over five thousand
people are two real examples. All these disasters have man's conceited
and self-centered treatment to the environment as the root cause. No one
knows what the future will hold for the country if the environmental
degradation continues.
Mindful
Should the government and people of Sri Lanka become seriously
mindful of the very necessity of compromising on short term advantages
and take all possible steps to preserve the environment and the high
price to be paid for not doing so, at least the future natural disasters
and other calamities that will be triggered by environmental issues
could be minimised within Sri Lanka.
Thus, there is no other better time of the year than the Poson season
for the people of Sri Lanka to contemplate on this matter and make a
solemn determination and an effort to take better care of their
environments for protecting and nurturing own ecosystems for the
wellbeing of all and to grasp the true meaning of sustainable
development. Also, it is very prudent to draw the country's development
plans in line with sustainable development necessitated by this value
system. |
