“Core teachings
for enhancing wealth and alleviating hunger from the teachings of the Buddha”
*Venerable Peramandiye
Indarathana[1]
Introduction
Hunger
is a very crucial problem people have to face in their life time. According to
the teachings of the Buddha one should not eat anything without sharing. The
Buddha says if you knew what I know the power of sharing, you would not consume
anything without sharing. This is more enough for understanding the power of
sharing. Especially people have to fall down under the poverty line because of
not having a balanced economical ways. If people do not have sufficient
economies they would have to suffer from hunger. Therefore it is very important
to understand core teachings of the Buddha enhancing wealth and eradicating
poverty or hunger in order to lead a happy life. This attempt is to shows the
most important suttas and Jataka tales related to the economic side
and how people should earn wealth according to the Buddhist guidelines. By
today whole the world is being degenerated, because ethical deterioration
begins with not having an enough economies to lead one’s life. As a result of
hunger people are indulging with many unrighteous acts in order to have enough
wealth. According to the Buddhist point of view Wealth is blameless if it is
rightfully obtained, without hurting others, without violence, stealing, lying
and deception. As well as ‘Hunger is the greatest illness; one cannot live
having a peace of mind if they do not have wealth. Buddhism advocates amassing
wealth and through right livelihood removing hunger or poverty that people have
faced.
Objectives
Understanding
the main teachings of the Buddha for enhancing wealth and apply those teachings
into the life is the main objective of this research paper. And also how one
should earn wealth according to the teachings of the Buddha.
Discussion
When
discussing about core teachings of the Buddha for enhancing wealth and
alleviating hunger, it is very important to note that here about poverty, which
most of the people face by today. It is an actual fact that because of the
poverty they struggle more and more in their life. Especially Buddhism mainly
considers about two types of poverty in the society. Which are, poverty in
material and poverty on Spiritual. In the canonical texts both poverties have
been mentioned as “Dukkha” or “Suffering”. By today most of the people are
suffering from hunger and poverty because of not having enough wealth to lead a
good life where no any problems and difficulties. The Buddha teaches us the way to overcome
those two poverties and accumulate wealth in righteous way. It is obvious that
according to the teachings of the Buddha wealth is not evil; what is most
important is that how it is made and used. In the Dhammapada[i] it states that Riches
ruins the foolish, but not those in the quest of for riches, the foolish one
ruins himself as (if he were ruins) others. And also the Buddha advocates that
one should try cultivate both material and spiritual richness in this very life.
If one is unable to cultivate the material development in righteous way, there
is nothing can be toke about spiritual development. Because of the dab
activities that most of people do the spiritual well-being has been damaged.
Therefore one must concentrate on both ways and try to lead a happy life
instead of bitter life. At the same time according to the Sighālovadasutta
of Majjhimanikāya[ii] it explains that, the
person who collect wealth should consider about the spiritual development too,
and should behaves as a bee in the society. The bee does not harm to the flower
and get honey from the flower. According to this statement which is a very
important to follow in order to earn money without harming to anyone. But by
today people try to be rich by cheating, killing, talking what is not given
doing such and such a things in the society. Which is not the way that they
should perform. As well as the money which they earn by hart working must be
saved and protected. The Buddha advices
to the lay community the importance of saving. According to the Pahārādasutta
of Majjhimanikāya is says that monks and nuns must try to collect noble
wealth[iii] and lay society must try
to collect material wealth. According to the Buddhist teachings it emphasizes
that development of material wealth without right livelihood is not accepted.
One should earn money in righteous way. And also according to the current world
situation, there are many problems can be seen. As well as we can see the
Buddhist perspective on social issues and its solutions for those problems. The
most important thing is that the Buddha did not prevent his lay disciples from
sensual pleasure but advised them the way of experiencing it. According to the Kāmasukhasutta
of Aṅguttaranikāya[iv] it explains that there
are two kinds of happiness, the happiness of sensual pleasure and the happiness
of renunciation. Especially it has mentioned that the happiness of sensual
pleasure. The Buddha emphasizes that the important of spiritual development,
but did not condemned the happiness of lay society. According to the teachings
of the Buddha, Buddhist lay person should understand the importance of
obtaining wealth which need to run his life. Once the Buddha shows an old
couple beginning on the road and said to the monks, this an old couple were
millionaires in their young age, they did not learn anything or do nothing for
earn money. Now they have nothing to live. Then the Buddha explains to the
monks saying that, if people do not earn money or do not practice noble path to
the Nibbāna, they have to suffer in their old age as a heron staying in
a ceased lake where there is no any fish[v]. According to the Vyaggapajjasutta
of Aṅguttaranikāya, it explains the way that worldly pleasure can be
enjoyed and lead a happy life. There are four conditions which can be practiced
in order to earn wealth and protect them. Namely
Initiative
or persistent effort-
uțțhāna-sampadā
Attentiveness
or watchfulness -
ārakkha-sampadā
Good
companionship- kalyānamittatā
Balanced
livelihood - sama-jivikatā
When considering about the core
teachings of the Buddha for enhancing wealth, these suttās take s very
important place. Without understanding about these facts no one is able to earn
money which make them happy. Most of people are suffering from hunger, because
they do not have any persistent effort for earning wealth, therefore one should
have good effort and should be able to protect what he earns. In this sutta
explains that in order to have a better life our peer influence is more
important. Therefore one should understand the good companion and bad
companion. And also the Buddha shows us the way of earning wealth. At the same
time a person must have these following qualities. If a person has these
qualities he is able to lead a good life without falling into the poverty.
Skillful, dakka Laziness, analaso Ability to use strategies, tatarūpāya
vimansāya samannāgato Ability to do profession well, alaṃkātuṃ
Ability to organize or getting done works from others, alṃsaṃvidhituṃ.
In order to alleviate hunger a person must do his profession well and properly.
Most of people suffer from hunger due to their laziness. The Buddha states that
“laziness is not good for the lay society”[vi].
If they do not strive to do their works, they cannot achieve any goal in their
life. Therefore instead of laziness effort must be there for removing scarcity
of food, poverty, and so call problems. In Aggaññasutta of Dighanikāya
it says that due to the laziness of the people all the social issues are
generated. A lazy man collected food which was common for all beings, because
of that action all the social problems were arisen. Therefore that Buddha
states in Dhammapada[vii]
“The glory of him who is energetic, mindful, pure in deed, considerate,
self-controlled, right living and heedful steadily increases “
When
discussing about the wealth which must be earned by lay society, effort is more
important for them. There are many examples which are related with the Buddha’s
Biography. In jataka stories also emphasize effort of the Bodhisatta.
The Buddha said to the young Sigāla “When sleeping late becomes a habit and
night is seen as time to rise, for one perpetually intoxicated, a home life
cannot be maintained. ‘Too cold, too hot, too late: they say. Having wasted
work time this way, the young miss out on opportunities” and also the Buddhist
perspective on the earning and outflow has been explained in this way. When
people practice these four factors which are mentioned in Vyaggapajja sutta
it helps people for gradual financial development, they can eliminate poverty
from the world they can alleviate hunger. In this sutta Buddha show four
kinds of habits which gradually decline the person and bring a person toward
the hell.
Womanizing, Drunkenness,
Gambling, Friendship, companionship and intimacy with evil-doers.
When people endowed with these bad qualities they gradually
come suffer of poor. Buddhism directly shows the causes of poverty, hunger and
negative habits of the human life and advice to eradicate those behaviors. In Attassadvara
jataka Buddha explains six factors which can be used to develop the person. People
are suffering from hunger and poverty increase day by day due to lack of these
factors. Those are,
“Healthiness,
Morality, Respect to elder, Wise, righteous and non-lazy”
As well as in the present world there are so many people are
suffering from hunger and poverty. Because they do not save or manage their
income and outflow. According to the Rāsiyasutta of Saṁyuktanikāya,
the Buddha shows the suitable way of life for the lay community. The Buddha
emphasizes that the importance of right livelihood. In Buddhism, development
without righteousness consider as immense mistake. The poor people also first
must come into virtues and they should not do evil things. The Buddha in Vepullasutta
of the AnguttaraNikaya says how people can increase their wealth within
a short time,
“tῑhi bhikkhave aṅgehi samannāgato pāpaniko na cirasseva
mahantaṃ vepullattaṃ pāpunatibhogesu. katamehi tihi, idha bhikkhave pāpaniko
cakkhuma hoti, vidhuro hoti, nissayasamāpannoca”
The person who has these qualities such as,
1. Wise - cakkumā
2. Knowledge with effort - vidhuro
3. Associate with skillful
people - nissaya
If the person needs to develop within a short period he must
endowed with these qualities. In another place the Buddha introduces four
factors which can be practiced to develop their wealth in short period. In cakkasutta
of AnguttaraNikaya Buddha says,
“cattārimani bhikkhave cakkāni yehi samannāgatānam
devamanussānam catukkam vattati. yehi samannāgata devamanussa na cirasseva
mahantattam vepullattam papunanti bhogesu. katamani cattāri. patirūpa desa vāso,
sappurisupassayo, attasammapanidhi pubbe ca kata puññta”
There are four factors to collect wealth within short
period. Those are,
“Dwelling in suitable place, associating
virtues people, Improving personality and skills, previous merits”
These are the teachings that people
should follow in order to enhance their wealth and alleviate hunger from their
life.
Conclusion
The Buddha has stated in the Sāleyyakasutta that what
a layman should strive at is the disciplining of one’s craving. This, in other
words, refers to keeping away from abijagna. Not developing the sentiment that “whatever
pleasure that accrues to others should come only to me not to them”. If one
were to retain or accelerate abijagna, it would become intolerable for
one to see others receiving things and prospering in life. As a result; eternal
suffering would befall on him. What one should strive to achieve is santutti or contentment. This
implies that acceptance of conditions and situations. And also the person who able to share with
others do not look down upon others. The concept of “Sadharaṇa Bhogi” is
very important concept in Buddhism. In present society leaders do not share
wealth equally in the society. The powerful rich people get without limitations
and do not share with others. Poor people every day suffer from the poverty. In
Modern world also we can see they put many foods to ocean while millions of
people suffer from hunger in some countries. The Buddhist concept “saṃvibajati”
means sharing the wealth with others.
The person then should do meritorious deeds also. In
Buddhism generosity, helping to others, compassion, loving kindness, are known
as meritorious deeds. Then Buddha advice to people to consume the property
without indulgence and with awareness and real understanding about the wealth.
Bibliography
Diga Nikaya III,
Sigalovada sutta, BJTS, Page 302
Wickramasingha J.W, (2002). Buddhist
Theory of Development Economics, Nadimala: Buddhist
Cultural Center.
Kusaladhamma
Pollgolle, Buddhist perspective on poverty and its causes and Buddhist
ideas, effective means for the resolution of the problems of poverty. Sri
Lanka International Buddhist Academy
[1]
Undergraduate at Sri Lanka International Buddhist Academy
p.indarathana@gmail.com(
+94) 071 6832991
[iv] “Dvemāni
bhikkhave sukhāni. Katamāni dve: kāmasukhañca, nekkhammasukhañca. Imāni kho
bhikkhave dve sukhāni. Etadaggaṃ bhikkhave imesaṃ dvinnaṃ sukhānaṃ yadidaṃ
nekkhammasukhanti
[v] acaritvā brahmacariyam - aladdhā yobbane dhanam
jinna
koncāva jhāyanti - khina macceva
pallale
acaritvā
brahacariyam - aladdhā yobbane dhanam
senti
capatikhina va - puranani
anutthunam
Saññatassa ca dhammajῑvino - Appamattassa
yasobhivaḑḑhati
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