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Desire, consumption, and wealth
Sunday, July 17, 2005
America is a desire based culture. We are taught from cradle to grave to consume. If we don't consume we are led to believe that our civilization will collapse in several business cycles.
Well, we know deep down inside this is hogwash. The wealth of a nation is not based on how much its citizens stuff down their throats or how much property they own. Nor is the wealth of a nation exclusively determined by how much money a nation has either. The wealth of a nation is based upon a number of qualitative factors—not just quantity.
At issue, is the whole idea that a nation can generate wealth based on desire. Desire is the root cause of suffering according to the Buddha. Nor does Buddhism think it makes any sense to to adhere to the theory that consumption equals wealth. There is a great deal of harm done to both individuals and society when desire based consumption is made the norm which gives rise to exploitation.
In Buddhism we are taught that the wise should gain wealth like a bee, without hurting the flower. This means that we should respect and protect the many sources of wealth such artistic wealth, technological wealth, intellectual wealth, spiritual wealth, and scientific wealth. There are additional sources of wealth which need protecting as well, the most important of which is our environment.
There is people wealth also, which needs to be respected and protected. Our institutions of higher learning need to be enriched, maintained, and strengthened. These institutions are great sources of wealth, too, because the people they graduate are given the tools by which to solve the many problems that can undermine the vitality of nation.
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Desire, consumption, and wealth
America is a desire based culture. We are taught from cradle to grave to consume. If we don't consume we are led to believe that our civilization will collapse in several business cycles.
Well, we know deep down inside this is hogwash. The wealth of a nation is not based on how much its citizens stuff down their throats or how much property they own. Nor is the wealth of a nation exclusively determined by how much money a nation has either. The wealth of a nation is based upon a number of qualitative factors—not just quantity.
At issue, is the whole idea that a nation can generate wealth based on desire. Desire is the root cause of suffering according to the Buddha. Nor does Buddhism think it makes any sense to to adhere to the theory that consumption equals wealth. There is a great deal of harm done to both individuals and society when desire based consumption is made the norm which gives rise to exploitation.
In Buddhism we are taught that the wise should gain wealth like a bee, without hurting the flower. This means that we should respect and protect the many sources of wealth such artistic wealth, technological wealth, intellectual wealth, spiritual wealth, and scientific wealth. There are additional sources of wealth which need protecting as well, the most important of which is our environment.
There is people wealth also, which needs to be respected and protected. Our institutions of higher learning need to be enriched, maintained, and strengthened. These institutions are great sources of wealth, too, because the people they graduate are given the tools by which to solve the many problems that can undermine the vitality of nation.
thezennist at 5:10:00 PM EDT Blog about this entry |
Add to del.icio.us | digg this
