← 10% Happier with Dan Harris

Clair Brown, Economist, Author of 'Buddhist Economics'

Apr 5, 2017 41m 37s 15 insights
Clair Brown, an economics professor at UC-Berkeley and a Tibetan Buddhist, was teaching an introductory course when she asked herself, "How would Buddha teach Econ One?" Brown went on to write the book, "Buddhist Economics: An Enlightened Approach to the Dismal Science," and advocates for a more mindful approach to how we contribute to society, for example, that as consumers, we should work to simplify our lives by focusing on what matters most to us, buying less and reducing our carbon footprint.
Actionable Insights

1. Practice Daily Meditation

Engage in daily meditation practice, as it can lead to a “terrific improvement” in one’s life by fostering compassion and connecting with an “inner Buddha” over time.

2. Embrace Altruism for Happiness

Shift your assumption about human nature from selfish to kind and altruistic, and actively help other people, as neuroscientists have shown this makes you happier and creates win-win situations.

3. Cultivate Meaningful Happiness

Seek meaningful happiness over your lifetime by creating a worthy life and developing your full potential, rather than chasing short bursts of hedonic happiness from consumption that are fleeting.

4. Practice Material Detachment

Avoid getting attached to possessions and a materialistic way of life to focus on your human spirit and making your life meaningful, rather than being solely focused on consumption and getting ahead.

5. Appreciate Your Life

Step back and appreciate how good your life is, counting your blessings to mitigate suffering and avoid feeling like you don’t have enough, as this can make you feel a lot better.

6. Simplify by Buying Less

Simplify your life by buying less, as this will free up a lot more time and make your life much simpler, reducing stress and allowing you to focus on what’s important.

7. Practice Saying No

Learn to say no to things that are not truly important to you, freeing up time for family, community, and activities you genuinely enjoy, which helps in simplifying life and reducing stress.

8. Practice Conscious Consumption

When purchasing items, be conscious and consider whether the purchase is causing harm to people or the environment, rather than buying without thought.

9. Eliminate Beef and Lamb

Stop eating beef and lamb, or consume them only in very rare instances, due to their extremely high carbon footprint, which is far worse than other meats and contributes significantly to global warming.

10. Reduce Meat Intake

Significantly cut back on overall meat consumption, aiming for a maximum of four ounces a day, to reduce methane emissions, animal cruelty, and the overheating of the earth.

11. Opt for Electric Vehicles

When buying a car, choose an electric vehicle like a Tesla, Leaf, or Sparky V, as they are much better for the environment compared to gas-guzzling cars.

12. Reduce Air Travel

Minimize flying due to its significant carbon footprint; consider alternatives like conference calls for meetings to reduce your environmental impact.

13. Adopt Clean Home Energy

Switch to 100% clean electricity from wind and solar if available, and replace gas appliances with electric ones to reduce reliance on methane (so-called natural gas) and fossil fuels.

14. Minimize Home Heating

Minimize the use of home heating by using blankets and sweatshirts, and consider efficient alternatives like a wood-burning stove, to reduce energy consumption.

15. Stop Invidious Comparisons

Recognize and consciously stop making “invidious comparisons” about possessions or experiences with others, and consider discussing mindful alternatives to competitive materialism to foster more thoughtful interactions.