Declaration at the Huayen Ceremony of Sangha Offerings 

 Immediate Release Great change requires great effort! The increasing frequency of reports of natural disasters around the world is a true reflection of the impermanent nature of nations, and the ever-changing condition of the world.  Yet with the teachings of Buddha, our faith is once again reaffirmed.   Human consciousness can be elevated and transformed. Humanity can come together to rescue the Mother Earth from her suffering before she falls past the point of no return.  We therefore declare this great mission at this Ceremony today! 

Although the causes of the recent increases in the frequency of natural disasters have eluded scientific theories or explanation, we believe that such phenomena are a result of karmic cause and effect – the result of human ignorance and greed.    We have entered a new era of ever accumulating negative karma.   

The karma caused by ignorance and sensory driven desires is manifested in three aspects: 
1.  Withering of humanity and the collapse of spirituality, where self-awareness is entirely absent; 

2.  Severing of natural human relationships;  the Tree of Life has been cut off by the karmic effect produced by ignorance and greed.  People are alienated from one another and harmony is destroyed. 

3.  Destroying the balance between mankind and nature.  Unbridled economic growth has destroyed the natural balance of the planet and polluted the earth.  Ecosystems are destabilized and our natural resources have become unsustainable, increasingly finite and the damage to the environment is irreversible. 

In view of the above, we call upon everyone to quickly put a stop to the root cause of suffering.  What is required is to radically alter our value system on a global scale.  The excesses of our style of economic development are based on false needs.  False needs promote excessive consumption. Excessive consumption demands excessive production. Excessive production creates massive waste and harmful side effects.  On a grand scale, these causes and conditions lead to global pollution and destruction of nature.    Therefore at this ceremony, we call for an immediate stop to the propaganda of economic development at any cost.  Instead, we must adopt a rate of sustainable growth and development based on genuine needs in order to promote contentment and happiness. 

Dear friends, let us work together to rescue Mother Earth.   Let us embark upon this great mission of transforming the world.  Let us act to rectify the damage we have done through our greed, ignorance and misguided values!

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