govt policy – title ‘Towards a Dharma-based
                  economy’ author ‘Swami Atmarupananda’, no id
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <div>&nbsp;</div><div>In early November 2015, the author participated in
                  a four-day programme held in Varanasi and Sarnath
                  entitled Awakening the Light of Dharma: How to Uphold
                  Dharma in the World Today, organised by the</div><div>Global Peace Initiative, in partnership with Jnana-
                  Pravaha of Varanasi, the Sarnath International Nyingma
                  Institute, and the Malaviya Centre for Peace Research.
                  On November 8 the proceedings were</div><div>held at the Sarnath International Nyingma
                  Institute, which included a morning session on the
                  topic ‘Principles of a Dharmic Economy’, moderated by
                  Dr Tho Ha Vinh.1 After Dr Tho gave an introduction to
                  the topic, the author was asked to address the
                  gathering. The following is the substance of his talk,
                  adapted as an article—Editor.]</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Now let us move on and look at some of the
                  contradictions inherent in our economy. First, and
                  most obvious of the contradictions, our economic
                  system is based on growth, specifically growth of
                  production, consumption, and total monetary value of
                  the system. Its aim is not to attain an equilibrium
                  which can be sustained indefinitely. Its aim is
                  growth, economic expansion. The reason why it is based
                  on growth is important, and not beyond the
                  understanding of anyone here, but it would take all my
                  time to explain the reason. So for now, suffice it to
                  say that the reason has to do with the way money is
                  conceived of, created, and accounted for in the</div><div>present system. For long ages of human history,
                  economic systems were not dependent on constant
                  growth: it’s a modern phenomenon and therefore not
                  intrinsic to economic activity.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Thus, as the commons disappears into private
                  control and eventual depletion, we are reaching the
                  limits of growth. And no growth means death, within
                  the context of the modern economic system. That is why
                  China, for instance, is desperately buying up rights
                  to resources all over the world, especially in Africa
                  and South America. In the end that won’t work, because
                  when a country is faced with the massive hunger and
                  thirst of its own people, it isn’t going to honour
                  pieces of paper saying that another country owns the
                  rights to the resources there. And that, by the way,
                  leads to the projected wars of resources.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>Another element in the breakdown of our economic
                  system is our very understanding of work—participation
                  in the economy. The Protestant work ethic which was so
                  effective in motivating people to engage in economic
                  and other activity, and which was instrumental in the
                  rise of modern capitalism, has outlived its
                  usefulness. The stories out of which the Protestant
                  work ethic developed are no longer vital, leaving
                  modern society without a viable philosophy of work. A
                  much simplified version of the Protestant work ethic
                  can be expressed in two equations: hard work is a sign
                  of morality, and worldly success is a sign of God’s
                  favour. But the Protestant Christian worldview on
                  which this ethic was based is all but dead.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>I will simply list the main ideas that follow from
                  the preceding discussion, without explicitly stating
                  the connection to dharmic principles, such connections
                  being fairly obvious:</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>To read article in <strong>PDF </strong>format</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div>This article was first published in the Prabuddha
                  Bharata, monthly journal of The Ramakrishna Order
                  started by Swami Vivekananda in 1896. This article is
                    courtesy and copyright Prabuddha Bharata (<a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.advaitaashrama.org/">www.advaitaashrama.org</a>). I have been
                    reading the Prabuddha Bharata for years and found it
                    enlightening. You can subscribe online at <a moz-do-not-send="true">www.advaitaashrama.org</a>. Cost is Rs 180/ for
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