The Principle of a Symbiosis-The Spiritual Ecology Series

- Part of "The Spiritual Ecology" Series, authored by Master Hsin Tao

In my early childhood, I unfortunately had to witness war and the suffering people had to endure. Oftentimes I reflected on the reasons war breaks out, and always ended up yearning for lasting peace. In my opinion, war has its bedrock in over-consumption-induced greed that escalates to confrontations. How can war be contained from erupting is a major challenge of life for many people and a life-long effort we vow to spare none. Suppose everyone is selfish and ego-centric, forever preoccupied with a death wish for all competitors for the motto “the winner takes all.” It would be far-fetched to think that harmony and co-existence are still possible.
Nevertheless, we venture into the question of harmonious symbiosis and interdependent co-existence. Comparable to ecology's ecosystem, seeds take root in the soil to grow into trees, and the fallen leaves decompose to nurture the soil, which in turn provides seeds with what it takes to repeat life's cycle. The cycle is a circular chain that serves as the baseline of an inter-reliant life community. Karmic coincidence is the Dharma equivalent to chances in probability that accounts for time and space and everything in between. Nothing is ever a unique stand-alone and that says a lot for a symbiosis. Consequently, we must respect all forms of existence for harmony and a shared co-existence.
Many of today's conflicts can be attributed to misunderstanding of each other's religion. In reality, although religions are influenced by different regions and produce diverse cultural beliefs, their purpose is ultimately to improve people's lives. This is a commonality among religions: compassion and Love, which we continually strive to promote. So why do we end up conflicting with each other? Religion should be about coexistence and harmony. It's just that our understanding of life is not comprehensive enough. This has led to the disruption of the Earth's ecology, causing the disappearance of the natural balance that should exist among ecosystems. As a result, the ecological system has become imbalanced and chaotic. Therefore, I created the Museum of World Religions to showcase the manifestation of spiritual ecology that draws its strength from the tripod it stands on -- great love, mega inclusion, and genuine respect.