The Way of Buddhism

One is the path that leads to material wealth,

The other is the path that leads to Nirvana

--Gautama Buddha (Dhammapada 5:75)

If greed can be removed,

human suffering will come to an end.

(Avatamsaka Sutra 22, Dasambhumika)

Enlightened beings are magnanimous givers,

bestowing whatever they have

with equanimity,

without regret,

without hoping for reward,

without seeking honor,

without coveting material benefits,

but only to rescue and safeguard

all living beings.

(Garland Sutra 21)

Then Subhuti said to Buddha:

"What is this saying, World-Honored One,

that Bodhisattvas are unconcerned with the rewards of merit?"

[And Buddha answered]:

"Subhuti, Bodhisattvas who achieve merit

should not be fettered with desire for rewards. 

Thus it is said that the rewards of merit are not received."

(The Diamond Sutra, Section 28, "Attachment to Rewards of Merit.")

If beings knew, as I know,

the Fruit of sharing gifts,

they would not enjoy their use

without sharing them,

nor would the taint of stinginess

obsess the heart and stay there.

Even if it were their last bit,

their last morsel of food,

they would not enjoy its use

without sharing it,

if there were anyone to receive it.

(Hivuttaka Sutra 18)

The one who follows the Noble Path to Enlightenment

will not maintain regrets (debts),

neither will he cherish anticipations (credits),

but, with equitable and peaceful mind,

will meet what comes

(MN 218, Madhupindika Sutra)

Students of the Way,

do not worry about food and clothing.

Just maintain the Buddha's precepts

and do not engage in worldly affairs....

Those who truly study the Way

have never practiced with the priority

of providing for their livelihood....

Moreover, I have never read

the collection of all the Buddhist scriptures

of a single Buddha or Ancestor,

who transmitted the Dharma in the three countries,

dying of starvation or cold.

In this world, inherently each person receives

a certain amount of food and clothing as a gift.

It does not come by being sought after,

nor does it stop coming by not seeking after it.

Just leave it to Fate and do not worry about it.

If you refrain from arousing the mind of Awakening in this life,

excusing yourself on the grounds that this is the degenerate age,

in what life will it be possible to attain the Way?

  -- Eihei Dogen, 1200-1253 AD (from his Shobogenzo Zuimonki)

It is because people cherish the idea of ego-personality

that they cling to the idea of possession;

but since there is no such thing as an "ego",

there can be no such things as possessions. 

When people are able to realize this truth,

they will be able to realize the truth of "non-duality".

(Avatamsaka Sutra 34, Gandavyuha)

I have no desire for wealth or possessions,

and so I have nothing.

I do not experience the initial suffering

of having to accumulate possessions,

the intermediate suffering

of having to guard and keep up possessions,

nor the final suffering of loosing the possessions.

This is a wonderful thing.

  -- Tibetan Yogi Jetsun Milarepa

A True Offering is one that gives

not occasionally but constantly.

Neither is it a True Offering if after the act

there are feelings of regret or self-praise;

a True Offering is one that is given with pleasure,

forgetting oneself as the giver, the one who receives it, and the gift itself.

True Offering springs spontaneously

from one's pure compassionate heart

with no thought of any return,

wishing to enter into a life of Enlightenment together.

--Mahaparinirvana Sutra

Heaven and Earth give themselves.

Air, Water, plants, animals, and humans

give themselves to each other.

It is in this giving-themselves-to-each-other

that we actually live.

Whether you appreciate it or not, it is true.

  --Zen Monk Sawaki Roshi ("Homeless Kodo")

The world in which people give and receive things

without saying "Give it to me!"

is the truly beautiful world.

It differs from the world of scrambling for things.

It is vast and boundless.

  --Sawaki Roshi

If your heart is pure,

Then all things in your world are pure.

Abandon this fleeting world,

Abandon yourself;

Then the moon and flowers

Will guide you along the way.

  --Zen Poet Ryokan

The impulse "I want"

and the impulse "I'll have" --

lose them!

That is where most people get stuck;

Without those, you can use your eyes

to guide you through

this suffering state.

(Nipata Sutra 706)

One should give even from a scanty store

to him who asks.

(Dhammapada 224)

Many years before I came to Wat Pah Pong I decided I would give up money.  For the greater part of a Rains Retreat I had thought about it. In the end I grabbed my wallet and walked over to a certain Mahā who was living with me at the time, setting the wallet down in front of him.

‘Here, Mahā, take this money. From today onwards, as long as I’m a monk, I will not receive or hold money. You can be my witness.’

‘You keep it, Venerable, you may need it for your studies.’ The Venerable Mahā wasn’t keen to take the money, he was embarrassed. ‘Why do you want to throw away all this money?’

‘You don’t have to worry about me. I’ve made my decision. I decided last night.’

From the day he took that money it was as if a gap had opened between us. We could no longer understand each other. He’s still my witness to this very day. Ever since that day I haven’t used money or engaged in any buying or selling. I’ve been restrained in every way with money. I was constantly wary of wrongdoing, even though I hadn’t done anything wrong. Inwardly I maintained the meditation practice. I no longer needed wealth, I saw it as a poison. Whether you give poison to a human being, a dog or anything else, it invariably causes death or suffering. If we see clearly like this we will be constantly on our guard not to take that ‘poison’. When we clearly see the harm in it, it’s not difficult to give up.

--Ajahn Chah (The Collected Teachings of Ajahn Chah, Chapt 7, "Understanding Vinaya".  Published for free distribution by Aruna Publications.  Free download at www.forestsanghapublications.org

Gautama Buddha & his suite at the Mahakala caves near Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India

 Tibetan Yogi Jetsun Milarepa & his cave mansion

 Zen Masters Eihei Dogen & Sawaki Roshi ("Homeless Kodo")

are ever at home