CONSUMERISM: ITS SIDE EFFECTS ON ENVIRONMENT BUDDHIST WAY

CONSUMERISM: ITS SIDE EFFECTS ON ENVIRONMENT AND REMEDIES THROUGH BUDDHIST WAY

Ven. Dr. Dhammapiya

Secretary General, International Buddhist Confederation

Advisor, Subharti School of Buddhist Studies

Abstract

In the present paper, while discussing consumerism, we will try to analyze its basic ideology, its consequences on human life and on our insufficient natural resources. Our unquenchable desire to have more and more have accelerated the process of depletion of natural resources. Furthermore, we have tried to understand Buddhist approach more exactly, 'containment of lust', and 'wants to a limit’.

Keywords : Buddha’s thought, consumerism, western materialism, ecological ambience, biodiversity, natural resources and ecosystem.

 The effect of ecological degradation is now well felt worldwide, one of the factors responsible for it is consumerism. We have accepted our approaches to life as that of western style and materialism. The western materialism is based on maximum production and maximum consumption, which results in maximum wastage. This attitude to life leads to consumerism giving life to materialistic development and utmost consumption of the resources available but disturbing the ecological ambience.

In this paper, while discussing consumerism, we have tried to analyse its basic ideology, its consequences on human life and on our insufficient natural resources. Our unquenchable desire to have more and more have accelerated the process of depletion of natural resources. Furthermore, we have tried to understand Buddhist approach more exactly, 'containment of lust', and 'wants to a limit’.

Buddha’s thought to containment of desires is relevant in the rapidly depleting natural resources, bio­diversity and eco-system. There should be judicious shift from a consumer society to conserver society. This appears to be the demand of modern age. 

The evils cropped up due to the consumerism are - mass production, use of heavy machinery and modern technology, procurement of raw material in large quantity, use of excessive energy and bulk finish production, transportation, storage involves large ware houses and creation of huge wastage, leads to environmental degradation.

The causes for the consumerism are – a) multiplicity of needs and wants.

The human needs are proliferated. Needs are ever increasing. b) The cravings and lust which are tormenting elements of human soul. c) The propensity to accumulate commodities cramp the soul and degenerate into the morbid desire to make a fetish of external goods of life. d) Human desires to over power the nature. This will alienate the man from nature.

Buddhist doctrine proclaims that the ego-self is nonexistent (anatta). It is a fabrication of the human mind, an illusion sustained by language and by abstraction from reality. A major consequence of such abstraction is the failure to perceive the essential impermanence of all compounded things (anicca).

It is ended with the conclusion of Buddha’s thought for curbing multiple wants. This is possible only when individual completely change from inside out and take non violent path for which human beings should be spiritual.¹

There are two well known approaches to life. One is personified in the well-known saying of the William Roscher (a German Professor), "Every advance in culture made by man finds expression in an increase in the number and in the keenness of his rational wants."

The other is summed up in the Indian spiritual ideal of a watchful restraint.  The nature sets limits. It requires a person to contain himself within its capacity. Thus, the emphasis is on self-control and limitation of wants. Mechanised Industry knows no such limitation. Its law is one of progressive increase. Those who laid down the pattern of eastern ancient culture could not accept the notion that culture increases with the increase in the number of man's wants and their satisfaction. Before explaining, it is necessary to explain the western modern life style, more exactly the consumerism.^2,3

Thus, consumerism aims at having more and more of everything. This is the stage where distinction between real and unreal is blurred, more correctly, it gets diminished. It is here, we find the validity of Buddha’s divine, ethical and moral teachings which get the greatest significance. The reckless exploitation of natural resources will endanger the coming generation on this earth.

Mahatma Gandhi explained the phenomena of exploitation of natural resources through alienation also. He was of the opinion that the more nature was over-powered, the more alienated man will become from nature. He simultaneously wanted to focus on the relationship between man and his natural environment which would end exploitation. But this alienation of man from nature has also paved the way of alienation from himself also. His true self is what man can discover through the. 

The human needs are proliferated. Needs are ever increasing. b) The cravings and lust which are tormenting elements of human soul. c) The propensity to accumulate commodities cramp the soul and degenerate into the morbid desire to make a fetish of external goods of life. d) Human desires to over power the nature. This will alienate the man from nature.

Buddhist doctrine proclaims that the ego-self is nonexistent (anatta). It is a fabrication of the human mind, an illusion sustained by language and by abstraction from reality. A major consequence of such abstraction is the failure to perceive the essential impermanence of all compounded things (anicca).

It is ended with the conclusion of Buddha’s thought for curbing multiple wants. This is possible only when individual completely change from inside out and take non violent path for which human beings should be spiritual.¹

There are two well known approaches to life. One is personified in the well-known saying of the William Roscher (a German Professor), "Every advance in culture made by man finds expression in an increase in the number and in the keenness of his rational wants."

The other is summed up in the Indian spiritual ideal of a watchful restraint.  The nature sets limits. It requires a person to contain himself within its capacity. Thus, the emphasis is on self-control and limitation of wants. Mechanised Industry knows no such limitation. Its law is one of progressive increase. Those who laid down the pattern of eastern ancient culture could not accept the notion that culture increases with the increase in the number of man's wants and their satisfaction. Before explaining, it is necessary to explain the western modern life style, more exactly the consumerism.^2,3

Thus, consumerism aims at having more and more of everything. This is the stage where distinction between real and unreal is blurred, more correctly, it gets diminished. It is here, we find the validity of Buddha’s divine, ethical and moral teachings which get the greatest significance. The reckless exploitation of natural resources will endanger the coming generation on this earth.

Mahatma Gandhi explained the phenomena of exploitation of natural resources through alienation also. He was of the opinion that the more nature was over-powered, the more alienated man will become from nature. He simultaneously wanted to focus on the relationship between man and his natural environment which would end exploitation. But this alienation of man from nature has also paved the way of alienation from himself also. His true self is what man can discover through the Solution:

·         Mind is like restless bird; more it gets more it wants and still it will remain unsatisfied. The more we indulge our passions, more unbridled they become. Wants can be killed only by wants.  The stronger wants be employed to kill ill the weaker wants. This process goes on till human mind is left with most superior or genuine wants only remained to be satisfied. Buddha taught that we should set limit to our indulgence. If we set our hearts after such things we would be slaves and loose our moral fibre. Our real happiness and health consisted in a proper use of hand and feet.

If we follow the teachings of Buddha, it can be conserved a lot of natural resources for us which will be sufficient for generations to come.

·         Cravings and lust are tormenting elements of human soul. One has to renounce his cravings and desires his contentment from within himself. We called such person “unruffled in adversity” and unaffected by worldly desire.

Thus according to Buddhist philosophy “one who abandons all desire is free from the pride and selfishness and behaves as one part finds peace.”

·         The propensity to accumulate commodities cramp the soul and degenerate into the morbid desire to make a fetish of external goods of life. It gives rise to monopolies. The accumulation is condemnable because it is not possible to be practiced by all. Nature produces enough for our wants for day to day needs and if only everybody took enough for himself and nothing more, there would be no pauperism in this world.

We do not have any right to any thing until millions of the people are clothed and fed better. So, we have to adjust our wants and even undergo voluntary starvation to feed under fed millions. Man due to his thrust for accumulation made hell of this beautiful planet. This has effect on increasing ecological imbalance, environmental degradation, vanishing flora and fauna, unhampered population explosion and deteriorating human values, all are the outcome of the greed of modern homo-sapiens.

·         The teachings of Buddha specifically Four Noble Truths and eight fold paths are very significance to overcome the side effects of consumerism. The Buddha said that mindfulness is the one way to achieve the end of suffering.  Mindfulness is essential even in our daily life in which we act in full awareness of our actions, feelings and thoughts as well as that of our environment. The mind should always be clear and free from desires, leading to satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

The problem of Consumerism is now well felt globally.  It may invade future generation. Man should change from inside out to solve the problem of environmental degradation. Such type of change is possible only when the individual becomes non greedy and follow the path given by Buddha.

A way of life that depletes available resources will generate problems for coming generations. It is necessary to get secured future and maximum welfare of maximum people and need of the hour is to check the lust and cravings. For this purpose we shall have to follow a non violent way of life to economic activities. This concept is to be widened while deal with living nature and limited and finites sources of the earth.  There is a need of unending commitment to ensure that man will survive without falling to a state of worthless existence. Today we are facing problems of survival. Buddha’s path and philosophy have answers to all the worries and anxieties of the modern world.

The continuing multiplicity of want associated with the spread of materialistic philosophy of life has brought the world to the brink of a materialistic disaster. This is reflected in the ecological crisis, the ramification of which becoming clearer. Natural resources are being depleted at the faster rate. An economy based on the foundation of endless wants would therefore not last long.  

The main question raised by the observations is how can the transition from consumer society to conserver society be effected?

Answer is “Through one’s own efforts facilitated by following the teachings (dhamma) embodied in and enunciated by Buddha and Boddhisattvas.”

It is in this context that Buddha’s doctrine of want limitation becomes extremely significant for the survival of mankind. 

References

1.         The Teaching of Buddha

2.         www.buddhanet.net

3.         www.manak.org.in

4.         www.dhammawiki.com

5.         Kumar, H. (2012). Mahatma Gandhi: A non violent fighter of Indian Freedom. YSSRFJ, 2 : 112-118.

6.         Singh, P.S. (2012) Consumerism : Problems & Solution. YSSRFJ,

2 : 119-126.