After his Enlightenment the Buddha set out to help liberate the individual, and create a society free from suffering. The economic resources now exist to offer a realistic possibility of providing everyone with decent food, shelter, work, and leisure to allow each to fulfill their potential as human beings, whilst protecting the environment. What is it in the nature of modern capitalism that prevents that happening? Can Buddhism help us build something better than our current economic system, to reduce suffering and help the individual to freedom?
In this ongoing series of podcast episodes Vaddhaka explores answers to these and other questions by examining our economic world from the perspective of Buddhism.
