The Buddhist Perspective on Sustainable Development

Abstract

The present-day profit-orientated global economic system in which moral sentiments are viewed as irrelevant is overwhelmingly controlled and run by consumerism and salespersons. It is fuelled by greed, profiteering, competition and selfishness, leading to environmental degradation, wastage and inequality. In this paper, an attempt has been made to show that, from a Buddhist perspective, the direction in which the world is moving would make it impossible to attain sustainable development. There is an urgent need not only to examine our attitudes and lifestyles but also our policies. From a Buddhist perspective, the primary criterion governing policy formulation must be the well-being of the members of society as a whole. Buddhism views the vulgar chase of luxury and abundance as the root-cause of suffering and encourages restraint, voluntary simplicity and contentment with the minimum. A new relationship must be established between people and nature - one of co-operation, not exploitation. Production must serve the real needs of the people, not the demands of the economic system.