The Goals of Buddhist Economics

Abstract

This paper has two objectives: 1.to present Buddhist economics and 2.to present goals of Buddhist economics. Buddhist economics is the application of Buddhist teachings to economics by presenting two levels of Buddhist economic principles. These are (1) Principles of Response (To satisfy), that is, teaching people to seek amenities in their daily lives, such as the four needs of human to satisfy their needs sufficiently, to create         

stability in their well-being. This is in order to support and encourage human beings to perform good virtues more conveniently. (2) Principle of healing (To subdue) includes teaching humans how to alleviate their needs or lessen their quest for something to satisfy their needs. If human attempts to alleviate an intense need, that need will eventually turn into lust (lust). If man only satisfies one's desire (lust), then one cannot solve economic problems because of lust. Human needs are unlimited, while the resources available to meet human needs are limited. Buddhist economics therefore proposes that individuals limit or control their own needs to suit the limited natural resources, which is the true goal of Buddhist economics.