Abhidhamma in Daily Life (by Ashin Janakabhivamsa)

by Ashin Janakabhivamsa | 66,666 words

English translation of "Abhidhamma in Daily Life" by Professor Ko Lay. Revised by Sayadaw U Silananda, International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University, Yangon, 1999...

Part 6 - The Story Of A Rich Man

Before the time of Gotama Buddha, there lived a rich man, at whose door a Pacceka Buddha arrived for alms-food. The rich man at first ordered his servants to offer alms food to the Paccake Buddha. Afterwards he felt that it was just a waste of food to have offered alms food; he failed to have apara cetana and was unhappy.

He was reborn as a rich man during the time of Gotama Buddha due to his charity of offering alms food. But due to his poor cetana he never felt like living a wealthy life. He wore coarse cheap cloths and ate broken rice and vinegar only. He lived like a poor man; all his wealth was confiscated by the king because he had no heirs.

Note:

[Lesson] Ponder deeply about this rich man. In these day also there are stingy persons who do not live enjoying their wealth. They do not have the heart to wear good clothes or eat good food. If they donate their money and property to the poor and the needy, it will justify their thrift. But sheer stinginess is evil. In their next existences, their stinginess will pursue them in the form of vipaka. They will end their life as a miserly rich man.

The Best

Bear in mind that the rich man should live according to one’s status and wealth. They should live comfortably, save a portion for inheritance and also give away in charity. Only then they can be said to live a worthy life bringing benefits for this life as well as the forthcoming ones.

The Dipeyin Sayadaw admonished as follows: “Food eaten becomes excreta; see that property is left behind when one dies; kusala kamma alone bear fruits; while in the worthy abode of human eat what you earn; but also save a portion for inheritance and give away in charity. This is the way of the virtuous.”

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: