asoke buddhist merit based economy wbf bcl
DESCRIPTION
Asoke Buddhist merit-based economy the growth of which is based on right living according to Buddhist teachings.This presentation shows when Buddhist principles are applied correctly and that it is possible to apply them correctly, a win-win conflict-free economy that is vibrant and humanity-centred and nature-friendly can be developed and sustained for the good of oneself, others, the world and nature. In this world that has now been full of conflicts for so many decades, an alternative growth model is required, the Buddhist model is presented.TRANSCRIPT
An Empowering Merit-based
Buddhist Economy –
the Asoke Model in Thailand
Bong C. L. Malaysia
World Buddhist Fellowship, 22-25 December, 2011, Taiwan
Introduction
The world does not seem to
be a safe place – economically
or environmentally.
One financial crisis after
another hits one country or
region after another, Japan,
South Korea of East Asia,
ASEAN, USA, Greece, Italy,
Spain of Europe, on and on.
Introduction
Wars and conflicts in Middle East; Famines
in Africa, etc
Floods, hurricanes, earthquakes,
tsunami…
Introduction – Any Solutions
Any solutions in
sight? Try Asoke
Model
founded by Venerable
Bodhiraksa more
than thirty years ago.
9 well-established
major centres +
many smaller
communities spread
throughout Thailand.
Asoke Community & Practices
rapid yet sustainable growth as a socio-
economically successful independent and
upright community
serves humanity, nurtures and replenishes
rather than selfishly exploits man, resources and
nature as seen in traditional economy
based on their advocacy and practice of a
return to Buddhist way of life, the purpose and
goal of which is spiritual liberation, not in
pursuit of sense desires.
Asoke Harmony and World Chaos
Asoke community returns to Buddhist way of life
with spiritual liberation as the purpose and goal of
life, not pursuit and gratification of sense desires.
contrasts sharply with what is commonly
occurring now, - pursuit or goal of life is the
mindless accumulation of material wealth, and in
the process man destroys the environment, loses
the meaning and direction of life so that a society
of social ills prevails and dominates, where greed
feeds on more greed, where aversion burns ever
so strongly, and delusions are so blinding
Deluded Living, Chaotic World
Countries invaded, numerous lives lost and more
put in misery; nature and environment destroyed
just because some deluding and greedy groups of
people want control of certain resources.
financial crisis hitting one country after another,
one region after another.
Obviously there is something fundamentally
wrong that drives this world and its economy -
endless and mindless pursuit and accumulation of
material wealth without giving back is not only
unsustainable but destructive to mind and body.
ASOKE MODEL OF MERIT-BASED
ECONOMY
Spiritual cultivation and liberation from Saṁsāra – Meaning and Goal of Life
Right livelihood
abundance
Generosity Sharing
Merits
Spiritual Goal of
Liberation from
Saṁsāra
Aso
ke M
odel – M
eri
t-B
ased E
conom
y
Special
niche
market for
‘right
products’
The Community – Structure
Monks, nuns and 5-10
precepts householders
with the monastics
forming the core
Community formed to
support right living for
the pursuit of spiritual
goal of liberation from
saṁsāra.
The Community – Life Style
simple, relatively austere
lifestyle that trains in
Reducing greed, aversion
and delusion;
denounces consumerism
and wastages of
resources;
Promotes Buddhist
values eg generosity,
diligence and self-reliance,
Cultivates Brahmavihara
The C
om
munity
- H
arm
ony
family, company, private or
public institutions, government
Virtue /
precepts
Shared right view
amiable deeds
Amiable speech
Kind thoughts
& intention
Share wealth equally
goodwill
frie
ndlin
ess
transparency
Fai
rness
and
just
ice
Common welfare
Motivation & productivity
Spiritual Pursuit & Prosperity of Life
Simplicity of life style - self-reliant, diligent,
frugal, resourceful
High productivity – spiritually & materially
Spiritual liberation-primary objective &
goal of life and living
Accumulate merits to support spiritual life
Denounces wasteful consumerism that
fuels conventional economy that is
exploitative and wasteful
Spiritual Pursuit & Prosperity of Life
In rejecting consumerism
cultivate wisdom of non-greed, non-
aversion; cultivating generosity,
Brahmavihara
Curbing sense pursuits;
Cut out wastage on unnecessary materials
eg cosmetics, fashion wears, etc
Conserve energy & resources more
wealth (by-product of spiritual pursuit)
generated for the community
Productive & Green Life Style
Independence, self-
reliance and
sufficiency through
‘use what we
produce; produce
what we use’
Grow their own
foods – rice
mushroom, herbs,
vegetables, etc
Productive & Green Life Style Conserve food and green renewable
resources for present and future
generations’ needs for foods, timber & fuel
eg forests of timber and groves of bamboo
of different needs for housing, fuel & foods;
herbal gardens
Life style friendly to human and other
sentient beings and environment
Productive & Green Life Style
Life style friendly to
human and other
sentient beings and
environment
Sharing Resources; Empowering People
Share resources – organic fertilizers; raw
materials eg rice bran, rice husks at cost
Transfer locally developed technology for
free – designs and fabrication of farm
machineries; reconditioning soils destroyed
by unsustainable agriculture practices;
weaving; training, formulae and designs
given freely
Sharing Resources; Empowering People
Train and empower people with the skills
to make right living
Training Human Resources
Future generations: set up and operate
their own schools to train children and
youths in right living according to
Buddhist teachings; giving them living
skills; building their potential
Training Human Resources
Training courses – weaving; traditional
skills like healing massage techniques;
herbal shampoo; detoxification etc
Sharing Abundance
Abundance of produce is shared or
distributed at or below cost and at clearly
labelled profit margin
Sharing Abundance
Operate their own superstore to serve
their own and outside communities –
provide space for local products; products
sold at lowest prices possible
Service provided not for material profit
but for supporting right living or spiritual
life.
Niche Market for ‘Right products’
Special niche markes for ‘right products’ is
now growing – demands for organic foods;
for products produced with wholesome
spirits
Niche Market for ‘Right products’
Merit-based economy thus created is
expanding as people naturally support
wholesomeness
The Asoke model proves that an economy
that runs on merits and wholesomeness is
viable and sustainable, and seems capable
of limitless growth.
Conventional Business Practices
Monetary-oriented and profit-based economic thoughts and practices
Profits and more profit in terms of dollars at every point of transaction, with little regards for serving humanity if any, more likely severe exploitation of human potential and natural resources to the detriments of all – medical bills multiply, people and environment are more sick than healthy
Market and economy run unsustainably on greed and delusion!!!!
Aoke Merit-based Economy
Spiritual goal, spiritual wealth (merits and
right living)
Prosperity, right products, right life
An ever-expanding niche market built and
run on wholesomeness of producers and
consumers
Instrumental in generating and
expanding the field of wholesomeness
pureland of market economy?!?
Tim
e for
Par
adig
m S
hift
Merit-based market or economy
Conventional market or economy
Ethics
Spiritual life
Spiritual & Material prosperity for all
Pureland?
Little ethics
Poverty of spiritual life
Questionable ‘prosperity’ for few at
the expense of majority – wasteland?
Which should one prefer and advocate
Many thanks to all who bring us all together here for a learning experience