Buddhist Perspective on the Development of Social Welfare
by Ashin Indacara | 2011 | 61,386 words
This page relates 鈥楾he Benefit of Wealth鈥� of the study on the Buddhist perspective on the development of Social Welfare, employing primarily the concepts of Utthana-sampada (persistent effort) and Arakkha-sampada (watchfulness). Based on the teachings of the Buddha in the Dighajanu Sutta and other canonical texts, this essay emphasizes the importance of effort, knowledge, and good karma in achieving social welfare.
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11. The Benefit of Wealth
The Buddha exhorted the lay householders to improve their wealth in the way of non-violence or lawful effort based on right livelihood. The development of wealth is for material and spiritual progress in both of life.
Thus the Buddha pointed out the five kinds of benefit of wealth for householder in the Bhoga Sutta of A峁単uttara Nikya. They are:鈥�
(1) The comfortable support of oneself and, one鈥檚 family and dependents,
(2) Sharing with one鈥檚 friends and associations,
(3) Investment against future misfortune,
(4) The fivefold offerings -to relatives, the departed or deceased by dedicating merit, and to the deities,
(5) The Support of spiritual teachers and virtuous monks.[1]
These are the benefit which one can get from his wealth that he has developed. Apart from that, he can do much meritorious deeds based on his wealth or richness for the spiritual development. However, to develop wealth is not for boast, inordinate pride in oneself and being conceited, etc. It is only for being able to support the happiness of living and practising Brahmacariya (noble training or practice) according to Sabb膩sava Sutta.