Buddhism aims at the propagation of the Noble message of the Buddha 'for the welfare of the many' both here and hereafter. Some scholars have interpreted Buddhism as a religion which is meant only for persons that have renounced household life. They tried to show Buddhism as a pessimistic religion because Buddhism is a kind of religion which obstructive and hostile to worldly progress. But this is an utter misconception. Buddhism is a religion which provides for good and happiness both for the homeless life as well as household life. For one who goes forth to homeless life will attempt to find our the way to get rid of worldly pleasure. But for the person who enjoys household life he may take care of how to lead it in a happy way. Thus, the Suttas such as Sigalovada Sutta, Vyaggapajja Sutta, Parabhava Sutta, Vasala Sutta and Mahmangala Sutta show very clear how a lay-person leads his life for the good, happiness and welfare both here and hereafter.
Buddhism presents a very practical guide for people leading household lives to strive hard and make life successful, for Buddhism believes that poverty leads to lot of problems and corruptions, thus preventing people from turning towards religion. Cakkavattisihanada Sutta, Kutadanta Sutta and Ina Sutta all show the miseries caused by poverty. When we read such discourses it shows that Buddhism is not a pessimistic teaching. Buddhism encourages its followers to earn wealth through righteous means and tell them ways of using it properly for one's own good and for the good of others. One day the young man Deeghajanu (Vyaggapajja as addressed by the Buddha here) requested the Compassionate One some instruction concerning success in life here and hereafter. And the Buddha instructed him how the wealth should be earned, protected and used for his well being as well as the well being of other. Based on this fact the Buddha encourages lay-people who live in house satisfying the senses to follow his practical guidance. Herein, The Buddha instructed thus: There are four factors that contribute to the happiness of a person in this world.
What are those four factors?
(1) Achievement of indefatigable effort (utthana-sampada),
(2) Watchfulness of wealth (arakkha-sampada),
(3) To have good companions (kalyana-sampada), and
(4) Balanced livelihood (samajivikata).
Achievement of indefatigable effort (utthana-sampada) Buddhism encourage all to work hard and earn wealth because Buddhism considers poverty as a misery, as a cause of conflict among the society. Take the Noble Eight-fold Path of the Buddha, herein, sammavayama is given an important item for earning wealth and work hard by righteous means. Acquring wealth is good and encouraged in Buddhism. But this achievement of wealth should be based on moral values. The wealth should be earned by righteous means (dhammika dhamma laddha), the wealth should be earned by sweat (seda vakkitta) and the wealth should be earned by toil (bahubala paricita). The Buddha approved righteous means of earning as farming (kasi), cattle breading (gorakkha), trade (vanijja), industry (sippannatara) and state service (rajapurisa). There are also five trades one has to avoid. There are: sale of living beings (satta vanijja), sale of weapons (sattha vanijja), sale of flesh (mansa vanijja), sale of intoxicating drink (majja vanijja) and sale of poisons (visa vanijja).
Watchfulness of wealth (arakkha-sampada) One should take care of wealth and without wasting what one has earned righteously. The Buddha said (in Vyaggapajja sutta) that there are many ways that cause one's wealth to be ruined and therefore one should be careful and vigilant in keeping one's wealth. The wealth earned should be protected from, fire, thieves, confiscation and also should be protected by ill-disposed heirs who try to take away one's wealth. There are six ways or six avenues leading to loss of wealth (bhoga-apaya-mukha) mentioned in the Sigalovada sutta.
These are: addition to (1) intoxicants, (2) loitering in streets late in the night, (3) haunting clubs and theatres for entertainment, (4) gambling, (5) association with bad friends and (6) indolence. Addition to women and laziness are other causes, similarly extravagant living to cause problem.
Having a good companions (kalyana mittata) One should rely or associate with persons who instruct, help and encourage him in carrying out his business. One should be careful not to fall into association with persons of evil ways. The Buddha's instruction to have reliable companions is shown in Vyaggapajja sutta that there may be young men but possessed of maturing qualities. There may be elderly men but possessed of maturing qualities. Both young and elderly men who have faith n the Buddha or who are of morality (sila) of generosity (caga) of wisdom (panna) should be associated. If one associates with such persons, talks to them, discusses with them and follows the instruction given by them, he could progress in accumulating wealth and live a peaceful household life.
In the Sigalovada sutta the Buddha identified four types of bad friends and four types of good friends.
The four types of bad friends are:
(1) the friend who always seeks what he can get (annadatthuhara),
(2) the friend who talks much but empty words (vaciparama),
(3) the friend who merely flatters you (anuppiyabhani), and
(4) the friend who is fellow-wastrel (apayasahaya).
These four types of friends are really foes, not true friends. One should recognizing them and should hold himself aloof from them to avoid panic, fear or wasting one's wealth.
The four types of good friends are:
(1) the friend who is a helper (upakaraka mitta),
(2) the friend who is always in time good and bad (samana sukhadukkho mitta),
(3) the friend who is always show the right way (atthakkho mitta) and
(4) the friend who is full of sympathy (anukampako mitta). These four kinds of friends are really true ones. One should associate such kinds of friends for the progress in one's wealth.
Balanced livelihood (samajivikata) Balanced living is to avoid two extremes as extravagance and miserliness. This is seen when the Buddha has advised people to earn wealth and not be used excessive in spending. There are some people who lead a simple life and content with their income. They do not want to be very rich and they spend their income in the proper way. But for the person who wants to be charitable and generous and help the people who are in need of help, should try to earn much wealth by righteous means. Such a person should be virtuous and energetic. The Sigalovada sutta gives instruction how to use one's income. Herein, the wealth earned righteously should be divided into four portions. One portion should be used for daily expenses. Two portions should be used for the investment on business. One portion should be deposited carefully for the use in future in the time of need. The wealth earned by righteous means should make oneself happy and look after one's family. Besides, one has to perform five main duties (panca-bali).
These are:
(1) treating relation (nati-bali),
(2) treating visitors (attithi-bali),
(3) performing religious rites (devata-bali),
(4) performing rites, for dead parents and others (pubbapeta-bali) and
(5) paying taxes to the government (raja-bali). The Buddha also accepts that people should earn wealth to be happy. There are four kinds of happiness one could enjoy.
These are:
(1) Atthi sukha - the happiness an individual feels when he knows that he has enough. Satisfaction and contentment with the fulfillment of basis needs gives one's happiness.
(2) bhoga sukha - the happiness an individual feels when he enjoys what he has rightly earned. (3) Anana sukha - this is the happiness when one has enough and there is no need to fall into debt. Falling into debt is a great source of misery. If one is able to know one is free of debts, this s a great happiness one could enjoy.
(4) Anavajja sukha - this is the deep mental happiness an individual feels when his consciousness is clear that he has not done anything bad or wrong in earning his living.
The Buddha has never praised poverty as "it is an ordeal for a person living a household life who enjoys pleasures" "Daliddiyam dukkham loke kamabhogino". Thus, the admonition of the Buddha to householders is to try to earn wealth righteously and to spend it in the proper way and thus to live a good secular life to assure happiness here and hereafter.
Buddhism presents a very practical guide for people leading household lives to strive hard and make life successful, for Buddhism believes that poverty leads to lot of problems and corruptions, thus preventing people from turning towards religion. Cakkavattisihanada Sutta, Kutadanta Sutta and Ina Sutta all show the miseries caused by poverty. When we read such discourses it shows that Buddhism is not a pessimistic teaching. Buddhism encourages its followers to earn wealth through righteous means and tell them ways of using it properly for one's own good and for the good of others. One day the young man Deeghajanu (Vyaggapajja as addressed by the Buddha here) requested the Compassionate One some instruction concerning success in life here and hereafter. And the Buddha instructed him how the wealth should be earned, protected and used for his well being as well as the well being of other. Based on this fact the Buddha encourages lay-people who live in house satisfying the senses to follow his practical guidance. Herein, The Buddha instructed thus: There are four factors that contribute to the happiness of a person in this world.
What are those four factors?
(1) Achievement of indefatigable effort (utthana-sampada),
(2) Watchfulness of wealth (arakkha-sampada),
(3) To have good companions (kalyana-sampada), and
(4) Balanced livelihood (samajivikata).
Achievement of indefatigable effort (utthana-sampada) Buddhism encourage all to work hard and earn wealth because Buddhism considers poverty as a misery, as a cause of conflict among the society. Take the Noble Eight-fold Path of the Buddha, herein, sammavayama is given an important item for earning wealth and work hard by righteous means. Acquring wealth is good and encouraged in Buddhism. But this achievement of wealth should be based on moral values. The wealth should be earned by righteous means (dhammika dhamma laddha), the wealth should be earned by sweat (seda vakkitta) and the wealth should be earned by toil (bahubala paricita). The Buddha approved righteous means of earning as farming (kasi), cattle breading (gorakkha), trade (vanijja), industry (sippannatara) and state service (rajapurisa). There are also five trades one has to avoid. There are: sale of living beings (satta vanijja), sale of weapons (sattha vanijja), sale of flesh (mansa vanijja), sale of intoxicating drink (majja vanijja) and sale of poisons (visa vanijja).
Watchfulness of wealth (arakkha-sampada) One should take care of wealth and without wasting what one has earned righteously. The Buddha said (in Vyaggapajja sutta) that there are many ways that cause one's wealth to be ruined and therefore one should be careful and vigilant in keeping one's wealth. The wealth earned should be protected from, fire, thieves, confiscation and also should be protected by ill-disposed heirs who try to take away one's wealth. There are six ways or six avenues leading to loss of wealth (bhoga-apaya-mukha) mentioned in the Sigalovada sutta.
These are: addition to (1) intoxicants, (2) loitering in streets late in the night, (3) haunting clubs and theatres for entertainment, (4) gambling, (5) association with bad friends and (6) indolence. Addition to women and laziness are other causes, similarly extravagant living to cause problem.
Having a good companions (kalyana mittata) One should rely or associate with persons who instruct, help and encourage him in carrying out his business. One should be careful not to fall into association with persons of evil ways. The Buddha's instruction to have reliable companions is shown in Vyaggapajja sutta that there may be young men but possessed of maturing qualities. There may be elderly men but possessed of maturing qualities. Both young and elderly men who have faith n the Buddha or who are of morality (sila) of generosity (caga) of wisdom (panna) should be associated. If one associates with such persons, talks to them, discusses with them and follows the instruction given by them, he could progress in accumulating wealth and live a peaceful household life.
In the Sigalovada sutta the Buddha identified four types of bad friends and four types of good friends.
The four types of bad friends are:
(1) the friend who always seeks what he can get (annadatthuhara),
(2) the friend who talks much but empty words (vaciparama),
(3) the friend who merely flatters you (anuppiyabhani), and
(4) the friend who is fellow-wastrel (apayasahaya).
These four types of friends are really foes, not true friends. One should recognizing them and should hold himself aloof from them to avoid panic, fear or wasting one's wealth.
The four types of good friends are:
(1) the friend who is a helper (upakaraka mitta),
(2) the friend who is always in time good and bad (samana sukhadukkho mitta),
(3) the friend who is always show the right way (atthakkho mitta) and
(4) the friend who is full of sympathy (anukampako mitta). These four kinds of friends are really true ones. One should associate such kinds of friends for the progress in one's wealth.
Balanced livelihood (samajivikata) Balanced living is to avoid two extremes as extravagance and miserliness. This is seen when the Buddha has advised people to earn wealth and not be used excessive in spending. There are some people who lead a simple life and content with their income. They do not want to be very rich and they spend their income in the proper way. But for the person who wants to be charitable and generous and help the people who are in need of help, should try to earn much wealth by righteous means. Such a person should be virtuous and energetic. The Sigalovada sutta gives instruction how to use one's income. Herein, the wealth earned righteously should be divided into four portions. One portion should be used for daily expenses. Two portions should be used for the investment on business. One portion should be deposited carefully for the use in future in the time of need. The wealth earned by righteous means should make oneself happy and look after one's family. Besides, one has to perform five main duties (panca-bali).
These are:
(1) treating relation (nati-bali),
(2) treating visitors (attithi-bali),
(3) performing religious rites (devata-bali),
(4) performing rites, for dead parents and others (pubbapeta-bali) and
(5) paying taxes to the government (raja-bali). The Buddha also accepts that people should earn wealth to be happy. There are four kinds of happiness one could enjoy.
These are:
(1) Atthi sukha - the happiness an individual feels when he knows that he has enough. Satisfaction and contentment with the fulfillment of basis needs gives one's happiness.
(2) bhoga sukha - the happiness an individual feels when he enjoys what he has rightly earned. (3) Anana sukha - this is the happiness when one has enough and there is no need to fall into debt. Falling into debt is a great source of misery. If one is able to know one is free of debts, this s a great happiness one could enjoy.
(4) Anavajja sukha - this is the deep mental happiness an individual feels when his consciousness is clear that he has not done anything bad or wrong in earning his living.
The Buddha has never praised poverty as "it is an ordeal for a person living a household life who enjoys pleasures" "Daliddiyam dukkham loke kamabhogino". Thus, the admonition of the Buddha to householders is to try to earn wealth righteously and to spend it in the proper way and thus to live a good secular life to assure happiness here and hereafter.
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