The monk who loves nature !

- Jul 01, 2017

Right now, speaking about Buddhist monks should be done carefully. Certain
Buddhist monks behave in a very unfortunate manner on the pretext of religion.
Not only them, but also all the extremists are trying to sow the seeds of racism
and religious extremism in this land to serve someones needs. Facing such
instances should be done intelligently.
As a country with unfortunate experiences in the past, a recurrence of such a dark
period is uncalled for. In such a scenario, we met a Buddhist monk, who thinks
differently about what is happening around him. In a society that would do
anything for money and power, he is an exception and an example to all. His life
dedicated to the nature is an important lesson for the young.
He is Ven. Wekandawala Rahula Thera, incumbent of Sri Bodhirukkarama Vihara
at Kudabubula in Weeraketiya. Given below are the answers he gave to our
questions.

How he began to love nature

I loved nature since being a little boy, but had not much opportunity to pay much
attention to it during school or Pirivena education. But, that did not discourage
me. I had my own way to gain experience by meeting environmentalists.

Then, I got to know about the environment and natural resources management
course conducted by the Environment and Nature Study Centre. The
environmentalists I met before had no real interest to raise public awareness on
environment.
But, meeting Dr. Ravindra Kariyawasam and following the course have been a
great help to me. The course is free of charge and its nature gave me the much-
needed boost to create a place to disburse the knowledge on environment.
His experiences with the nature
First thing I did was to conserve the water sources and other natural resources at
Kudabubula, where my temple is located. The Dhamma School, the young and
adults all got together and worked to preserve the Bubula jungle, starting off with
planting trees, clearing it of polythene etc.
However, they had no way of getting plant seeds. They found plants created from
fallen seeds from Jak trees. They had their own plant nursery, and then starting
planting trees in the jungle. Various people visited them, but they had not honest
intention of giving knowledge to the villagers. But, they were interested in getting
their effort joined to a project they were doing.

Environmental problems in the

area

What we learnt was that in our area too, destruction of the jungle created many
problems for the people. Monkeys, chipmunks, peacocks and other animals
invaded the villages and created trouble. Even when we did not have that much
of knowledge about environment, we thought as to why they invaded our village.
They had been living in the mountainous jungles such as Gonadeniya.

Then, we decided on the reforestation. So, we stretched our work beyond the
borders of our village. In the meantime, we learnt and gained a lot of experience
on the environmental groups and the environmentalists. In such a scenario, we
bonded with the Environment and Nature Study Centre as it had the real need
that was absent in other environmental groups and environmentalists.

Very critical of environmental groups, environmentalists

We saw the reality of our experiences during our work previously, only after we
started getting involved at national level. It is unfortunate that most
environmental groups and environmentalists are confined to achieving their
personal objectives and financial needs. I havent seen any other environmental
group getting involved in educating and empowering the public in order for them
to mediate for a change in the field of environment at national level. Everything is
based on money. To be environmentally-friendly, knowledge is essential. But,
environmental groups do everything else except giving knowledge. We may speak
a lot about environment, but days go by without any good happening for
environment. Only the bad happens.

Reason for such a situation

Environment is not an issue. Environmental matters take the shape of our

economical and political natures. That situation has caused the dwindling of
natural resources. That has been happening for a long time. For instance, the
countrys heart is the central hills that affect the countrys weather, biodiversity
and everything else. But, the economical and political interference have resulted
in the central hills failing to store the rainfall. The sensitive environmental systems
are facing grave destruction.

In the central hills alone, we can see more than 300 small hydropower stations.
Alien plants have invaded our environment. Nature has been a victim of massive
development projects too. Also, tea, rubber and coffee plantations have caused
deforestation. Reservations along rivers have been ruined and factories have
come up. Rivers have been blocked to build hydropower stations. Land-filling in
low-lying areas causes flooding. The expressway network has blocked most river
valleys. For example, many hitherto safe areas such as Baddegama in Galle have
are now getting flooded due to the Matara-Hambantota expressway.

This economical and political style has adversely affected our environment. Last
year, many natural calamities happened. It is worse this year. But, even today, no
steps have been taken to conserve environment. The situation will become far
worse next year.

Govt. claims of a natural disaster zone

When something happens, society does not look at the root cause. If we study the
root cause of the recent natural disasters, it is very clear that they were the
doings of environment destruction. Answers should be found how to conserve the
environment to minimize disasters, rather than focusing on the need for disaster
preparedness. But, we know that the successive governments had sold and
destroyed the environment. If we take the national physical plan from 2011 to
2030, the targets are to create naval and aviation centres, economic and tourism
centres etc. It does not talk about environmental conservation or biodiversity. By
now, the national political programme is for a massive environmental destruction.
So, development is today a very dangerous word. People die in landslides. People
die in floods. People lose their homes and have to live at temporary camps. The
rulers are trying to glorify this dangerous devil.
 Turning to healing sick animals
As a person who is interested in nature, I also have interest in how to help
animals. But, I did not have the knowledge in the beginning. That, gap too, was
filled thanks to the Environment and Nature Study Centre. I remember that when
we were small, we did not kill the snakes that came to our Pirivena, but put them
into bottles and take them some other place. But, when a big snake came, we
could not do that. We were afraid or loathed them. This course helped to dispel
that fear and loathing of animals.
Our country is home to around 94 species of snakes. But, only five to six of them
are very poisonous. Others are not so. The course taught me how to catch snakes.
Now, snakes are not killed in the Kuda Bubula and other villages. When we are
informed about any snakes, If we can, we go and catch them and take them to the
jungle. Among them, we find sick snakes. They are treated before being sent to
the jungle.

About the nature school

If we want to protect the environment, we need people who have the knowledge.
When we take education, there is a big absence of teaching environment
conservation while making use of the environment at the same time. Education
tells us only how to use more and more of the environmental resources.
Therefore, the nature school affiliated to the Environment and Nature Study
Centre was opened to fill that gap. Anyone is welcome. There is no racial or
religious difference. Many subjects on environment are taught, in addition to
camps, field trips, dialogues etc.
Education is a tool that can change society. The nature school fulfills the need to
teach us how to create a better environment. It has already created a generation
that thinks similarly.
Ashika Brahmana
Pictures Nishantha Priyadarshana
Posted by Thavam