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Sādhāraṇabhogī: 
 A Buddhist Social System as Practicedin Asoke Communities
1 
SuwidaS.,
2 
BongC.L.,and
3 
SikkhamatChindaTangbhao
 Abstract Abstract Abstract Abstract
Thispaperdescribesthe
Sādhāraṇabhogī 
socialsystemaspracticedintheAsokecommunities,whatitisandhowitcontributestothesuccessoftheAsokecommunitiesforself-relianceandself-sufficiencynecessaryforsustainingalifeforsuccessfulspiritualpractice 
.
 
1
Dr. Suwida Sangsehanat is a Thai social research scientist active in research on social developmentand engaged Buddhism in Thailand and Asian countries. She can be contacted atsuwida.ss@gmail.com
 
2
Dr. Bong C. L. is a Malaysian, presently a volunteer lecturer at the International Buddhist College inThailand. She can be contacted at bongcl@gmail.com
 
3
 
Venerable Sikkhamat Chinda Tangbhao is a ten-precept
Sikkhamat 
nun of Asoke communities. Atone time she served as a nuclear laboratory scientist in the Thai government service. She is currentlyresiding at Sisa Asoke.
 
Introduction Introduction Introduction Introduction
Inthiseraofincreasingmaterialismandglobalizationwhereeverythingmovesveryfastandspaceisshrinkingeversmaller,MONEYandTIMEarethetwomajor(insomecasesonlyvaluable)commoditiesthatcontrol,regulateanddominateallaspectsoflifeofmostpeople.TIMEisformakingMONEY,notforcultivatingspiritualityornourishinglife.MONEYisformakingmoremoney,notforcultivatinglife.NowadaysmakingandhavingMONEYaretheonlypurposesoflife,averysadfactandtrendcomparedtowhatlifeissupposedand/orusedtomean.TheGOALoflifeusedtobespiritualattainment(freedomfromsufferings,
Nibbāna 
)andstrivingforitsattainmentisthepurpose.Nowadays,itisthefearofhavingnomoneythatpushespeopletoworkeverharderandstressingtheirlifeatmakingmoneyandmoremoney.Thisfearofnothaving‘enough’moneyisgreaterthanthefearoffallingintohellfornotdrivingoneselfhardinspiritualpracticeasitusedtobeinthepast.This‘insanity’isthesameeverywhere,Thailandisnodifferent.ButinThailand,thereisaBuddhistmovementthatactivelyandsuccessfullyresiststheonslaughtofthisinsanity,andfearlesslyandvictoriouslyconquersthe‘dominationofMONEY’ormaterialismtowrestbackthecontroloftheirlifeandtoregainthefreedomtopracticespirituallifetoresettheGOALbacktothatofSpiritualAttainmentofFreedomfromSufferings.ThismovementistheAsokemovementandthecommunitiesitleadsareknownastheAsokecommunities.Inthesecommunities,moneyisnotthevalueoftheircurrency,work,serviceandmeritsaretheircurrencies,andspiritualattainmentoffreedomfrom
 
sufferingsistheirpriorityandgoalinlife.Theyworkhardandleadafrugalandproductivelife.ThecommunitiesproducegoodsworthmorethanhundredsofmillionBahtperyear 
4 
fortheircommunities.Membersofthecommunitiesdonotgetpaidunlesstheyneedregularincomeforbasicmaintenanceoflivingfortheirfamily(withdependentssuchasyoungchildrenandelderlyparents).Maximumsalarydrawnisaround3,000Bahtpermonthatmost.Notonlydotheynotaccumulatemoney,theyalsotrytoreduceaccumulatingpersonalassets,andtominimizeconsumptionandwastes.Thecommunitiessupplythefoods,toolsandgeneraldailyneeds.Allassetsarecentrallyownedbythecommunitiesandmembersofthecommunitiesaretheshareholdersorsharedownersoftheassets.Inshorttheyoperateandlivewithinasystemknownas
Sādhāraṇabhogī 
,acommunallysustained,mutuallycaringandsharingeconomicsysteminwhichmoneyandprofiteeringplaynorole.Thiscontrastssharplywiththecentralroleofmoneyandprofiteeringseenintheunsustainablecapitalistcorporation- controlledmonetarysystemthatoneseesdominatingmuchoftheworldtoday. 

Theyworkhardonpracticingvirtue.Workingismeditationinpractice.Minimizingconsumptionnotonlyisapracticetocutoffattachmentormentaldefilements(greed,etc)butalsoapracticethatsavesresourcesandtimewhicharethenturnedintowealthtobesharednotonlyamongmembersofthecommunitiesbutalsowithothermembersofthelargersocietyoutthere.
 
4
 
Samana
Phothirak. 2007.
S
ā
dh
ā
ra
7 
abhog
ī 
: Setthakit Janit Mai [S
ā
dh
ā
ra
7 
abhog
ī 
: new economicsystem]
.
Bangkok: Fah Aphai. P.76.
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