Before I contribute in the first way here, I would like to clarify what religion I represent. I have been asked at two junctures in this process to contribute, as a Buddhist, to the development of the Earth Charter. No one can speak for the entire Buddhist community, least of all someone like myself. I represent a rather small group of Buddhists, namely Western academic Buddhists. My main academic interest lies in early Buddhist thought, texts, and philosophy, and my religious outlook reflects a heavy influence of Deep Ecology.
Good actions clarify the mind, evil actions cloud it.
One achieves enlightenment through ethical action, guided by compassion, and through the kind of intensive meditation often associated with Buddhist practice. According to Theravada Buddhist tradition, in the first sermon the Buddha gave after he attained enlightenment he taught the Four Noble Truths. The problem the Buddha addressed in his first sermon, and many times afterward, was that in this life we inevitably experience pain mixed in with pleasure. The Buddha's observation applies to all that disappoints us in our lives, from the minor inconveniences and frustrations of daily life, to the more tragic events. He observed that humans can eliminate this problem by seeing the true nature of impermanent things, which eliminates ignorant desire.