Potential of natural realm

It is generally beneficial to plant various types of trees. In particular, fruit trees provide a living and nourishment predominantly for humans, as well as benefit to many other sentient creatures. They help to improve health and increase appetite, and so forth.

Likewise, planting flowers also is a pure, virtuous act. For example, when making a mandala offering, we pray that the ground may be covered with incense and strewn with flowers. Flowers assist us in accumulating merit and purifying obscurations, and they are also part of offerings in performing religious activities. When troubled people stroll for a while in a garden, their minds are benefited by becoming refreshed and filled with pleasure.

In order to protect the growth of whatever has been planted in the best way, people should advise their children not to harm them. This is a beneficial service to all living beings.


In Tibet, previously there was a good tradition of instituting laws to safeguard hills and valleys for unprotected and unsupported wild animals and birds, and for the protection of various defenceless creatures. We should maintain the continuity of this tradition. It is inappropriate to randomly discard fruit-peel, paper, plastic bottles, old clothes, food leftovers and other kinds of garbage. People should not urinate and defecate everywhere. Such things spoil the beauty of the landscape and are a hazard to health and hygiene.