연기사상에 기초한 불교의 인간이해와 불성사상을 통한 불교의 자연이해는 이원론과 인간중심적 사유를 극복할 방안을 제시해주고 있다. 연기사상은 지혜만을 말하는 것이 아니라 자비와도 밀접한 연관성을 지니고 있으며, 이는 구체적으로 불교전통 안에서 동체대비사상(同體大悲思想)을 통해 드러난다. 이러한 삼라만상의 존재가 하나의 관계망 속에 연결되어 있다는 연기적 존재론에 입각한 동체대비사상은 생태위기의 해결을 위한 지혜를 제공해 줄 수 있다고 본다. 이와 같이 불교의 연기사상과 동체대비사상은 그리스도교를 비롯한 서구사상계가 지닌 이원론적 사고와 인간중심적 사유를 뛰어넘을 수 있는 가능성을 지녔음에도 불구하고, 불교사상은 환경윤리로서 자리매김하기에 몇 가지 취약점을 지니고 있다고 본다. 사회적 실천, 초도덕성, 평등주의, 책임성과 관련된 윤리적 주체문제가 그것이다. 불교가 지닌 이러한 한계점 중 윤리의 주체문제의 대안으로 그리스도교의 ‘청지기 윤리’를 살펴보고자 한다. 21세기를 살아가는 우리에게 요청되는 세계윤리는 하나의 종교나 이데올로기와 같은 전체주의적 통일성의 이념이 아니라, 상이한 세계종교들의 존재와 문화－전통적 다양성 위에 기반을 둔 세계적 구속성을 가진 가치와 이상이다. 불교와 그리스도교, 두 종교 모두 세계도덕으로서의 혜안과 함께 한계성을 지니고 있다는 측면에서 상호보완의 필요성이 요청되고 있다. 이런 점에서 불교와 그리스도교는 현대의 생태위기 문제를 풀어가야 할 책임있는 동반자로서 상호대화를 통해 세계도덕적 혜안을 제시할 수 있다고 본다.

We propose the curative way to overcome eco-crisis through religions. The law of Dependent Origination in Buddhism provides the way to resolve dualism and anthropocentrism. Dependent Origination helps us to recognize that human beings and the other beings are linked as one entity. Dependent Origination is not only a view of wisdom, but it is also a view of compassion. It means that Buddhist enlightenment is completed through the practice of ‘One Body of Great Compassion.’ In this point of view, the idea of the Great Compassion based on the Dependent Origination, offers the possibility of solution to ecocrisis. However, there are a few limitations in Buddhism that could become detrimental to environmental ethics. They are: the problem of social practice, amorality, moral subject in respect of responsibility. How can we address these issues and overcome the problem of amorality and moral subject? We have an answer to these problems in the stewardship ethic of Christianity. This should not be mistaken for “superiority dimension” that humans can have dominion over nature; on the contrary, this involves the “responsibility dimension” that God has handed over to humans the responsibility to guard and protect nature. Human beings as stewards have been imposed with responsibility to take care of the world. So, human beings as collaborators with God are expected to work and care for world, in nature, with nature and through nature.

We propose the curative way to overcome eco-crisis through religions. The law of Dependent Origination in Buddhism provides the way to resolve dualism and anthropocentrism. Dependent Origination helps us to recognize that human beings and the other beings are linked as one entity. Dependent Origination is not only a view of wisdom, but it is also a view of compassion. It means that Buddhist enlightenment is completed through the practice of ‘One Body of Great Compassion.’ In this point of view, the idea of the Great Compassion based on the Dependent Origination, offers the possibility of solution to ecocrisis. However, there are a few limitations in Buddhism that could become detrimental to environmental ethics. They are: the problem of social practice, amorality, moral subject in respect of responsibility. How can we address these issues and overcome the problem of amorality and moral subject? We have an answer to these problems in the stewardship ethic of Christianity. This should not be mistaken for “superiority dimension” that humans can have dominion over nature; on the contrary, this involves the “responsibility dimension” that God has handed over to humans the responsibility to guard and protect nature. Human beings as stewards have been imposed with responsibility to take care of the world. So, human beings as collaborators with God are expected to work and care for world, in nature, with nature and through nature.

Human centered view, Eco-centered view, The law of Dependent Origination in Buddhism, The idea of the Great Compassion based on the Dependent Origination, Stewardship ethic of Christianity, World ethics through interreligious dialogue