According to Buddha, this world is not perfect. No matter where we go, pain and suffering follow us. Neither poor nor rich can be truly happy unless they detach themselves from the desires that lead to suffering. Poverty, the cause of dukkha and ignorance, is a subjective issue. Due to poverty, a person cannot aim for spirituality. The main objective then becomes survival, and this can lead to a cycle of suffering. Buddha’s teachings provide suitable solutions to all the reasons that lead to dukkha. A person who endures these teachings daily shall find happiness in the suffering.
We live in a world with an increasing population and limited resources. Being the world’s fourth-largest religion, Buddhism and Buddhist perspectives on global issues are popular. Buddhist philosophy is based on sustainable development and creating social harmony. Limited resources cause poverty, which further causes suffering, which in turn, leads to ignorance. One should free the mind from material desires and aim for well-being.
Poverty and wealth, though appearing as enemies, are interdependent. Both are related to the desires of material life; none leads to true happiness. Born into a royal family, Buddha left his palace to seek enlightenment and true peace. Various Buddhist monks take the responsibility of healing themselves and others from dukkha.
Wealth cannot buy happiness. Instead, the calmness of the mind provides tranquility.
Poverty in a Psychological Sense
In Buddhism, a common belief about poverty is the need to measure impoverishment with an open mind. Moral quality is as important as material needs. (Ethan Safran, 2014)
One must cultivate wealth by learning moral virtues like faith, wisdom, virtuous behaviour, moral shame, generosity, and moral dread. (Anguttara Nikaya A.N. 7.6 and 7.7) Such forms of wealth cannot be taken away and lead to the cessation of suffering. Buddha states that the ones lacking these moral temperaments are truly poor. (A.N. 6.45)
According to Buddhist teachings, work should not be a means to satisfy desires and wishes. Work should be part of the process of building skills and character. When someone works according to the Buddhist concept of the right livelihood, they find sustainable happiness. (Ernest, 2020)
“Being poor is glorious.” This idea made every Chinese willingly accept poverty during the Cultural Revolution. (Ven. Jing Yin, 2019) Nowadays, the poor focus on becoming rich. They devote all their energy to wealth which leads to the recalling of sorrows.
According to Ekottara Agama, if a person is poor and has no access to food and clothing, he will not be able to dwell on spiritual goals. The desire for wealth shall arise. Once he becomes rich, he shall yearn for a good reputation; then healthy life; then good well-being; then a happy afterlife. This greed never stops, and the inner world gets unsettled. Buddhism believes that this continuous cycle leads to suffering and can be stopped only by detaching oneself from material greed.
Comparative Analysis of Poverty
The greatest wealth is contentment. (David Loy, 2011)
According to Buddhism, poverty comes under two sections. First, the one where people struggle to satisfy basic material needs like food and shelter. This section, also called poor (fig. 1), faces dukkha. Second, those who aim for spiritual goals, like monks (fig. 2) and nuns. This section cannot satisfy their basic material needs. However, the latter are content because they have chosen this path of detachment and do not face dukkha.
Henceforth, Buddhism provides remedies to end this dukkha, the suffering of the poor. Buddhism also draws attention to the fact that material things cannot provide happiness, which can be proved by looking at the life of spiritual ones. Buddhists believe in acting with loving kindness and showing compassion towards all. They want to help people who are suffering in poverty. (BBC, 2012)
There is no satisfying the senses, not even with a shower of money. – Buddha
According to Loy, a Zen teacher, poverty means the absence of satisfying basic material needs, leading to a decent life free from exposure and hunger. He describes that the monastic life of Buddhist tradition includes basic needs of food, clothing, healthcare, and shelter. Still, a person living under these terms is free from the pleasures and possessions of an average being. That is the difference between monastic life and poverty. (Ethan Safran, 2014).
Buddhist Views on Wealth
Buddha labels tanha, craving, as another cause of dukkha. (Upaya Zen center, 2011) People gain an intense drive to possess things, and the same things become the cause of suffering. They contain less satisfaction and more anxiety. Wealth and possessions are needless distractions. A person must be happy to possess the things required to sustain day-to-day life.
Buddhism influences financial decision-making by providing a moral approach. (Molekowa, 2021) The dream house, fancy car, designer outfits, and other luxurious items will not last forever. These items do not define human beings. (Lindewi, 2021) By remaining calm and detached, one can gain moral benefits from possessions. Promoting sustainable marketing and ecological sustainability is crucial in finance. (Janek, 2019)
Gain is illusion, losing is enlightenment. (Lindewi, 2021)
We should keep personal finance realistic and accept that loss is inevitable. Personal finance is not an exact science. (Smita Nag, 2019) It is necessary to deal with losses effectively as it determines financial well-being. According to Buddha, money is a number that never ends. Anyone who searches for happiness with money shall continue to search forever.
Buddhist Literature on Poverty and Wealth
In Anguttara Nikaya, Buddha says that poverty is equivalent to suffering for the householders. The Cakkavattisihanada Sutta of Digha Nikaya mentions poverty as the cause of crimes like theft, violence, short life, falsehood, ill health, and deteriorated family values. Many passages from early Buddhist Pali scriptures advise people to seek wealth in righteous ways. (Ven. Jyotika)
Once Buddha advised the great banker Anathapindika (fig.3) that there are four kinds of happiness for those who lead a household life. These are the happiness of ownership (attisukha), the happiness of freedom (ananasukha), the happiness of enjoyment (bhogasukha), and the happiness of blamelessness (anavajjasukha). (Ven. Jyotika) The first three are related to possessing wealth while the last deals with morality.
Buddhist Solutions
In the Pali Canon, Shakyamuni Buddha teaches the Middle Way between excessive indulgence and rigid self-denial. (Senauke H, 2021) He pictures a world without poverty and describes four kinds of happiness for a householder. These are the happiness of earning livelihood through rightful means, the happiness of sharing wealth with family, the happiness of getting freed from debt, and the happiness of living without the thoughts or actions of evil. (Senauke, 2021)
Buddha believes that the development of the mind is the basis for developing moral character. If the moral character is not strong, the masses will not succeed in shifting the paradigm of discontent and economic greed, which will only lead to inequality. (Dipen, 2018)
In Digha Nikaya (III 180), a code of discipline for ordinary life in Sigalovada Sutta contains two important verses. One passage declares, “the wise and the virtuous shine like a blazing fire.” It continues to say that if a layperson acquires and spends the money as advised by Buddha, their regular life will be well-run. They will receive love from their community. (Dipen, 2018)
According to Buddhism, wealth is the practice of genuine wisdom and true kindness. (Thaye Dorje, 2016) Practising these values leads to the eradication of the causes of physical and mental poverty. Thus, the individual gains absolute prosperity. Inner Wealth is the path to overcoming anxiety. A person can achieve this path through three components:
- Repeatedly listening to Buddha’s teachings
- Contemplating those teachings
- Meditating on the facts
People must learn to limit the desires of excess and spend money on things that last for a long time, like education or savings. (Smita Nag, 2019) Being ethical and generous towards finance leads to self-improvement. The cause of suffering is unquenched desire, which one should reject by eliminating worldly pleasures. Organisations using externally and internally sourced project finance for investment should adhere to the Buddhist principles of banking and finance in investment evaluations. (Janek, 2019)
Buddhism is treated more as a series of moral disciplines and less as a religion. Buddhism points out that ignorance traps humans in a wheel of birth and rebirth and leads to dukkha. Only when humans see the truth through meditation can they liberate themselves from suffering. Creating harmony and equality are the core qualities of Buddhism. They ensure economic stability and prosperity. Where there is stability, peace prevails.
It is essential to develop the mind as it plays a significant role in shaping desires. As it is the forerunner of all, it should receive Buddhist philosophy on greed and enlightenment. Buddhist literature further includes wonderful stories which inspire laymen as well as monks.
References
- David Loy. (2008). The Greatest wealth is contentment: A Buddhist perspective on poverty.
- BBC. (2012). Wealth and Poverty: Part of Religious Studies.
- Ethan Safran. (2014). Contemporary Buddhist perspectives on poverty. Borgen magazine.
- Ernest C. (2020). A Buddhist Perspective: Is Universal Basic Income Genuinely Caring, Compassionate and Wise? Berkeley Center.
- Ven. Jyotika. The Function of Wealth in Buddhism. Buddhivihara.
- Dipen B. (2018). Buddhist Perspectives on the Expenditure and Deployment of Income and Assets. Buddhistdoor Global.
- Thaye Dorje. (2016). Inner Wealth for the Buddhist Practitioner.
- Senauke H. (2021). No Poverty: The Sustainable Development Goals and Buddhism. 9. Ven. Jing Yin. (2019). Buddhist Values and Economics: Investing in a Sustainable Future. 10. Upaya Zen center. (2011). The Greatest wealth is contentment: A Buddhist perspective on poverty.
- Lindiwe Molekoa. (2021). 7 moral money principles from Buddhism: ‘Its about mental economy’.
- Smita Nag. (2019). Buddhism and Personal Finance. Outlook Money.
- Janek Ratnatunga. (2019). Buddhist Banking and Finance: A Philosophy for Sustainable Value Creation.
- Picture Courtesy :Source: Helping poor people foundation, FacebookSource: Vipassana Research Institute
RIYA DOSHI
I’m Riya Doshi from research authentication team. An archaeology and ancient history student, dancer by passion, mass media enthusiast, I am contributing to Indian culture with my knowledge and skills. I aim to learn from every aspect of nature, and aim to preserve it with efficient methods.
