- Examine Buddhist views of wealth. [10
marks - AQA]
Plan:
·
Wealth is not an inherently bad thing, but can
lead to craving which is bad.
·
Wealth is useful as it helps us to practise generosity
(Mahayana)
·
Wealth should be used properly – Ven Payatto
(right consumption)
·
Right livelihood as a part of sila can be
related to wealth.
The view of wealth within Buddhism depends on a variety of
factors, but perhaps most importantly, on one’s ordination status. The Buddha
set up the sangha after gaining enlightenment, and taught that realising
nirvana would only be possible for those who renounced their lives to become
ascetics. Part of the renunciation involves giving up one’s former name, status
and previous possessions, this is based on the Buddha’s own experience of
renouncing his throne as the prince of the Shakya clan in order to pursue the
end of dukkha. The Buddha offered clear teachings on wealth to monastics: monks
and nuns are forbidden from having their own possessions beyond their robe and
begging bowl, and their reliance on alms signifies this. Furthermore, monks and
nuns are not even aloud to touch money, and would not accept monetary donations
from the laity. This is because owning property and amassing wealth leads to
inevitable craving, which causes suffering and dissatisfaction with one’s life.
Further dukkha is also caused by any loss of wealth, and anxieties about money.
The ultimate goal of Buddhism (nirvana, enlightenment) requires total
non-attachment, so for monks and nuns, wealth is seen as vice that must be
given up.
However, it could be argued that this view of wealth has
developed somewhat in the 21st Century. A good example is the Wat
Phra Dhammakaya movement in Thailand, where monetary donations are accepted to
advance the life of the sangha and help others. Other modern movements, such as
Triratna Buddhism (the largest Buddhist centre of this kind being based in
London) also handle money and may have business-aspects to their daily life.
This shows that that Buddha’s teachings on wealth do not apply to all sangha. The
laity within Buddhism are also not forbidden from amassing wealth, unlike other
world religions (for example, the Bible suggests that “money is the root of all
evil” and Jesus instructed his followers to practice radical and voluntary
poverty). Wealth is in fact seen as a good thing for lay people, provided it is
used with kusala (selfless) intentions. Those who do have wealth are in a
privileged position of sharing it with others, and gaining good karmic
consequences as a result. This is particularly important for Mahayana
Buddhists, who are required to practice both karuna (compassion) and generosity
via the 6 perfections for moral behaviour.
Ven. Payatto has commented that Buddhists should be mindful
of how they use their money, particularly within the trappings of a capitalist
society. He suggests that “right consumption” is important in today’s world,
and that Buddhists should avoid businesses and lifestyles that lead to the
suffering of others. Buddhists are likely to therefore support Fair Trade and
often boycott businesses related to human and animal suffering, such as
butchery and fur. There are also actions within sila that help guide Buddhists
on how to use their wealth: right intention and right livelihood show that
wealth should be used to help others and not just privilege oneself (this would
be an akusala intention which would lead to bad karma, delaying the acquisition
of nirvana). Therefore, those lay people who are allowed to save up their
wealth must still use their money morally.
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