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方丈恒律法師首先致辭，他以投影片向大家介紹萬佛城，同時介紹他所理解的「綠色的心」：是恭敬父母師長、用孝順和服務國家來表示尊重「（自立環保）綠色之未來」、尊重其他宗教和恭敬一切眾生。
第二位主講人易象乾，他是「柏克萊世界宗教研究院」的研究教授，他的講題是「環境問題？佛教徒之觀點」。其中包括佛教徒所了解的大自然，大自然與覺道的關係，以及以業力為基礎的佛教倫理道德觀。對於佛教徒，大自然是活生生的、略有知覺的、非聖、非惡，也未離佛（覺性）。佛陀教導我們，萬物都在人生的大羅網中相依、相接；當人心淨化時，就可體會大自然的真性。在佛教裡，人與非人是不二的；人類不離眾生，也不高出眾生。易博士提到佛陀是最早期的環保人士之一，因為他致力於尊重一切生命，也維護水的純淨；大自然（原野）被視為最理想的靈修環境。(〈金剛菩提海〉將於近期刊載全文)
接下來是「美國建築學院」負責萬佛城工程的總規劃主任比爾‧狄帝。他談的是「地球上不同區域的的永續自立發展力性」，特別著重於介紹韓國和希臘，因為過去他曾在那裡參與主要大樓的興建計劃。
接著是「太陽能應用學院」主任道格‧李文斯敦討論「可更新之能源」，講題討論「能源於縮減中的世界」(這個世界與能源，似乎因為人口的暴長而在縮減中)。他說人類能源的消耗量，在過去一萬年中，已呈級數飛升；而且多虧了工業革命，人類在最近幾百年內，就把幾萬萬年以來地球所生產的高能量煤礦都用掉了。他說，最廉價的能源，不是消耗，而是節約；換句話說，與其開發另一種取代性資源，不如先檢視一下我們能在哪裡節約能源，並在建築、交通、和食物生產上，更有效地來運用能源。由於煤和其他化石燃料容易開採，且成本低廉，已開發國家的狂開濫採，基本上已經掠奪了屬於下一代的資源，並且滋長一種浪費的壞習慣。
第四位主講人是「三藩市建築學院」的院長弗瑞德‧史迪特教授。他提到自然式的設計理念 (也就是說在任何一塊土地上，都蘊含著創造一個適宜居住的環境所需要的自然條件──空氣、水、能源、食物來源)，和佛教設計理念，例如運用九方曼陀羅 (注：曼陀羅為梵文之音譯，以「輪圓具足、聚集」為義，譯為「壇場、道場」，即築方圓之土為壇，以安諸尊祭供；其設計如圓滿之輪輞，輻輳具足而會聚於車轂)的建築設計。他提倡「靈性建築」 (即小中現大、大中見宇宙)，以及在當地生態式中可永續自立發展的建築設計。他說，對於讓學生們從事這類設計，大部分建築院校尚未準備好。
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麥特‧泰勒/Matt Taylor |
討論會的壓軸主講人是「MG泰勒集團」的聯合創辦人麥特‧泰勒，他提出在提供合作解決整體性問題之環境促進方面，建築業可以扮演的重要角色；這必須結合大量社會各階層及領域的人士來共同參予。他提到全球議題中一個名叫「蓋雅」的方案，為避免這個星球走向毀滅，全球都必須要正視這個議題；依照此方案，人類在所有重大決定中，都應讓地球有發言的機會 (注：即是要考慮到地球)。他建議各國議會都能吸收一些「蓋雅」的成員作代表。身為一個樂觀的專業人士，他深信人類有扭轉乾坤的力量；不過，他警告說：目前的情勢，已到關鍵點，如果人類依舊盲目行事，再過十年，一切都會完了。
當天下午，這些關心環境和地球未來的人士，借著這個絕佳的機會共聚一堂，來討論重大的全球問題。我們希望此次研討會能拋磚引玉，帶動以後其他類似的活動，以幫助更多的人來接受更環保、更友善的生活方式。
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The forum opened with the Abbot, Heng Lyu Shr, giving a speech accompanied by a slideshow introducing the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and his interpretation of a “green” mind, which entails respect for parents, teachers, elders; respect for our green future by being filial and serving the country; respect for other religions; and respect for all beings.
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易象乾/Ron Epstein |
The second speaker, Ron Epstein, a research professor of the Institute for World Religions in Berkeley, spoke on “Environmental Issues: A Buddhist Perspective,” explaining the Buddhist understanding of Nature, Nature’s relationship to the path to enlightenment, and Buddhist karma-based ethics. To a Buddhist, Nature is alive, partly conscious, not sacred, not evil, and not separate from the Buddha (awakened nature). The Buddha taught that all things are interdependent and connected in the great web of life. As we purify our minds, we experience the true nature of Nature. In Buddhism, there is no human/nonhuman duality. Humans are neither separate from nor superior to other beings. Dr. Epstein noted that the Buddha was one of the first environmentalists, for he promoted respect for all life and protected the purity of water. Nature (wilderness) is seen as the ideal environment for spiritual practice. [VBS will publish Dr. Epstein’s talk in the near future.]
 Next, Mr. Bill Dede, AIA, Project Director for CTTB, discussed “Sustainability in Different Parts of the World,” particularly focusing on Korea and Greece, where he had been involved in major building projects.
The next speaker, Doug Livingston, lecturer at the Solar Living Institute, spoke on “Renewable Energy,” addressing the issue of “energy in a shrinking world” (where the earth and its resources seem to be shrinking as the human population explodes). He said human consumption of energy has grown exponentially in the last 10,000 years, and that, thanks to the Industrial Revolution, we have consumed in just a few centuries nearly all the energy-rich coal that was produced in the earth over (hundreds of) millions of years. He said the cheapest energy is that which is not consumed, but is conserved. In other words, before we explore alternative energy, we should first examine where we can conserve energy and make our buildings, transportation, and food production more energy-efficient. Since it has been so easy and cheap to extract coal and other fossil fuels, the developed world has basically robbed future generations by consuming their share of energy resources, and has developed bad habits of being wasteful.
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弗瑞德‧史迪特/Fred A. Stitt |
The fourth speaker, Prof. Fred A. Stitt, Dean of the San Francisco Institute of Architecture, spoke about Nature-based design principles (e.g., any piece of property has virtually everything you need—air, water, energy, food production resources—to create a habitable dwelling) and also Buddhist design principles, such as the use of a nine-square
mandala. [Ed. note: Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning “round and perfect” or “gathering” and translated as “altar” or “temple”. It can mean a round or square altar on which to set the sages’ statues for Buddhist rituals. In architectural design it might resemble a wheel whose spokes radiate out from the hub.] He advocated the architecture of the soul (where the smaller reflects the larger, and the larger reflects the whole or cosmos), and ecologically sustainable designs, which he says most architecture schools are still not preparing their students to do.
The final speaker, Matt Taylor, co-founder of MG Taylor Corp., spoke of the important role architecture can play in providing an environment conducive to collaborative solving of systemic problems, which involve large numbers of people in many different fields or sectors of society. He spoke of a Global Agenda, which the world needs to focus on in order to prevent the planet from being destroyed, and of the Gaia Project, which provides Earth a voice in decisions to be made. He suggested that every national legislature could include a few representatives of Gaia. As a professional optimist, he has faith in our ability to turn things around. But, he cautioned, the situation has come to the point that if we continue to act blindly for another 10 years, then it will be all over.
This afternoon was an excellent opportunity for people concerned about the environment and the future of the planet to meet and discuss critical global issues. We hope it will lead to similar gatherings in the future, to help more people adopt a more environmentally friendly lifestyle.
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