There is a general impression among many that if you walk the Buddhist path, you should not acquire wealth, perhaps even take a vow of poverty. Not so!
First one must distinguish between monks and other disciplines of the Buddha on the one hand and laypeople or "householders." For the former, there is no question that Buddhist monks take a vow of poverty. In the life of the Buddha, there are reports of many wealthy people who were converted by the Buddha, who "went forth from faith from the house life into homelessness", who gave up all their wealth and acquired the robes and the alms bowl of the monk.
But for householders, that rule does not apply. Almost the contrary. There is ample evidence in the Buddha dharma that the Buddha was supportive of householders acquiring wealth provided that it was acquired in a Right way and was used in a Right way. Indeed, wealth was held to be a very important tool in helping others, including the sangha.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Buddha did not view householder poverty as something good or meritorious. It was not a negative mark, but it wasn't something to be sought. He saw it as the cause of suffering and much crime and other Wrong action by man. And so, as Tevya said in Fiddler on the Roof, it's no sin to be poor, it's also no honor either.
So if you're a Buddhist "householder," regardless what your line of work, even if you are helping others spiritually, there is no negative mark from gaining wealth, so long as you gain it through Right action and make use of it in a Right way.
First one must distinguish between monks and other disciplines of the Buddha on the one hand and laypeople or "householders." For the former, there is no question that Buddhist monks take a vow of poverty. In the life of the Buddha, there are reports of many wealthy people who were converted by the Buddha, who "went forth from faith from the house life into homelessness", who gave up all their wealth and acquired the robes and the alms bowl of the monk.
But for householders, that rule does not apply. Almost the contrary. There is ample evidence in the Buddha dharma that the Buddha was supportive of householders acquiring wealth provided that it was acquired in a Right way and was used in a Right way. Indeed, wealth was held to be a very important tool in helping others, including the sangha.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Buddha did not view householder poverty as something good or meritorious. It was not a negative mark, but it wasn't something to be sought. He saw it as the cause of suffering and much crime and other Wrong action by man. And so, as Tevya said in Fiddler on the Roof, it's no sin to be poor, it's also no honor either.
So if you're a Buddhist "householder," regardless what your line of work, even if you are helping others spiritually, there is no negative mark from gaining wealth, so long as you gain it through Right action and make use of it in a Right way.
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