Buddhist analysis of development

Buddhist concept of development denotes a well-balanced human being materially and

spiritually. Such analysis of development is not limited only to humans, but extends to all
sentient beings. In Buddhism, “Development” means to seek solutions for existing problems as
well as preventing problems that are predicted.

Indeed, Buddhist analysis of development basically means the cultivation of mankind

equipped with both intellectuality and morality. In “Ariyapariyesana Sutta’1 the Buddha explains
about quests.

1) Ignoble quest (Anāriya pariyesana). It aims to increase material development that is

liable to birth, ageing, diseases, dying, sorrow, and stain. Such development can be
categorized as ignoble since it is totally focused on enhancing insatiable attachments.
Modern profit based development concept increase craving and it is devoid of morality. It
is a search for educating people for more sense pleasures along with enhances for more
linear development of trial and errors.

2) Noble quest (Ariyapariyesana). This is a research for supreme security from all bonds’
to end birth, ageing, diseases, dying, sorrow, and stain. Which the Buddha elucidated as
“deep, difficult to see, difficult to understand, but tranquil excellent, beyond dialectic,
subtle, intelligible, to the learned.”

Comparative to sense pleasure of materiality, the noble quest is a pleasure of renunciation of

materiality, which is intelligible to the learned and achieved through the development of mental
culture. Instead of increasing materialism, a development should be systemized in such a way of
balancing material pleasure and spiritual happiness based mainly on morality.

To conclude, human capital in Buddhism has been given a unique place and considers the
major resource of development. Instead of illustrating unlimited fulfillment in attaining
insatiable desires through excessive production, distribution and consumption, a code of ethic
through a systematic mental culture with clear understanding would be the correct path to
development. (296)

1
M.I p.204