Buddhist Economics

Why we need radically new business models?

The CONSCIOUS CONSULTING GROUP made a podcast and a related video with Laszlo Zsolnai on the need of radically new business models. I argued that the ethical foundation of modern-day business is flawed. To be fruitful for society business should follow other ethical principles than materialistic egoism. Business ethics as a discipline studies the preconditions and possibilities for a more ethical functioning of business. The major problems of the Anthropocene (climate change, biodiversity loss,… Read More »Why we need radically new business models?

Buddhism and the Economy (in Hungarian)

A Tan Kapuja Buddhista Főiskola “Buddhizmus és gazdaság” címmel új, hat részes sorozatot rendez 2021. május és május 13. között. Az előadásokat a Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem Gazdaságetikai Központjának munkatársai, Zsolnai László, egyetemi tanár, Kovács Gábor egyetemi adjunktus, és Ócsai András egyetemi adjunktus tartják. Az előadássorozat áttekintést nyújt a a buddhizmus és gazdaság problematikájáról, és megmutatja azokat a gazdasági modelleket, amelyek a buddhista spirituális és etikai értékeket valósítják meg buddhista és nem-buddhista kulturális környezetben. Az egyes… Read More »Buddhism and the Economy (in Hungarian)

Studies in Buddhist Economics, Management, and Policy

Palgrave has a book series entitled “Studies in Buddhist Economics, Management, and Policy”. Professors Clair Brown (UC Berkeley) and Laszlo Zsolnai (Corvinus University of Budapest) serve as editors of the series. This book series is devoted to exploring and presenting new developments in contemplative inquiry related to Buddhist Economics, Well-Being, Social Transformation, Mindful Organizations, and Ecological Worldview in management and policy contexts. This particular combination of fields represents a unique nexus for reflection and action… Read More »Studies in Buddhist Economics, Management, and Policy

Hungarian Buddhists

Gabor Kovacs & Laszlo Zsolnai: Hungarian Buddhists. A Tan Kapuja Buddhista Főiskola, Budapest, 2020. This Hungarian book publishes in-depth interviews with leading Hungarian Buddhist scholars and practioners including Pal Farkas (The Gate Dharma Buddhist College), Lajos Pressing (Árya Maitreya Mandala Buddhist Community), Laszlo Mireisz (The Gate Dharma Buddhist Church of Hungary), Antal Dobosy (Zen Buddhist Community), Gabor Karsai (The Gate Dharma Buddhist College), the late Peter Galambos (tantric and dzogcsen master), Laszlo Takacs (The… Read More »Hungarian Buddhists

Buddhist economics – an enlightened approach to the dismal science

Laszlo Zsolnai ‘Buddhist economics – an enlightened approach to the dismal science.’ Journal of Management, Spirituality & Religion, 2019, vol.16, no. 2, pp. 231-233 Clair Brown is a well-established economics professor at UC Berkeley. Her new book provides a fresh, new insight into the field of Buddhist economics. What is the real novelty of Clair Brown’s book is that it connects Buddhist economic thought with the latest results of Western economics and presents a coherent and robust vision… Read More »Buddhist economics – an enlightened approach to the dismal science

Why Do We Need Contemplative Aproaches in Economics and Management?

Laszlo Zsolnai, Gabor Kovacs, & Andras Ocsai ‘Why Do We Need Contemplative Aproaches in Economics and Management?’ Society and Economy, 2018, vol.40, no. 4, pp. 493-496 Contemplative traditions (including meditation) are one of the oldest traditions of humanity. It has been present in all major religions in one way or another. Meditation is at the heart of contemplative traditions. It can be defined in various ways. Walsh and Shapiro (2006, 228-229) state that mediation refers to “a family of self-regulation… Read More »Why Do We Need Contemplative Aproaches in Economics and Management?

Buddhist Economics – An Overview

Clair Brown, & Laszlo Zsolnai ‘Buddhist Economics – An Overview.’ Society and Economy, 2018, vol.40, no. 4, pp. 497-513 Over the centuries, Buddhist monks applied economic models in the operations of their monasteries to make them sustainable while also observing Buddhist principles. The large variety of economic practices observed demonstrate the creativity of monastics in acquiring the resources to support their large monasteries in a way that was viewed as compatible with Buddhist ethics embodied in the Noble… Read More »Buddhist Economics – An Overview

Contemplative Science and Management

The Business Ethics Center of Corvinus University of Budapest and the European SPES Institute – Leuven organized an international transdisciplinary workshop on Contemplative Science & Management in May 19-21, 2017 in Budapest, Hungary. Collaborative partners included Mind & Life Europe and the Hungary-Bhutan Friendship Society. The conference invited scholars and practitioners devoted to exploring and presenting new developments in contemplative inquiry related to Buddhist Economics, Well-Being, Social Transformation, Mindful Organizations, and Ecological Worldview in the… Read More »Contemplative Science and Management

Mindful and Compassionate Energy Use

In his contribution to the “Faith, Energy and Society” workshop at St Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge on March 3, 2017 Laszlo Zsolnai emphasized the importance of mindfulness and compassion in energy use. He stated that both direct and indirect energy consumption should be drastically reduced. To achieve this community-based, sufficiency oriented, decentralized energy production and distribution systems are needed. Mindful and Compassionate Energy Use

Is Consumer Capitalism Outdated?

Walter Moss published an article “Is Consumer Capitalism Outdated?” in Los Angeles based LA Progressive which analyses and connects Occupy Wall Street, Spirituality in Business, E.F. Schumacher’s human scale economics, Steve Jobs’ legacy and Laszlo Zsolnai’s work on Buddhist Economics. He argues that perhaps the best we can do in our present period of malaise is to seek the truth and wisely attempt to bring our lives and societies more in keeping with it.