LINDA PEER | Zen Wisdom

[Earth] is not ours to keep and abuse. It is ours to care for, to honor, and to pass on to future generations.

Wise and wealthy people will not frivolously give away their wealth. It is alright for wealthy people to stay wealthy. Buddhism does not advocate communism. On the other hand, Buddhists should not say, “Everything that is mine absolutely belongs to me. I will use any means to protect my possessions.” Buddhism encourages people to make offerings and help others. Strict capitalism, where people try to accumulate as much wealth as possible, is not in accordance with the Dharma. It is also quite destructive.

There are other attitudes toward wealth that can be detrimental; that is, thinking of material wealth as a guarantee of personal security, or as a symbol of success, achievement and status. People with these attitudes will try to accumulate as much wealth as possible. If they have a thousand dollars, they’ll want ten thousand. When they have tens of thousands, they’ll want millions. They will want to accumulate for themselves as well as their descendants. They hope their children and grandchildren will keep their wealth and, in fact, help it to grow. They constantly think of ways to enhance their material wealth, and worry about losing what they already have. With so much on their minds, they have little time for anything else, least of all religious practice.

Furthermore, such people have a deep impression that money is hard to come by, so they are reluctant to part with it, to help others. The idea of accumulating more and more of anything is contrary to practice. The opposite attitude, being careless and reckless with one’s possessions, is also contrary to practice. Such an attitude is irresponsible.

The sutras encourage people to make good use of what they have, and to be able to do without. You should not depend too much on your wealth or derive all your pleasure from such wealth. You should learn to be content in any and all situations.

There is a story concerning the famous Ch’an practitioner, Layman P’ang. He was, supposedly, very wealthy. After enlightenment, he took all his wealth ─ gold, silver, jewels ─ loaded it in a boat and dumped in a river. Then he and his family had nothing, not even a house to live in. They survived by making and selling baskets. People asked, “Why didn’t you give your money to the needy?” Layman P’ang replied, “I didn’t want to harm anyone. If you give people wealth, they will likely create a lot of bad karma. If, instead, you tell them to practice, they will gain true wealth.” The story is probably fabricated, but it makes a good point: it is best to have few desires, to live simply and be content.

If you are materially wealthy, you are potentially adding to your burden of responsibilities. It takes time and energy to accumulate and manage possessions. There will be less time for practice. However, if you see yourself as being the guardian of your wealth, wealth that really belongs to all sentient beings, then you can practice well. You will see wealth as something to be used without attachment, without a sense of gain or loss.

You need not be afraid of having or accumulating wealth, nor should you overly indulge in the pleasures brought about by wealth. Use what you have with restraint, help those in need, and support the Three Jewels ─ Buddha, Dharma and Sangha.

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