Have them think about ecological concepts they ve learned in previous lessons, other classes, or by observing the natural environment near home. Have students watch the video, paying particular attention to the following clips concerning Buddhism and ecology. Ask them to pay close attention to the allegory that the artist is depicting in his painting and to listen carefully when that story is told. After watching the video, ask them what aspects of Buddhism the video discussed. Have a few students explain the allegory of the Four Harmonious Friends to make sure that all students understand what this story is about.
Narrators can then explain the story to the class.
Students will now use the Internet to further investigate Buddhism and ecology. Tell them that they ll be finding some more information about Buddhism but that they ll also visit two Web sites that provide general information about ecological principles. Explain that the concept of interrelatedness is a principle of ecology and, while it s a major tenet of Buddhism, it s also based in science and is therefore not purely a religious belief. In other words, they don t have to be Buddhist to appreciate the interrelatedness of living things. In groups or individually, students should go to the following Web sites and answer the questions given for each site.