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This autoethnographic study of Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka identifies an ecological ethic that can address the challenges posed by the Anthropocene, based on the praxis of a unique community: the radical forest-dwelling (araññavāsī) virtuosi, a distinct group within the Sri Lankan monastic Sangha. It discusses how Buddhist teachings, when put into practice, reveal an effective eco-ethic that might not be immediately apparent when one merely analyses the texts. Such a praxis is marked by an uncompromising love for fellow beings in shared habitats, and is evidently effective enough to trust with the protection of delicate ecosystems in a biodiversity hotspot. Emerging from arguably the most rigorous form of Buddhist monastic practice, this eco-ethic might not be easily attainable or sustainable for lay people. Yet, it reveals a range of possibilities wherein an alternative worldview can be adopted, and in doing so, makes a distinctive contribution to Buddhist environmentalism.
Prabhath Sirisena (2024) studied this question.