Economic Sufficiency and Santi Asoke

Abstract

To ensure a just and sustainable future for all, the dominant forms of economic thought and practice must be reunited with ethics that are more caring of the human-nature base. Lessons may be learned from alternative economic models based on religious, spiritual, environmental or feminist values regarding the content, the process and the potential results of such a shift. The King of Thailand’s conception “Sufficiency Economy” operates on the principles of moderation, reasonableness, self-immunity, wisdom and integrity. The model has succeeded in fostering well-being at the individual, firm, community and regional levels across rural and urban sectors and shows promise for national policy due to its ability to coexist with capitalist economic strategies. The Asoke Movement is not as likely to propagate widely: its intentional communities aim to release material attachment and attain spiritual freedom, and in doing so, they exhibit ascetic tendencies and a biting critique of capitalism. However, Asoke Movement does offer more explicit social and environmental ethics. Both Buddhist models suggest that development must start with the individual, particularly in terms of mental development.