Abstract
The world is currently facing an unprecedented environmental crisis. The natural, social, and economic costs of ecological degradation have reached such a point that the question of how to ensure development continues along a more sustainable path has become one of the most pressing issues of our time. Recently, a growing number of scholars and environmental activists have suggested a possible affinity between Asian religious traditions and environmentalism, arguing that these traditions can serve as the foundation for a more sustainable future. While it is beyond the scope of this thesis to reply conclusively to this claim, I use it as a point of departure for an exploration of how one Asian religious movement—the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation— has attempted to engage with the environmental challenges of the modern era. I pay particular attention to how Tzu Chi’s identity as a humanistic Buddhist movement influences its approach to environmental work; Tzu Chi, I argue, draws upon both the Buddhist tradition as well as more recent trends in Chinese religious philanthropy to produce a robust eco- theology that positions environmentalism as a legitimate space for humanistic Buddhist action. Tzu Chi’s humanistic character, furthermore, influences how its volunteers understand and derive meaning from their work. By adopting the aspirational identity of real-world, environmental bodhisattvas, Tzu Chi volunteers engage with the humanistic tradition to find meaning in everyday acts of environmental service.