Greed, or craving, is one of the three poisons at the center of the Buddhist wheel of life, the other two being anger and ignorance. The Buddha taught that this craving, or desire, is one of the root causes of suffering in the world. Greed, or craving (tanha/trsna in Pali/Sanskrit), refers to the tendency to always want more and not be content with what one has. Unlike anger, which pushes away, greed pulls toward—exaggerating positive qualities and creating attachment. Unchecked, greed can lead to materialism—excessively valuing the accumulation of money and possessions at the expense of other things, and overlooking the non-economic aspects of well-being.

Greed, craving, or attachment refers to a state of mind that exaggerates the positive qualities of an object, person, place, or situation, or projects positive qualities that aren’t really there, leading to a strong desire to possess it. This tendency often creates unrealistic expectations and a constant feeling of dissatisfaction, always wanting more instead of being content with what one has.

The Buddhist canon specifies three types of craving or greed: 1) kama-tanha is a craving for sensory pleasures, wealth and power, as well as attachment to ideas and beliefs; 2) bhava-tanha refers to craving for being, wanting ‘to be’ something, to unite with a specific identity or experience; and 3) vibhava-tanha is a craving for non-existence, wishing not to experience unpleasant people or situations, even to the point of wanting self-annihilation. All of these cravings deceive us with a false promise that our suffering will end; but the only true antidote is to cut the root cause of craving and greed. The antidotes to greed include generosity (dana), contentment, and the practice of non-attachment—learning to appreciate without possessing and to enjoy without clinging.

Our minds are shaped by the social environments in which we are embedded and the world we inhabit. Our modern mindset of clinging and striving for happiness through consumerism and materialism is a leading cause of our ongoing dissatisfaction, exerting a powerful influence on our thoughts and actions. If left unchecked, it can lead to negative consequences, including the destruction of our shared and fragile planet. However, with strong minds, we can co-create a more sustainable world. For example, the Buddhist country of Bhutan has implemented a new standard of measurement for their nation’s success. Called Gross National Happiness (GNH), it measures nine domains that are important to collective happiness: psychological well-being, health, time use, education, cultural diversity and resilience, good governance, community vitality, ecological diversity and resilience, and living standards.

Reflecting on how many of our everyday actions impact the systems on which we depend can help us adjust our thinking and behavior to ensure our actions yield the most beneficial outcomes.

Reflect on how the happiness we get through attachment, which mainly comes through the senses, does not last.

• On a daily basis, what is the driving force behind your actions?
• Think of times when your actions were prompted by what you wanted and consider: how did that affect your decision-making and the result of your actions?
• Can you think of ways that can help us pause and not act upon our impulses?

Evaluate unsustainable practices; design alternatives that challenge materialist mindsets; and analyze how craving and desire influence consumption patterns.