英文原文
The importance of the human-nature bond has been proven in various studies to be a vital way to promote better health and well-being. Did you know, for instance, that visiting a forest for less than 15 minutes or swimming in the ocean can lower stress, boost your mood, and raise your vitality? As we end one year and start a new one, however, this connection is one worth strengthening for much more than mental health reasons. Research indicates that some 3.6 billion people live in areas that are highly susceptible to climate change. How can Buddhists protect the Earth while also harnessing the benefits of the natural need to spend time in the arms of Mother Nature? The Buddhist view of the importance of nature can easily be gleaned from The Five Precepts, which comprises five practices. The first is the avoidance of harmful actions. This includes not killing or stealing—which is something human beings do when they cull trees, raise the habitats of animals to the ground, and contribute to global warming. The first reminds us to live in alliance with nature instead of exploiting it to our advantage. The second espouses partaking in wholesome actions—including being kind, not only to people, but to all sentient things. The third is the cultivation of a healthy mind, which involves mindfulness—being aware of our actions and choosing what we do wisely. The fourth is right livelihood—earning a living in a way that does not harm oneself or others—including the environment. The fifth involves abandoning negative thoughts and cultivating positive thoughts and emotions. And nature is the perfect place to instil a mindful state in people. The close connection of nature and Buddhism (and meditation) is well represented by the many cave shrines found around the world. Many of the great sages retreated to caves, not only for solitude to improve comtemplative meditation, but because of the need to be connected to nature. To leverage the human-nature connection Buddhists can simply head outdoors and aim to spend a few minutes a day in the presence of greenery or bodies of water. Studies have shown that doing so lowers levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Nature also weaves its magic on children, teaching them vital lessons such as how to take reasonable risks, make decisions, and solve problems. Developing a connection with nature is easy. It can begin with an action as simple as welcoming plants into your home. If you love home design, then you have probably heard all about a true craze in this industry—biophilic design. It involves bringing a host of plants and indoor trees into your home, in an effort to blur the lines between life indoors and outdoors. Even if you have a small space, you can use macrame plant hangers to hang a myriad of plants at various heights. You can also invest in one or two statement plants like Areca palms, Monstera deliciosa, or the Fiddle leaf fig to call attention to a specific part of your home. Choose natural eco-friendly materials (such as bamboo and reclaimed wood) and fill your home with décor inspired on the beauty of nature. We can’t always meditate in nature, but you can bring a little nature into your home with plants and decor ideas. Meditation often plays a vital role in the life of Buddhists, so if you try to make time daily to take part in meditation, then aim to do so outdoors. You can also engage in breathwork or embrace other holistic pursuits such as Tai Chi and yoga. All these pursuits can be deeply mindful if you concentrate on your technique and utilize breathwork to enhance your practice. After your meditation session, simply open your senses to the beauty of the natural world. Take note of the beautiful sounds of wildlife around you, and of the unique sights and textures that can be found outdoors. Indulge your sense of smell as well, approaching plants and flowers and inhaling their unique aroma. If you have a home garden, you can enhance its olfactory properties by planting a few fragrant herbs and flowers. Plant the latter on raised beds if possible, so they can be easier to smell. The Buddhist way of life espouses the importance of kindness to all living things. Preserving our planet is a vital way of ensuring that life exists and persists and that no sentient things suffer because of problems like deforestation or global warming. To do your share for the environment, aim to spend time outdoors, invite nature into your home, and consider meditating and exercising outdoors.
中文翻译
多项研究证明，人与自然的联系是促进健康和福祉的重要方式。例如，你知道吗？在森林中停留不到15分钟或在海洋中游泳可以降低压力、提升情绪并增加活力？然而，当我们结束一年并开始新的一年时，这种联系值得加强，原因远不止心理健康。研究表明，约有36亿人生活在极易受气候变化影响的地区。佛教徒如何既能保护地球，又能利用亲近大自然的好处？佛教对自然重要性的看法可以很容易地从五戒中看出，五戒包括五项修行。第一是避免有害行为。这包括不杀生或不偷盗——这是人类在砍伐树木、摧毁动物栖息地并导致全球变暖时所做的事情。第一戒提醒我们要与自然和谐共处，而不是为了自身利益而剥削它。第二戒倡导参与有益的行为——包括不仅对人，而且对所有有情众生友善。第三是培养健康的心态，这包括正念——意识到我们的行为并明智地选择所做之事。第四是正命——以不伤害自己或他人（包括环境）的方式谋生。第五涉及放弃负面思想并培养积极的思想和情感。而自然是培养人们正念状态的完美场所。自然与佛教（以及冥想）的紧密联系在世界各地发现的许多洞穴圣地中得到了很好的体现。许多伟大的圣贤退隐到洞穴中，不仅是为了独处以改善冥想，还因为需要与自然连接。为了利用人与自然的联系，佛教徒可以简单地走到户外，并争取每天在绿色植物或水体旁度过几分钟。研究表明，这样做可以降低压力激素皮质醇的水平。自然也对儿童施展魔力，教给他们重要的课程，例如如何承担合理的风险、做出决策和解决问题。与自然建立联系很容易。可以从一个简单的行动开始，比如在家中引入植物。如果你喜欢家居设计，那么你可能听说过这个行业的一个真正热潮——亲生物设计。它包括将大量植物和室内树木带入家中，以模糊室内外生活的界限。即使空间很小，你也可以使用编织植物吊篮将各种植物悬挂在不同高度。你还可以投资一两株引人注目的植物，如槟榔、龟背竹或琴叶榕，以吸引人们对家中特定区域的注意。选择天然环保材料（如竹子和再生木材），并用受自然之美启发的装饰品填满你的家。我们不能总是在自然中冥想，但你可以通过植物和装饰理念将一点自然带入家中。冥想通常在佛教徒的生活中扮演着重要角色，所以如果你尝试每天抽出时间参与冥想，那么争取在户外进行。你还可以进行呼吸练习或拥抱其他整体追求，如太极和瑜伽。如果你专注于技巧并利用呼吸练习来增强修行，所有这些追求都可以非常正念。冥想结束后，只需打开感官，感受自然世界的美丽。注意周围野生动物的美妙声音，以及户外独特的景象和纹理。也放纵你的嗅觉，接近植物和花朵，吸入它们独特的香气。如果你有家庭花园，可以通过种植一些芳香的草药和花朵来增强其嗅觉特性。如果可能的话，将后者种植在高架床上，这样更容易闻到它们的香味。佛教的生活方式倡导对所有生物友善的重要性。保护我们的星球是确保生命存在和持续的重要方式，并且没有有情众生因森林砍伐或全球变暖等问题而受苦。为了为环境尽一份力，争取花时间在户外，将自然引入家中，并考虑在户外冥想和锻炼。
文章概要
本文探讨了佛教中人与自然联系的重要性，强调这种联系对健康（尤其是中年福祉）的益处。文章从佛教五戒的角度阐述了保护自然的伦理基础，并提供了实际方法，如户外冥想、亲生物家居设计和日常自然接触，以加强这种联系，同时应对气候变化挑战。
高德明老师的评价
用12岁初中生可以听懂的语音来重复翻译的内容：这篇文章说，大自然就像我们的好朋友，能让我们感觉更开心、更健康。佛教告诉我们，要爱护花草树木和小动物，不要伤害它们。我们可以多去户外玩，比如在公园里散步或在家里种点植物，这样能帮助我们放松心情，学习新东西。保护地球很重要，这样所有生物都能快乐生活。
佛学的各个宗派视角评价，突出《显密圆通成佛心要集》的视角：从显宗视角看，本文强调的五戒与自然和谐，体现了大乘佛教的慈悲与智慧，如《华严经》所述“心、佛、众生，三无差别”，自然作为众生的一部分，需平等爱护。密宗视角下，自然被视为本尊坛城的显现，户外冥想可增强与宇宙能量的连接。《显密圆通成佛心要集》融合显密，主张“即事而真”，本文的实践方法如自然冥想，正契合此集“圆通”理念，通过日常活动证悟佛性。准提法作为密法，强调简便修行，本文的户外活动可视为准提法“随处可修”的延伸，利用自然环境提升专注与觉知。
在修行实践上可以应用的和可以解决人们的十个问题：1. 压力缓解：户外冥想降低皮质醇，解决现代人高压问题。2. 情绪提升：自然接触增强积极情绪，应对中年情绪波动。3. 健康促进：绿色环境改善生理健康，支持中年体能维持。4. 环保意识：实践五戒培养生态责任感，解决环境忽视问题。5. 家庭和谐：亲生物设计营造温馨家居，缓解家庭紧张关系。6. 儿童教育：自然活动培养孩子决策力，解决成长焦虑。7. 心灵平静：自然冥想增强正念，应对信息过载困扰。8. 社交连接：户外团体活动促进人际互动，解决孤独感。9. 生活平衡：将自然融入日常，帮助中年找到工作生活平衡点。10. 灵性成长：通过自然证悟佛性，解决生命意义探寻问题。这些实践基于大乘佛教的利他精神，准提法的简易性使其更易推广，助力众生离苦得乐。