Buddhist view on capitalism and consumerism

[Ajay0]

 

 Insightful article on the Buddhist view on capitalism and consumerism...

 

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According to the Buddhist point of view, consumption is simply a means to human well-being. However when one indulges for the purpose of feeding desires, this can lead to ignorance and an increase in suffering.  Such process is succinctly described by Bhikkhu Bodhi (2000, 18-19): “ignorance infiltrates our cognitive systems; it issues in a series of “distortions” (vipall?sa) which infect our perception (sañña), thinking (citta), and views (di??hi). The Buddha mentions four such distortions: the notions that impermanent is permanent, that the painful (or suffering) is pleasant; that the insubstantial is a self, and that the unbeautiful is beautiful… Finally… we adopt views... that affirm the mistaken notions of permanence, pleasure, selfhood, and beauty.”

Such distorted views lead to suffering in man and hoarding of wealth in order to satisfy the limitless desires.

 

In Buddhism, wealth itself is not evil, but man’s endless craving for wealth is the challenging issue at hand. While the materialist person is mainly interested in accumulating goods, a practicing Buddhist is mainly interested in liberation. Contentment is truly of great wealth. And wisdom is better than wealth as it leads to the highest goal in this life.

 

 

Wealth destroys the foolish; but it cannot destroy those who seek the other shore (i.e., Nibbana/enlightenment). By his craving for wealth the fool destroys himself, as he would destroy others. ~ Buddha (Dhammapada Verse 355)

Here Buddha states that wealth earned by righteous means with the goal of enlightenment is conducive to human well-being and wisdom, while craving for wealth (for the mere satisfaction of desires) is bound to be destructive to himself and others and is of the nature of foolishness.

 

 Joan Tollifson had also written on the relationship between capitalism and addictive behaviors, which had been put in this thread...

 

[deci belle]

This pretty much expresses a general taoist view of sexual commodities, as well.