On August 23, 2025, IRI Indonesia and the Indonesian Buddhist Community Association (Perwakilan Umat Buddha Indonesia – PERMABUDHI) organized a hybrid Guidebook Launch and Workshop on Faith Teachings and the Role of Viharas in Rainforest Protection, gathering 63 Buddhist leaders — 36 onsite and 27 online — including monks, nuns, administrators, and youth representatives.
The sessions linked Buddhist principles of compassion, mindfulness, and simplicity to ecological responsibility, framing forest protection as a spiritual obligation. Participants explored the concept of Eco-Dhamma and the creation of Green Viharas with meditation gardens, organic farming, and plastic-free initiatives, alongside advocacy for Indigenous rights.
Supported by AMAN, academics, and Buddhist youth organizations, the workshop produced eco-education strategies and vihara-based environmental models, positioning IRI and PERMABUDHI as national pioneers in embedding Buddhist ethics into sustainable environmental leadership.
“Forests are not merely natural resources but a sacred trust. As Buddhists, we must treat the Earth with compassion and responsibility.”
— Prof. Philip Kuntjoro Widjaja, PERMABUDHI
