The Dharma-Ending Age: The Climate Crisis through the Lens of Buddhist Eschatology, Past and Present

The unprecedented number of global crises is casting a shadow on the future of humanity, all of which seem to augur that the dharma-ending age (mofa 末法) described in Buddhist classics is now silently approaching us. At this crossroad, the climate crisis may wield the most immediate impacts for the world. Buddhism may prove to possess unique insights to address this urgent global challenge. It has been Buddhism’s perennial concern to seek harmonious co-existence between human beings and nature by curbing their desires in pursuit of a simplicity of life, and seeking a beneficial reciprocity with nature. This international conference will explore various themes on how Buddhism and humanity can address the current environmental crisis and jointly face this unprecedented challenge.