Skip to main content
Language

Buddhism for Modern Competitive Society

Now humans are living in the 21st century, and the society in this century is totally different from the ancient world. Modern man is rapidly reaping the good and bad results of his scientific progress. We are not entitled to say that ancient man is better than modern man, but it seems that modern man is going to face the dangers of war-games and many socio-economic and other political problems. Needless to say, the world in which we live today is highly complicated and confused with many tangles (jatas).

The Concept of Attha and Buddhist Economic Philosophy

The Pāli term attha (artha in Sanskrit) has many meanings, viz., profit, advantage, prosperity, welfare, well-being, and success. Generally speaking, the word ‘attha’ as success relates to the various aspects of man’s social and economic development -- such as the economy, politics, education, health, law, and morality of society. It refers to economic development and social progress due to the harmonious unification of all the above factors and it contributes to the peaceful co-existence and prosperity of a people.

Appendix II: Meditation on Loving-Kindness

May I be free from enmity, disease and grief and may I take care of myself happily.

As I am, so also may my teachers, preceptors, parents, intimate, indifferent and inimical beings, be free from enmity, disease and grief, and may they take care of themselves happily!

May they be released from suffering! 
May they not be deprived of their fortune, duly acquired! 
May all living beings be free from emnity, disease and grief and may they take care of themselves happily!