This paper presents the Asoke Buddhist community in Thailand as a model for a merit-based Buddhist economy. The Asoke community was founded over 30 years ago and now has many centres throughout Thailand. It has grown rapidly and sustainably through advocating a return to Buddhist principles of right livelihood, in contrast to economies driven by greed, aversion, and delusion. The Asoke model generates abundance through right livelihood and sharing generosity without expectation of returns, accumulating merits to support spiritual pursuit of liberation. Their sharing of produce and technologies empowers others and expands the influence of an economy built on goodwill and ethics. This has created a niche market for wholesome products and services that is gradually expanding.

1. Abstract of paper presented at the 2nd WFB World Buddhist Business Forum,
23-24 December, 2011, Taipei, Taiwan.
An Empowering Merit-based Buddhist Economy – the Asoke Practice in Thailand
Bong C.L.
Malaysia
This paper presents observations on a model of a vibrant merit-based Buddhist economy
generated through right livelihood as practised by the Asoke Buddhist community of
Thailand. The Asoke community was founded by Venerable Bodhiraksa more than thirty
years ago. It now has at least nine well-established major centres and many smaller
communities spread throughout Thailand. Its rapid yet sustainable growth as a socio-
economically successful independent and upright community that serves humanity, nurtures
and replenishes rather than selfishly exploits man, resources and nature as seen in
traditional economy is based on their advocacy and practice of a return to Buddhist way of
life, the purpose and goal of which is spiritual liberation. This contrasts sharply with what is
commonly occurring now, in which the pursuit or goal of life is the mindless accumulation of
material wealth as top priority above everything else, and in the process man destroys the
environment and loses the meaning and direction of life so that a society of social ills
prevails and dominates, where greed feeds on more greed, where aversion burns ever so
strongly, and delusions are so blinding. Countries are invaded, hundreds of thousands of
lives can be sacrificed, millions more lives put in misery, nature and environment mercilessly
destroyed just because some deluding and greedy groups of people want control of certain
resources. Lately one sees financial crisis hitting one country after another, one region after
another. Obviously there is something fundamentally wrong that drives this world and its
economy. This ‘something’ can be traced to the three poisons taught in Buddhism, greed
(lobha), aversion (dosa) and delusion (moha). The endless and mindless pursuit and
accumulation of material wealth without giving back is not only unsustainable but
destructive to mind and body.
A return to the Buddhist way of life, the goal of which is attainment of liberation as the
priority is one way of treating this ill world. An economy that is built based on Buddhist
teachings and values can thrive sustainably for the well-being of humanity, nature and
environment and where win-win situation prevails for everyone and everything else. The
Asoke model of merit-based economy that supports the primary goal of spiritual pursuit of
attaining liberation from saṁsāra shows that such economy is workable and achievable. The
Srisa Asoke model as an example of this merit-based Buddhist economy is presented here.
Through their practice of right livelihood, abundance is created. Through generosity of
sharing this abundance without seeking returns, merits are accumulated in support of their
pursuit of spiritual life. From their generosity of sharing their produce and technological
innovations freely, people and communities benefit and are empowered to achieve financial
independence and contribute further to expand the size and influence of an economy built

2. on wholesomeness of hearts and goodwill. Through rippling effect of this practice, a special
niche market for products and services produced based on wholesome spirit (ethics),
generosity and appreciation of humanity and environment has been created and is gradually
and surely expanding.