COPING WITH THE ECONOMIC CRISIS - THE BUDDHIST PERSPECTIVE-- Ven. Dr. Sobhita Thero

A father kills his family and himself in a moment of desperation after losing his job. A middle-aged lady almost goes bonkers, unable to come to terms with the downfall of her business. A young couple find themselves losing their condominium, their luxurious car and having to borrow money from friends and relatives to make ends meet.

These are all too familiar stories of patients from seeking therapy or counseling or praying for some divine help. They are people whose lives have been thrown into turmoil by the present economic storm. All too often I have been asked, "So what should we, as Buddhists, do when we are faced with the crisis? "

For a start, we should know that according to the Buddha, no other person, no divine power can bestow good luck and prosperity upon us except ourselves. But in the Buddha's teachings, we can find many invaluable insights and pragmatic guidelines on the matter although they were taught 2500 years ago and in a very different economic climate.

The Pali word for "Crisis" is "apada". This can be found in the Sigalovada Sutta which, in short, is a manual on how to achieve happiness in life. In this sutta, the Buddha advises on how one should manage his wealth - by allocating one portion for daily expenses, two portions for business and the fourth portion for safe-keeping. In other words, we ought to have some reserves for rainy days such as what many people are experiencing now.

From another perspective, the Dhamma also teaches us how to adopt a balanced perspective and response appropriately to a crisis, or any situation for that matter. To do so, we must first have a proper understanding of the "true nature of things". From the Buddhist world view, "change" (anicca) is the natural order of all things. With this in mind, we must then learn to accept that, like everything else, the economy and our own situation are also subjected to change. Everything is in a state of constant flux; the only constant is change itself. If we understand that each state we are in is only transient, it should come as no great shock to us to learn that we too can lose our jobs, be retrenched or bankrupt. On the other hand, whatever dire straits we are in, it too would pass. What is more important is to learn how to remain steadfast in the face of turbulence and not be overwhelmed by our present difficulties or losses. This wholesome practice, to remain unshaken on these conditions of the world, is highlighted in the Mangala Sutta:

"A mind unruffled by the vagaries of fortune, from sorrow freed, from defilements cleansed, from fear liberated - this is the greatest blessing.?

Often the difficulties we encounter in our lives present opportunities for learning and growing. This is well reflected in the Chinese word for "crisis"(weiji) which composes of two characters - "danger" and "opportunities". Economic gurus talk about the potentialities for new enterprises to spring up in an economic crisis. But beyond economics, a crisis often offers, indeed, demands that we take a step back to reassess our priorities, our goals and often our whole value system.

In an affluent society like Singapore, one can become easily ensnared in the net of consumerism: BUY! BUY! BUY! ENJOY! ENJOY! ENJOY! A recent advertisement reads: "APPROVED BY THE MINISTRY OF ENJOYMENT!" Be damned if you don't. It is all very well in good times. But when the economic crunch hits, what then? Perhaps, it is time to make an honest assessment of what are our basic needs and how much of what we spend on are really extravangances. As monks we have little frivolities. We have only four requisities: food, shelter, robe and medicine. By pracitising the Middle Path (majjhima patipada), we can be happy with the basics and avoid indulgences. The same principle can be applied to lay people. In this way, one can become easily treated and satisfied. Spending should be determined by necessity, not fashion. How many times have you bought something on impulse or simply because the advertisemens tells you it is a "must-have-to-be-trendy" and then find you really do not need it? Perhaps, now is the time to make a resolution to contemplate carefully before you go out and splurge your hard-earned money on that branded T-shirt.

In avoiding extravagant spending, we should also observe the amount of wastage in our everyday lives. Be it in hawker centres, restaurants and even at home, discarded leftovers are only too common. If we can reflect on how much we waste, perhaps, we can try to remain within the reasonable limit. In fact, tightening the economic belt may actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise. What better time to cut down on unnecessary entertainment, nightclubbing, drinking, smoking and other similar vices. Better still make a resolution to break all these bad habits. Going to the nightclub may be good for the economy but it is better to go listen to the Dhamma for your own spirituality. And in most cases, it is free!

The present economic downturn can be a very trying time for many families. In some cases, the home is a place where anger and frustration are vented out. Often, wives and children can become the targets of physical abuse. On the other hand, the family could be a source of support and comfort. In fact, good communication, openness and unity between family members are of utmost importance in overcoming the crisis. Family members, including the children, should frankly and openly discuss the matter and decide on the essential and genuine needs of the home. Often parents prefer not to involve the children, thinking that such economic problems are “adult problems? But children are part of the family and have a role to play. Parents should not feel embarrassed but talk tactfully to the children about the struggle they face in maintaining the household. Together, a family may decide that foregoing certain luxuries is a necessity. Where an operation is the only solution for a disease, the pain may be well worth it. In this respect, parents who dote on their children by showering them constantly with new toys and clothing should realise that this is actually harmful for the children.

Those who resort to taking their lives, and sometimes those of their beloved, because they failed to see any way out of their plight often remain trapped within their own mental prisons. Had they learned to see things from the Buddhist perspective, I have no doubt that they would have acted differently. Try putting your palm too close to your face and all you have is a blur, Place it at a distance and you see it for what it is. When a problem is viewed in the right perspective, proper understanding develops and it becomes less overbearing. No doubt the economic storm will blow over. But for now, if we act wisely, we can ride the waves and have a clear view of the horizon. Victory comes to those who can seize the opportunities and make effort to steer their course with the winds of change.