right livelihood
Saturday, 29. August 2009, 12:16:25
The Buzz word of 2009 is 'SOCIAL ENTREPRISES'
Social entreprises are businesses with social objectives. The main difference between a private business and SE is that SEs are not for profit type businesses which basically means that the business can trade and generate income but any profit that is made will get invested back into the community rather than divided up between the shareholders and pocketed for personal investments.
Why is a Buddhist writing about SEs? The Noble Eighfold path is often seen as the spiritual path taken to attain enlightenment and the end of suffering, but it can also be seen as the path that naturally unfolded after the Buddha's own transformative experience, and if suffering is to end then something else will have to start, hence with the end of suffering comes compassion. There are several different translations and ways to interpret the Noble Eightfold path but in general the list includes the following: Right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right meditation, right concentration, and right vision.
Could Social entreprises be an example of 'Right Livelihood'? I think the answer is yes but by no means the only way to achieve living a noble life. As a Buddhist whose aim is to improve conditions in which we live, and by this I think I broadly mean adopting a more respectful attitude to all sentient beings in a way that fits the 21st century, I think SEs are one of many other RL type schemes that would help us to create a more compassionate and enlightened society without having to destroy the current system and structures in place.
Individuals whose passion is to improve the lot of their fellow citizens can acheive this, in theory, full-time without worrying how they are going to make ends meet. It's a model where ordinary people can attempt to work together and use their skills to meet the needs of the community.
Social entreprises are businesses with social objectives. The main difference between a private business and SE is that SEs are not for profit type businesses which basically means that the business can trade and generate income but any profit that is made will get invested back into the community rather than divided up between the shareholders and pocketed for personal investments.
Why is a Buddhist writing about SEs? The Noble Eighfold path is often seen as the spiritual path taken to attain enlightenment and the end of suffering, but it can also be seen as the path that naturally unfolded after the Buddha's own transformative experience, and if suffering is to end then something else will have to start, hence with the end of suffering comes compassion. There are several different translations and ways to interpret the Noble Eightfold path but in general the list includes the following: Right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right meditation, right concentration, and right vision.
Could Social entreprises be an example of 'Right Livelihood'? I think the answer is yes but by no means the only way to achieve living a noble life. As a Buddhist whose aim is to improve conditions in which we live, and by this I think I broadly mean adopting a more respectful attitude to all sentient beings in a way that fits the 21st century, I think SEs are one of many other RL type schemes that would help us to create a more compassionate and enlightened society without having to destroy the current system and structures in place.
Individuals whose passion is to improve the lot of their fellow citizens can acheive this, in theory, full-time without worrying how they are going to make ends meet. It's a model where ordinary people can attempt to work together and use their skills to meet the needs of the community.
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