Buddhism and Consumer Ethics

K. T. S. Sarao

The emerging profit-driven global economy is guided by unbridled development and gigantism. As such, the economy is also increasing its domination over science andtechnology. Moreover, the global economy is overwhelmingly controlled and run bythe intentional development, sale, and consumption of unnecesary commodities. Consumerism proliferates when things are bought, not because people need them, but because they want them.

In this paper, an attempt shall be made to show that the modern economic notion that the more goods are produced, the happier people will be is misplaced. As a point of comparison, a Buddhist economy might be based on the happiness and welfare of the maximum number of people. Not only the inherent value of life itself, but also the interdependence and reciprocity of human and other forms of life, are fundamental Buddhist beliefs. Thus, the relationships between human being and between nature and humanity entail mutual obligations. A living entity can neither isolate itself from this causal nexus nor have an essence of its own.

In the present profit-driven global economic system anything that is economically unprofitable may obliterated. Buddhism takes into account not only the profitability of a given activity, but also its effect upon people and the environment, including the resource base. The vulgar chase of luxury and abundance is a root cause of suffering. By contrast, Buddhism encourages restraint, voluntary simplicity, and contentment. To build a healthy society, liberality and generosity must also be greatly encouraged. A Buddhist concept of economic development avoids gigantism, especially of machines, which tend to control rather than serve human beings. As pointed out by Schumacher, our economy is already big enough and our technologies are too smart and too powerful. What is most needed is streamlining and downsizing, especially cutting weapons production, industries dedicated to wasteful luxuries, and conspicuous consumption as the engine that drives the economy. Instead, technologies need to be more humble, humane, and benign towards the total biosphere. We need to cease trying to satisfy nonmaterial needs with material goods.

Whereas modern economics is based on the ruthless exploitation of nonrenewable resources and recognizes no limits to production and consumption, Buddhist economics is based on renewable resources. Limitless growth and consumption are unsustainable and potentially disastrous. A Buddhist approach to economics distinguishes between misery, sufficiency, and glut. Economic growth is good only to the point of sufficiency. For Buddhists, material satisfaction merely provides a starting point for the pursuit of higher goals. Spiritual health and material well-being are not enemies; they are natural allies.