Dharma Talk on 14/12/90
(page 142-145 Achievement of Rainbow Light Body volume two)
Tonight I will be speaking on how should cultivators view money. It is a fact that a lot of cultivators do not like to talk about money in the first place. In the olden days, many cultivators would only use paper to wrap themselves up. Some of them did not even want to live in a house. They only used pine wood to cover their roofs. A Zen monk by the name of "bird nest" was noted for living in a tree.
It was even recorded in "Hua Yan" Sutra that twelve monks had made vows not to touch any money in their life time ! Why ? At first, many cultivators stayed in temples or shrines. But they were condemned as "fighting for the properties of temple!" Since money was the main cause, they decided not to live in a temple.
Then they lived in between the graves. But that also did not work out. Many people assumed that "whenever there is a burial, the cultivator will extort money from the geomancy master or the bereaved family." Again, the misunderstanding was caused by money, to they moved again. They lived under the trees. But some woodcutters started to worry : "Maybe they want some money from me ." Again, it was a financial issue.
Eventually, these cultivators moved to an open space. As the area was so wide, there was no tree in sight. But it was considered a transgression of precept. Why ? The area was too wide and spacious as if it was owned by the cultivators. So they decided to define a boundary for themselves, by not lying down when they slept - to observe the precept of "not to sleep on a wide bed." This way of sleeping is known as "Bu Dao Dan" in Chinese - it is still widely observed by many monks, as the cultivators do not want to have anything to do with money.
Sakyamuni Buddha was able to forego all his wealth before his spiritual cultivation, as he believed without any wealth, he can concentrate better. Therefore a lot of cultivators followed his footsteps , they distributed their wealth before their ordinations.
But the modern cultivators are not the same. They accumulate a lot of money like rich businessmen so that they can build grand temples .
Which is the right way ? Giving away wealth or accumulating wealth. Both can be right, but the latter is more difficult as we can be distracted by money.
Many cultivators told me:
"I can only seek ordination when my wife has no financial worries ."
"After my family is well taken care of, I will renounce the world."
"I must have at least US$1 million , before my ordination."
What I am afraid of is that they may die before they can accumulate enough money. Therefore it is very difficult to save up adequate money before commencing cultivation.
As rich cultivators, have we transgressed any precept ? No , we have not. We can accumulate one kind of wealth known as "purified money" on these conditions : first, make a Bodhi vow to save all sentient beings; second, use the money for propagation of Dharma.
Sakyamuni Buddha once said : "Even if we transform the whole
Remember these two prerequisites:
First, a Bodhi-vow must be made.
Second, the money must be used for Dharma propagation .
While a Bodhisattva can enjoy all kinds of wealth, we ordinary cultivators can only enjoy the "bare necessity" in life. We should not accumulate wealth beyond this point. This is the right view a cultivator should have towards money.
Why do we want to accumulate wealth this life ? It must be for the propagating of Buddhdharma and succoring of all sentient beings . Otherwise wealth will be meaningless.
If future, if you are rich, you must remember to use your money for the right causes.
Friday, January 4, 2008
How Should Cutivators View Money
