The whimsical reverence for nature embodied in Buddhist religious ontological symbolism functions as ecological stewardship mythos. Dr William Rees, former director of the University of British Columbia’s School of Community and Regional Planning in Vancouver, the originator of ecological footprint analysis, discusses the key function of myths. Dr Rees explains that myths exist in every culture as a ‘social construction of reality (Rees).’1 Buddhism mythologized earth stewardship, as in the wildly poetic examples of the ontological belief of the sacredness of lakes and mountains as divine dwellings, or supernatural sanctuaries.
As conscious living beings we have the responsibility to protect that which is sacred.
1 “Are Humans Unsustainable by Nature?” William E. Rees 2007 Trudeau Fellow University of British Columbia School of Community and Regional Planning [9674 words] Trudeau Lecture Memorial University of Newfoundland, January 28, 2009 http://www.plancanada.com/Unsustainable%20by%20Nature.rees.pdf pp.8