[Buddha-l] Buddhism, Economics, Social Welfare and Governance

[Richard Hayes]

On Tue Feb 10,2009 at 09:17:06 MST Mahinda Deegalle wrote: 


> I know a few books like Payutto, Schumacher and Ariyaratne on Buddhist
> economics but I want to know more and in particular the way Buddhism
> deals with contemporary economic and business crisis and problems.

It's good to see your name appearing here, Bhante! I hope you are well.
Have you looked into any of David Loy's writings? His most recent book,
Money, Sex, War, Karma: Notes for a Buddhist Revolution may have
material on the topics you mention. His older book, The Great Awakening:
Buddhist Social Theory also touches on the issues you mention.

One of my favorites, of course, is Bhikkhu Buddhadasa's reflections on
what he calls Dhammic socialism in Donald K. Swearer's Me and Mine.
Students, I find, love both Buddhadasa and Loy.

I have written a couple of articles on the topic, but my stuff is much
too superficial and glib for your needs. All the same, it's available on
the download page on my academic website.

I've been enjoying watching the economy fall to pieces. I think it might
force a lot of people to become more aware of the sheer madness of their
lifestyles and of collective capitalist values. My main fear is that the
planet is in for another round of unconscionable violence as everyone
begins grabbing what they think they need. Thieves are doing a brisk
trade in my neighborhood these days. 

-- 
Richard Hayes
http://www.unm.edu/~rhayes