Buddhist Economics

[Mountain Lion]

This is for those who've missed the following source introduced in another thread: Small is Beautiful (To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.), by Ernest Schumacher. If you have the chance to familiarize yourself with the subject, your ideas and opinions would be welcomed.


The Buddhist point of view takes the function of work to be at least threefold: to give man a chance to utilise and develop his faculties; to enable him to overcome his ego-centredness by joining with other people in a common task; and to bring forth the goods and services needed for a becoming existence. Again, the consequences that flow from this view are endless. To organise work in such a manner that it becomes meaningless, boring, stultifying, or nerve-racking for the worker would be little short of criminal; it would indicate a greater concern with goods than with people, an evil lack of compassion and a soul-destroying degree of attachment to the most primitive side of this worldly existence. Equally, to strive for leisure as an alternative to work would be considered a complete misunderstanding of one of the basic truths of human existence, namely that work and leisure are complementary parts of the same living process and cannot be separated without destroying the joy of work and the bliss of leisure.

[quentin]

Is a contradiction in terms. Buddhism is inherently anti-materialistic.

Do you actually take this stuff seriously?

[Mr Galt]

So far I have seen you do nothing but quote passages from other people.

Do you have your own opinions?

[Mountain Lion]

Is a contradiction in terms. Buddhism is inherently anti-materialistic.
You haven't read the article! :blank:

Sorry, I will ignore personal questions.

[Jerry]

I have the book. I have never read it. I will someday.

[eMachine]

I really enjoyed reading that link. I think the values of 'Buddhist economics' seem far more rational to me than our economy of materialism and consumerism in so-called 'modern' countries. Quality of life can not be measured by how much a person buys, not at all... in America this buy-buy-buy mindset is getting many of us little more than debt-debt-debt and what sort of quality does that add to our lives?

I think in our society of "faster and easier" products and technology, we have even less time to enjoy anything... I know that doesn't make sense to some people, but I think it's true. It seems like 100 years ago, when everything was simpler, people were actually less stressed. It may be a wrong perception. I just think that it's a bummer how much of a hurry everyone is in, no one seems to have time enough to stop and look around or to actually enjoy anything that they do.

So, I respect the way the buddhists see it, and I hope they do not become tainted by the west. I think that everyone should be able to enjoy their job and it should be something that a person can respect themself for, rather than just a place one goes everyday to make a living. By the way, when you live all your life trying to make a living, when do you actually get to live? A week or two of paid vacation once a year, IF your employer is generous?

Sorry, I've watched everyone around me slave that way, growing up in a rural community with mostly service or industry jobs. The buddhists have a better way of thinking and I applaud them for it.

[Agile]

On one hand, the author projects his/her own views on the purpose of clothing, which I disagree with. (Fine if you agree, but equally fine if you do not, IMO) At the same time, I see the author's point (of maximizing well-being and minimizing toil).

Buddhism appealed to me a few years ago, but I did not pursue it as I encountered restrictions on sexual expression in it's fundamental tenets, which I did not agree with. Probably not a good reason to throw the entire thing out, but hey, I find that Christianity has similar problems, and since I was born into that, I did not see why I should voluntarily repeat the same mistake.

My belief is that if a relgion can make you happy, it is worth your attention. I have yet to see one which is worthy.

Obsessive materialism is just as negative as obsessive moderation.

[ArchonAlarion]

Why do people need to give up their self to the group? Why? Why? Why? Why?

There is no real reason, just old, worn out, evil, collectivist rhetoric.

[Nemesys]

Why do people need to give up their self to the group? Why? Why? Why? Why?

There is no real reason, just old, worn out, evil, collectivist rhetoric.

The individual doesn't need to give himself up to the group.

But if he doesn't, it's very unlikely that the group will give itself up to the individual.

"Choose, and perish." - Gozer the Traveler

[thod]

Buddhist economics?

How about the economy then? look deeper child, there is no economy
1+1 = 2 ? That is an illusion, there is only one, 1+1 = a greater one.

[ArchonAlarion]

Buddhist economics?

How about the economy then? look deeper child, there is no economy
1+1 = 2 ? That is an illusion, there is only one, 1+1 = a greater one.

Dude, that is BS in its finest form.

Don't argue against math please, especially simple math.

You will lose horribly.