Salmon in the Net of Indra: a Buddhist View of Nature and Communities

Abstract

AbstractThe rapid decline of salmon over the last hundred years in the western United States has occurred to a large extent because of the way people have viewed salmon. In this paper, we briefly examine several views of salmon and offer another view, one based on enduring themes of Buddhist thought and practice. We examine the understanding of the interdependence and unity of all things as the common foundation of both Buddhism and ecology. Finally, we provide guidelines for applying this understanding to the conservation of salmon, as well the relationship of humans to 'nature' in general.