Spirituality and Sustainable Development

ISBN-13: 9781137382757 / Angielski / Twarda / 2014 / 203 str.

Rohana Ulluwishewa

Opis

Looking beyond the materialistic boundary of the conventional development paradigm, this book identifies our spiritual underdevelopment which is being reflected as self-centeredness and greed, as the root cause of conventional development's failure to alleviate poverty and inequality, achieve sustainability and deliver happiness to humanity.

Recenzje

Spirituality and Sustainable Development was honored as a finalist in the 2014 International Book Award.

"At last! Here is a book which gets to the real root of the problem. For 60 years, we have had people telling us that problems of poverty, inequality, unsustainability and unhappiness could be solved by Western economics and technology. These misconstrued solutions only further worsened the problems. Now, however, Rohana Ulluwishewa has dared to expose greed as the ultimate cause. Only by spirituality, whether religious or non-religious, can this greed be curbed and the author explains how this can be done." - John Flenley, Emeritus Professor of Geography, Massey University, New Zealand

"This book is of utmost importance in understanding the issues and meeting the challenges of sustainable economic development. The author reframes sustainable development as a challenge that begins internally, within the individual, rather than externally, in the environment or society. The internal challenge can only be met by developing the spiritual dimension of the individual or the spiritual self. The book is well-thought-out, well-documented and well-written. It guides the reader down a clear path of purpose towards sustainable economic development." - John Ikerd, Emeritus Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of Missouri, USA

"Spirituality and Sustainable Development is a powerful exposé of the price of greed and how one person can spark inner change. I enjoyed the author's doable solution suggestions and the non-preachy presentation of the subject matter. Overall, Spirituality and Sustainable Development is an insightful journey into the possibilities of what could be." - Suzanne Cowles, Readers' Favorite

"The volume has made a significant contribution towards our understanding of what is called sustainable development and the ways of achieving it. Each one of us can make a difference by taking the steps essential for a more healthy and contented lifestyle. This volume is published in the UK. What the author says should have a familiar ring in the Eastern countries, apart from the Western audience it appears to be targeting." - The Island

'The message give by Rohana Ulluwishewa is timely and it has to be taken very seriously ... The policy makers who stand for universal social welfare system owe a debt of gratitude to Rohana Ulluwishewa for his untiring efforts to bring out this valuable book.' - Sunday Observer, Sri Lanka

'Many books have focused on economic and social development, but few have included spiritual development. This important new book firmly emphasises the need for the latter if we are to function and evolve as human beings ... A recent and valuable contribution.' - New Zealand Buddhist Council

'This book by Rohana Ulluwishewa is not only evidence of scholarly endeavour but also an interesting, challenging and engaging read, especially for theosophists, as so much of what Rohana has to say resonates with the theosophical approach.' - Theosophia

Spis treści

List of Figures List of Tables Introduction What is this Book About? Are We Intrinsically Self-Centered and Greedy? Organization of the Book PART I: WHAT IS SPIRITUALITY? 1. Contemporary Views on Spirituality Spirituality and Religion Spiritual but Not Religious Spirituality: Scientific Perspectives 2. Spirituality Re-examined Searching Common Grounds in Different Views Transforming Mind, Changing Values 3. Spirituality: Development Perspectives Spirituality in Conventional Development Spirituality as Establishing Right Relationships Spirituality as Transformation of the Human Mind PART II: GLOBAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM FROM SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE 4. Identifying Global Socio-Spiritual Classes Worldly Happiness and Spiritual Happiness Basic Needs and Neurotic Needs Needs and Happiness Human Values, Human Virtues and Human Vices Happiness, Needs, Values and Power Towards a Socio-Spiritual Classification of People 5. Global Economic System as a Product of Greedy Mind Characteristics of Global Socio-Spiritual Classes The Giant Fruit Tree in an Isolated Island: An Analogy Self-Centeredness, Greed and Class Relations 6. Global Economic System and Conventional Development Origin and characteristics of conventional development Self-centeredness and greed in conventional development: theory and practice Spirituality and Conventional Development: Contradictions PART III: DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT SPIRITUALITY 7. Poverty and Inequality Two forms of development Poverty and Inequality in Intentional Development Poverty and Inequality in Immanent Development 8. Environmental Unsustainability Self-Centeredness and Unsustainability Self-Centredness, Private Consumption and Unsustainability Spirituality as a Guide to Sustainable Consumption 9. Unhappiness Self-Centeredness, Happiness, and Unhappiness Development and Unhappiness If Not Material Wealth, What Makes Us Happy? Two Kinds of Happiness PART IV: TOWARDS A SPIRITUALITY-BASED DEVELOPMENT 10. Spiritual Growth and Economic Growth: Conflict or Synergy? Spiritual Growth Are Spiritual Growth and Economic Growth Mutually Beneficial? Spiritual Growth and Optimum Economic Growth 11. Spiritualizing the Global Economic System Towards a Form of Development Motivated by Love Is it Already Underway? Happiness Orientation in Spirituality-Based Development 12. Towards a World of Abundence, Equity, Sustainability and Happiness First the Problem of Affluence, then the Problem of Poverty Immusizing the Non-Affluent Against Affluenza Promoting Selfless Service as Development Integrating Spirituality into Formal Education Re-Spiritualizing Religion Scientific Research on Spirituality Spiritually Oriented Personal Services Integrating Spirituality into Development Studies Is Spirituality-Based Development Possible? Epilogue: Changing Ourselves to Change the World References Endnotes

O autorze

Rohana Ulluwishewa was an Associate Professor at the Sri Jayewardenepura University in Sri Lanka. After gaining a M.Sc. from the London School of Economics, UK, he completed his PhD at Kyushu University, Japan. In his thirty years of academic career he has worked as Senior Lecturer at the University of Brunei, and was Visiting Fellow at Wageningen Agricultural University and Leiden University in the Netherlands, and at Leeds University, UK. He served as a consultant for many national and international development agencies and has published in numerous international journals. He was also an Honorary Research Associate at Massey University in New Zealand, where he currently lives.