Buddhism and Consumption
Buddhism emphasizes minimizing one’s desire for and attachment to material goods. In contemporary China there has been a resurgence of interest in Buddhism. At the same time, Chinese consumers are becoming more materialistic, and the acquisition of material goods has become central to identity. How can we understand and reconcile these two trends? We examine the nature of the Middle Way that Buddhism espouses and discuss its connection to consumption. We also explore how Buddhism is similar to and different from other spiritual orientations in terms of their influence on consumption. Finally, we touch upon the impact of global consumerism on spirituality in this once communist country.
Citation:
Giana Eckhardt (2011) ,"Buddhism and Consumption", in AP - Asia-Pacific Advances in Consumer Research Volume 9, eds. Zhihong Yi, Jing Jian Xiao, and June Cotte and Linda Price, Duluth, MN : Association for Consumer Research, Pages: 358-359.
Authors
Giana Eckhardt, Suffolk Universiy, USA
Volume
AP - Asia-Pacific Advances in Consumer Research Volume 9 | 2011
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