BUDDHIST AGRICULTURE: CAUSE AND EFFECT TOWARDS SUFFICIENCY

Abstract

This academic article aims to analyze the concept of Buddhist Agriculture (Phutthakaset) as a framework for agricultural development that integrates Buddhist teachings with the philosophy of sufficiency, within the context of modern agricultural development that prioritizes quantitative production and profit maximization a paradigm that has given rise to pervasive farmer indebtedness, natural resource degradation, and ecological imbalance. The article examines the causal relationship between the "causes" and "effects" of Buddhist Agriculture through two principal theoretical frameworks: core Buddhist doctrines, namely the Threefold Training (Tisikkhā: morality, concentration, and wisdom), the Middle Way (Majjhimāpaṭipadā), and related ethical principles governing a life of moderation; and the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy, both employed to explicate an approach to agricultural development grounded in the balance between humanity and nature.

Buddhist Agriculture represents an approach to farming in which Buddhist principles serve as the "cause," or foundational orientation, governing ways of thinking, modes of living, and the sustainable management of natural resources without exploitation of the environment and in harmony with natural processes. When these principles are applied in practice, they yield "effects" manifested across three significant dimensions: an economic dimension emphasizing self-reliance and the reduction of production costs; a social dimension fostering generosity, mutual sharing, and community resilience; and a spiritual dimension conducive to inner peace, moderation, and a sense of fulfillment derived from simple living. Buddhist Agriculture is therefore not merely a model of agricultural production, but a holistic process of human development that integrates the economic, social, and spiritual dimensions. It offers a viable academic framework for advancing Thai agriculture toward security, balance, and long-term sustainability, firmly rooted in the ethical values and cultural heritage of Thai society.