BUDDHIST APPROACH AND HAPPINESS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The world’s development has faced crises in all aspects: economics, social, and environment. This calls for a new paradigm for development. While conventional development model has led to individual and social confl icts, Buddhist approach to development can be applied for more peaceful, harmonious, and happy societies. The paper proposes the new concept of Buddhist Sustainable Development (BSD), which is human-centered sustainable development, driven by inner happiness. By applying Buddhist concepts, human beings can be happy with low rates of consumption and resource utilization as well as more compassion and loving kindness towards others and nature. This development direction contrasts to that of Western economic theories which promote self-centeredness, competition, consumption and accumulation, and consequently resource exploitation. This BSD concept, supported by a Buddhist system integrating dhamma into development provides a new pathway for sustainability, with right views for living and true happiness, moderation in consumption and life style, understanding the interdependence of all beings and nature, leading towards caring for nature for humanity’s well-being. The paper also discusses why the existing conventional framework of sustainable development is ineffective and how BSD can be a solution to the world’s development problems.