Question: If Buddhism is so good why are some Buddhist countries poor?
Answer: If by poor you mean economically poor, then it is true that some Buddhist countries are poor.
But if by poor you mean a poor quality of life, then perhaps some Buddhist countries are quite rich.
America for example, is an economically rich and powerful country but the crime rate is one of the highest in the world, millions of old people are neglected by their children and die of loneliness in old people's homes, domestic violence and child abuse are major problems. One in three marriages end in divorce and pornography is a major industry.
Rich in terms of money but perhaps poor in terms of the quality of life.
Now take traditional Buddhist countries. Some are economically backward but parents are honored and respected by their children, their crime rates are relatively low, divorce and suicide are almost unheard of, domestic violence and child abuse, pornography and sexual license are not common. Economically backward but perhaps a higher quality of life than in a country like America.
But even if we judge Buddhist countries in terms of economics alone, one of the wealthiest and most economically dynamic countries in the world today is Japan where a large percentage of the population call themselves Buddhists.
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