The Path of a Saint: Buddhaghosa’s Argument for Sustainable Development

Abstract

A philosophical investigation of sustainable development has much to contribute to the study of philosophy of religion because religion has significant effect on human behavior. In Indian philosophy, to be precise, early Buddhist Philosophy argues for individual suffering and it’s solution. Notwithstanding, there is an argument that Buddhist philosophy does not motivate an individual to make efforts for sustainable development or preservation of natural resources. Therefore, one cannot contemplate the problem of sustainable development under early Buddhist philosophical framework. To refute this view, I have attempted to analyze Buddhaghosa’s notion of virtue. In this paper, I have argued that, there is a significant implication of the study of virtue for the area of sustainable development. This, consequentially, imparts significance to the balanced consumption of natural resources and balanced consumption of natural resources is vital for sustainable development.