Reducing Consumption in Minimalism and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy: A Buddhist Ethical Analysis for Sustainable Consumption

Abstract

This research article aims to: 1) examine the concepts of Minimalism and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy in relation to consumption reduction; 2) analyze these concepts within the framework of Buddhist ethics; and 3) synthesize a conceptual framework for understanding consumption reduction as an ethical approach to living and sustainable consumption. This study employs a documentary research method, analyzing data from books, academic articles, and relevant studies through content analysis and philosophical interpretation.

The research found that:

1. Both Minimalism and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy propose ways of life that emphasize reducing excessive consumption, using resources in moderation, and maintaining a balanced way of living, while encouraging detachment from material possessions and prioritizing intrinsic values of life.
2. When analyzed within the framework of Buddhist ethics, Minimalism is found to be consistent with key Buddhist principles, including appicchatā (fewness of desires), santuṭṭhi (contentment), mattaññutā (moderation), and majjhimā paṭipadā (the Middle Path), which function as ethical mechanisms for regulating desires and reducing craving (taṇhā).
3. The key synthetic contribution of this study is the proposal of a holistic ethical framework of consumption reduction, which integrates Minimalism at the individual level, the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy at the societal level, and Buddhist ethics at the mental and moral level. This framework reconceptualizes consumption reduction from a condition of deprivation to one of value-oriented moderation, fostering a sustainable balance among human beings, society, and nature in the long term.