The Philosophical Applicability of Tiantai Buddhism's Doctrine of Insentient Beings with Buddha-Nature in China's Ecological Preservation Practices

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the important philosophical concept of insentient entities (wuqing you xing, 无情有性) in Tiantai Buddhism and its impact on individuals' psychological well-being and ecological awareness. This study employs qualitative methods to gain a deeper understanding of the topic. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven experts, including academics, senior monks, and writers specializing in Tiantai Buddhism and environmental philosophy in Guangzhou, China. This study used phenomenological techniques for its data analysis. Understanding these variations provides insight into the complexities of Buddhist doctrine and philosophy in multicultural societies. This study has found that Buddhist doctrine and philosophy play a significant role in shaping people's views and actions regarding environmental preservation initiatives and environmental volunteering. Hence, this result provides insight to the government and organizations about maintaining environmental issues, which are rapidly growing globally. This study is one of the few that highlights the Buddhist views of the Chinese people. Hence, the government must improve the alignment between religion and people's awareness, as well as develop a long-term strategy to combat climate change.