My husband purchased Hooked! as a birthday gift for me and I am glad he did. This is one of those books that can be read repeatedly. Each reading gives me new insight that I did not previously have.

The book is a collection of 17 essays about consumerism from a Buddhist perspective. But its a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning about consumerism and how to deal with it and stop mindless consumption - not just Buddhists. Personally, I don’t identify as a Buddhist but find the teachings of The Buddha to be valuable guide to living a life that is ethically sound.

Buddhism address consumerism and mindless consumption with the idea of the hungry ghost, "depicted as a craven figure with a protuberant stomach and a long pencil neck [with a small mouth], a maundering wraith unable to satisfy its insatiable desires. In this realm, attempts to avoid pain by seeking satisfaction cause more pain for oneself and others". 

Lately, I have identified my specific type of consumption. I call it "forced kindness". Thus, I will refuse to purchase something that is made in China (for example) because I am aware that many of the Chinese citizens working on American products work very long hours, live in cramped quarters and generally deal with very sucky conditions. However, the counter argument is that this new Chinese economy is beneficial for these workers who would otherwise have worse job prospects and that the money they currently earn is beneficial enough that after a few years they can go back to their villages and jump start their lives there.  However, I don’t want to be responsible for someone working 90-100 hours per week. I demand that they work 40 hours or less and get benefits, health care, proper living quarters, access to clean, non-poisonous water! I refuse to buy bananas from South America because the banana pickers are paid shitty wages and are otherwise thoroughly exploited. I would like them to not be beaten for asking for higher wages. Since I can’t do anything about their beatings or the Chinese workers’ high work hours, I choose to just not consume their products.

This idea of "forced kindness" is reflected in Hooked! The title of the book itself is illuminating. The Tibetan word "shenpa" is often translated into English as "attachment", but a more accurate translation would be "hook" or "that sticky feeling". "Shenpa thrives on the underlying insecurity of living in a world that is always changing. We experience this insecurity as a background of slight unease or restlessness. We all want some kind of relief from that unease, so we turn to what we enjoy–food, alcohol, drugs, sex, work or shopping. In moderation what we enjoy might be very delightful. We can appreciate its taste and its presence in our life. But when we empower it with the idea that it will bring us comfort, that it will remove our unease, we get hooked."

What sort of guidelines should one follow while consuming? Joseph Goldstein writes in his essay, "the first and most fundamental principle to apply is nonharming." That is, if a product we buy causes harm to someone or something we should not consume/buy it.

The essays in the book are written by practioners of various Buddhist sects…thus each of their suggestions in dealing with consumerism reflects their particular sect in some manner. For example under Soto Zen there is a five line verse that is used by their monasteries before a meal:

Five Verses to Living the Green Plan in Everyday Life

1. Let’s Protect the Green Earth. The Great Earth Is the Home of All Life.

2. Let’s Use Water Sparingly. Water Is the Source of All Life.

3. Let’s Limit Our Use of Heat. Heat is What Propels All Life.

4. Let’s Maintain Clean Air. Clean Air Is the Open Space for All Life.

5. Let’s Live in Harmony with Nature. Nature Is the Buddha in Form. 

Overall I really enjoyed this book and have read the essays many times over. I’ve had the book for over a year and decided to re-read it before giving it away. So….

M: I know you wanted me to do the review…if the book sounds interesting and would like my copy of it, let me know. If M doesn’t want it, I can mail it out to anyone else that is interested. Just leave me a comment.