The vibrant hues of a saffron robe, a stark contrast to the somber grey of the ocean, caught Maya’s eye. She was volunteering at a coastal cleanup, a grim task made heavier by the sheer volume of plastic waste. As she meticulously sorted through discarded bottles and fishing nets, a thought struck her: the saffron robe, a symbol of Buddhist faith and renunciation, was now juxtaposed with the stark reality of human consumption and its devastating impact on the environment. This juxtaposition wasn’t merely aesthetic; it represented a profound conflict between spiritual ideals and the materialistic reality of modern life. Maya’s grandmother, a devout Buddhist nun, had always emphasized the importance of mindfulness and detachment. She often spoke of the impermanence of all things, a central tenet of Buddhist philosophy, and how acceptance of death was essential for true serenity. This philosophy, however, seemed to clash with the overwhelming evidence of environmental destruction. The relentless accumulation of plastic waste, a testament to humanity’s disregard for the planet, seemed to mock the idea of impermanence; this waste, after all, stubbornly persisted, poisoning the oceans for generations to come. Maya wondered if the traditional emphasis on spiritual renunciation, often reflected in simple clothing and austere lifestyles, was adequate to address the scale of the environmental crisis. Could an individual's personal commitment to minimalism truly counter the global forces driving pollution? Was the acceptance of death, a core element of spiritual peace, compatible with the fight to preserve the planet for future generations? The sheer volume of pollution felt like an insurmountable obstacle, a stark reminder of humanity's destructive power. The serene image of her grandmother, clad in her saffron robe, meditating amidst the chaos, became a potent symbol of both the enduring power of spiritual belief and the daunting challenge of reconciling faith with the ecological catastrophe unfolding around her. The weight of these questions—the conflict between religious traditions, environmental degradation, and the acceptance of death and impermanence—left Maya pondering as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the beach strewn with plastic debris. The beauty of the setting sun was marred by the ugly reality of human negligence.
1. What is the central conflict explored in the passage?
2. What does the juxtaposition of the saffron robe and the plastic waste symbolize?
3. According to the passage, what aspect of Buddhist philosophy seems particularly challenged by the scale of environmental destruction?
4. What is Maya's primary internal conflict?