What does Buddhism teach about wealth and poverty?
Buddhism teaches the following about wealth and poverty.
- All human beings should display compassionUnderstanding and appreciation of the pain and suffering of others. to each other as part of a globalRelating to the whole world. community. This involves helping people living in poverty whenever possible.
- Owning wealth is not seen as an issue - but the belief is that it can cause dukkhaSuffering, illness, dissatisfaction or imperfection. An unavoidable fact of existence according to the first Noble Truth of Buddhism., if it is the focus of greed, and gained through exploitTo make full use of, or to take advantage of..
- karma/kammaActions, and the consequences of actions. An important concept in Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism. or 'intentional action' is a Buddhist belief. This means that wealth is also seen as a great opportunity for generosity, which benefits the recipient, and also the giver since it is a good action.
- The possession of wealth can be seen as the outcome of good actions in the past. Wealth, therefore, can bring happiness.
There is no satisfying the senses, not even with a shower of money
Buddhism teaches that monkA person who is a member of a monastic order, living under religious obedience., the members of the SanghaThe Buddhist community of people who practice the faith, usually used to mean the community of monks and nuns. , should live a simple life where they have the necessities to be comfortable and no more.