Papers by C. R . Nunamaker
Forest Stewardship Series 6: Forest Vegetation Management, 2007
Part 6 of the 24-part Forest Stewardship Series. The Forest Stewardship Series is a 24-part free ... more Part 6 of the 24-part Forest Stewardship Series. The Forest Stewardship Series is a 24-part free online publication that provides owners of California forestland with a comprehensive source of information pertinent to the management and enjoyment of their lands. This information will help you formulate and implement strategies for achieving your personal goals as a landowner. The series provides an introduction to the lifelong study of forest stewardship that is part of owning forest property.
Forest Stewardship Series 15: Wildfire and Fuel Management, 2007
Every forest landowner in California should be well aware of the warning "It' s not if, it' s whe... more Every forest landowner in California should be well aware of the warning "It' s not if, it' s when" a fire will affect your property. California' s forests have evolved with fire, so living in the forest or managing forest lands means anticipating and preparing for fire. This publication gives you background information about fire and fuel management as well as some practices that can help reduce the risk of a catastrophic wildfire occurring on your property.
An essential part of forest stewardship involves the careful planning and management of young tre... more An essential part of forest stewardship involves the careful planning and management of young trees and seedlings. When an opening has been created in the forest canopy, either from timber harvest or following a natural disturbance event such as windstorm or fire, there is an opportunity to influence what plants or trees will become established and thrive. In some situations, natural regeneration will occur in the opening when nearby trees drop seed, reducing the need to plant. In other situations, planting seedlings may be of value. Ensuring adequate regeneration and sustained productivity is at the heart of any scientific silvicultural system. The California Forest Practice Act requires that landowners regenerate their forest after a timber harvest or leave it in a stocked condition with reserved trees. It is required that a stand have a minimum number of trees within 5 years following harvest, and stand conditions are monitored by a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) inspector. Planning before harvest will go a long way toward reducing costs and quickly securing adequate regeneration, as today' s seedlings will become tomorrow' s crop trees. Re S oURC eS Public agencies Several public agencies can offer information or assistance on vegetation management issues and restoration. California Department of Fish and Game (DFG). A state agency that manages California' s wetlands, wildlife habitats, and ecosystems. See their Web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov. California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE). A state agency that provides fire protection and natural resource management services. They have seedlings available for sale. Local units can be reached under the State Government listings in the telephone book or at the CAL FIRE Web site, http://www.fire.ca.gov.
Decisions regarding roads are among the most important that you as a forest landowner can make. A... more Decisions regarding roads are among the most important that you as a forest landowner can make. Although roads are essential for the management of your forest, poorly located or poorly functioning roads can significantly and adversely impact water quality and plant and wildlife habitat and can cause erosion both on and off of your property. These roads are also expensive to maintain and repair. This publication provides an overview of the following topics:
Master's Dissertation, University of South Wales, 2019
The Mahā-Maṅgala Sutta (Sn 258-269) is an important Buddhist text well-known and oft-used in Asia... more The Mahā-Maṅgala Sutta (Sn 258-269) is an important Buddhist text well-known and oft-used in Asia, but it is much less familiar to Western Buddhists. Through documents-based research of primary and secondary sources in English, Pāli, and Chinese, as well as interviews with senior Western Dhamma teachers, this dissertation aims to provide greater understanding of the Mahā-Maṅgala Sutta (MMS) by addressing the content and contexts of the Mahā-Maṅgala Sutta, exploring its authenticity, historical and current uses, and assessing its potential for greater integration into Western Buddhist practice.
Placement of the Mahā-Maṅgala Sutta and its closely-related texts in the Pāli Canon is outlined, and the authenticity of the MMS as an early text is analysed. Historical context of the sutta (sūtra) is presented, focusing on transmission and its use in edification and devotional practice in Southern Buddhism. The existence and significance of related Tibetan and Chinese texts are reviewed.
Discussion of hermeneutics focuses on four elements of 'improvisational hermeneutics’: author and author’s intention, text, interpreter, and interpretive community (Benson, 2006: 200-204). These elements are considered in the context of an ‘improvisational Buddhist hermeneutic’ and applied to the MMS, using early Buddhist texts to identify key themes in the Buddha’s early teaching, addressing challenges in translating the MMS into English, reviewing previous MMS interpretations, and broadly overviewing how Buddhist interpretive communities currently use the sutta.
Information based on interviews with seven senior Dhamma teachers is presented, including: current uses and key aspects of the sutta, obstacles and challenges to its use, and opportunities. Opportunities are related to Benson’s improvisational hermeneutics and include: improving translations, fostering fuller understanding of the role of ethics, reframing ‘simple’ as worthwhile, and encouraging openness and diligence. The strength of the MMS as a key teaching is affirmed by the respondents’ average rating of the MMS as 9.36 of 10.00 for potential usefulness in teaching. This study concludes that the MMS is a highly useful and currently under-utilised text in terms of Western Buddhist practice.
This paper examines Buddhist teachings as they relate to economics, a central aspect of worldly l... more This paper examines Buddhist teachings as they relate to economics, a central aspect of worldly life, and focuses on capitalism as it is a highly influential modern economic system. To what extent is a capitalist economy compatible with Buddhist teachings, and how do teachings of the Pāli Canon inform engagement with it? These questions are addressed centering on lay activity in the lay economy.
This paper takes a ‘fundamentalist’ view of Buddhist ethics as described by Keown (2001, pp.xiv-xv), considering not only Pāli Canon scriptures but also what Buddhaghosa termed ‘in conformity with scripture’ (Keown, 2001, p.14). So although the Buddha never addressed macroeconomics as it exists today, from his guidance on household management one can extrapolate much that is relevant to modern economics.
Section I of this paper aims to clear up a serious and longstanding misunderstanding about the basic Buddhist orientation towards wealth. Section II examines core aspects of capitalist economies and their compatibility with Buddhist teachings of the Pāli Canon. Section III provides guidance from those Buddhist teachings that inform engagement in modern capitalism and includes examples from Japan and the UK.
In recent years, a new business sector has emerged: social enterprise. Social enterprises focus o... more In recent years, a new business sector has emerged: social enterprise. Social enterprises focus on a social or environmental mission rather than simply maximizing profits. In the UK, social enterprise is understood to be unlike a charity in that it has a profit motive. But it is unlike a traditional corporation in that its primary directive is to further its social or environmental mission. The aim of social enterprise is not to maximise profits for external shareholdres, but rather to improve wellbeing for humans and the natural world. Income comes from trading activity, grants, donations, or other sources. This paper proposes that social enterprise is a business form especially well‐suited to Buddhists, given its ethical foundation of commitment to social or environmental missions. It explores what social enterprise is, some of its distinguishing characteristics, and its relevance to Buddhism. The paper further proposes several ways in which the Buddhist community and social enterprises might look to identify and strengthen connections for mutual benefit.
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Papers by C. R . Nunamaker
Placement of the Mahā-Maṅgala Sutta and its closely-related texts in the Pāli Canon is outlined, and the authenticity of the MMS as an early text is analysed. Historical context of the sutta (sūtra) is presented, focusing on transmission and its use in edification and devotional practice in Southern Buddhism. The existence and significance of related Tibetan and Chinese texts are reviewed.
Discussion of hermeneutics focuses on four elements of 'improvisational hermeneutics’: author and author’s intention, text, interpreter, and interpretive community (Benson, 2006: 200-204). These elements are considered in the context of an ‘improvisational Buddhist hermeneutic’ and applied to the MMS, using early Buddhist texts to identify key themes in the Buddha’s early teaching, addressing challenges in translating the MMS into English, reviewing previous MMS interpretations, and broadly overviewing how Buddhist interpretive communities currently use the sutta.
Information based on interviews with seven senior Dhamma teachers is presented, including: current uses and key aspects of the sutta, obstacles and challenges to its use, and opportunities. Opportunities are related to Benson’s improvisational hermeneutics and include: improving translations, fostering fuller understanding of the role of ethics, reframing ‘simple’ as worthwhile, and encouraging openness and diligence. The strength of the MMS as a key teaching is affirmed by the respondents’ average rating of the MMS as 9.36 of 10.00 for potential usefulness in teaching. This study concludes that the MMS is a highly useful and currently under-utilised text in terms of Western Buddhist practice.
This paper takes a ‘fundamentalist’ view of Buddhist ethics as described by Keown (2001, pp.xiv-xv), considering not only Pāli Canon scriptures but also what Buddhaghosa termed ‘in conformity with scripture’ (Keown, 2001, p.14). So although the Buddha never addressed macroeconomics as it exists today, from his guidance on household management one can extrapolate much that is relevant to modern economics.
Section I of this paper aims to clear up a serious and longstanding misunderstanding about the basic Buddhist orientation towards wealth. Section II examines core aspects of capitalist economies and their compatibility with Buddhist teachings of the Pāli Canon. Section III provides guidance from those Buddhist teachings that inform engagement in modern capitalism and includes examples from Japan and the UK.