Greed #5

Over recent years, world leaders, economists, and “big business” (with all its attendant media and advertising energies) have encouraged a “globalism” defined by greed and gluttony, as well as endless material consumption. In many ways, these forces have been furthering a widespread culture of limitless desire and addiction. From a Buddhist perspective, however, to desire anything passionately is a spiritual hindrance and poison, no matter whether one “deserves” the desired object or not. Certainly, modern Buddhism does not prohibit working for money; neither does it deny a common need for material possessions. The challenge is, rather, to manage one’s materialism thoughtfully in order to av...View all