소비의 경상적지출과 자본적지출에 대한 불교적 관점

Abstract

If buddhism can solve the suffering due to money, it would certainly resolve modern man’s suffering due to spending. Once you see people enthusiastic about nonpossession, it doesn’t seem to be unnatural to pursue the solution regarding suffering from money. The expression, ‘spending is a virtue’, is widely accepted in that mass consumption came to reality after industrial revolution and capitalism is full-blown. Overconsumption is not only detrimental to self but also to society. Buddhist economic principle of spending is proper spending according to one’s due which is middle path. Buddhist economic principle of spending in middle path is applied flexibly within Buddhist community. More strict spending rule applies to practitioners at the temple than to lay people. Moreover, bhikkhuni is allowed to wear more elegant garments than bhikkhu in the Buddhist priesthood. Spending rules applied to practitioners at the temple seem to be ascetic, it is moderate compared to Jainism and Devadatta’s arguments. Buddhist economic principles of spending require human beings to practice buddhist meditation to escape from suffering due to desires and addictions. However, Buddhism tries fundamentally to block temptation originating from spending objects by restricting and devaluing them. Operational expenditure ought to be restraint oriented compared to capital expenditure. Since operational expenditure has characteristics as a spending, restraint is a virtue. By contrast, capital expenditure has characteristics as an investment, active investment is a virtue. Donation is understood as a tool to acquire happiness, therefore, it is considered to be capital investment. Spending for the sake of images and signals cultivates tastes resulting into accumulation of cultural capital, hence, it can be classified as a capital investment. Sutra’s clauses that husband should give his wife ornaments and bhikkhuni is welcome to wear more good garments are evidences of Buddhism’s willingness to allow more generous spending level than minimal level of consumption to maintain life.