An Empowering Merit-based

Buddhist Economy – the Asoke Model in Thailand

Bong C. L.

World Buddhist fellowship, 22-25 December, 2011, Taiwan

Introduction

Wars and conflicts in Middle East; Famines in Africa, etc

Floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunami…

IntroductionOne 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.

The world does not seem to be a safe place – economically or environmentally.

Introduction – Any SolutionsAny 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 & Practicesrapid 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 ChaosAsoke

community Buddhist

way of life spiritual

liberation as the purpose and goal of life,

not pursuit and gratification of sense desires.

How much of the world I spinning now

Pursuit/goal of life - mindless accumulation of material wealth,

in the process man destroys the environment, loses the meaning and

direction of life so that a society of social ills prevails and dominates,

greed and aversion feed on more greed & aversion, delusions are so blinding

Deluded Living, Chaotic WorldCountries 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 livelihoo

d

abundance

Generosity

SharingMerits

Spiritual Goal of

Liberation from

Saṁsāra

Asok

e M

odel

– M

erit-

Base

d Ec

onom

y

Special niche

market for ‘right products’

The Community – StructureMonks, nuns and 5 – 8

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

Com

mun

ity -

Harm

ony

family, company, private or

public institutions, governmen

t

Virtue /

precepts

Shared right view

amiable

deedsAmiabl

e speech

Kind though

ts & intenti

on

Share wealth equally

goodwill

frien

dlin

ess

transparency

Fairn

ess

and

ju

stice

Common welfare

Motivation &

productivity

Spiritual Pursuit & Prosperity of LifeSpiritual liberation-primary

objective & goal of life and livingSimplicity of life style - self-reliant,

diligent, frugal, resourcefulHigh productivity – spiritually &

materiallyAccumulate merits to support

spiritual lifeDenounces wasteful consumerism

that fuels conventional economy that is exploitative and wasteful

Spiritual Pursuit & Prosperity of LifeIn rejecting consumerism cultivate wisdom of non-greed,

non-aversion; cultivating generosity, Brahmavihara

Curbing sense pursuits;Cut out wastages 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 StyleIndependence,

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 StyleConserve 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 StyleLife style

friendly to human and other sentient beings and environment

Sharing Resources; Empowering PeopleShare 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 PeopleTrain and empower people with

the skills to make right living

Training Human ResourcesFuture 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 up their potential

Training Human ResourcesTraining courses – weaving;

traditional skills like healing massage techniques; herbal shampoo; detoxification etc

Sharing AbundanceAbundance of produce is shared

or distributed at or below cost and at clearly labelled profit margin

Sharing AbundanceOperate 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 PracticesMonetary-oriented and profit-based

economic thoughts and practicesProfits 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 EconomySpiritual goal, spiritual wealth

(merits and right living)Prosperity, right products, right

lifeAn 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 fo

r Par

adig

m

ShiftMerit-based market

or economyConventional

market or economy

EthicsSpiritual life

Spiritual & Material prosperity for all

Pureland?

Little ethicsPoverty of spiritual

lifeQuestionable

‘prosperity’ for few at the expense of

majority – wasteland?

Which should one prefer and advocate

Many thanksto all who bring us all together here for a learning experience