Wealth and Poverty (EA19.6)

Thus have I heard. At one time the Buddha was staying in Śrāvastī, at Jetṛ’s Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍada’s Park. Then the Exalted One said to the monks:

“There are two modes of behaviour which render a person poor and destitute. Which are the two modes? (1) When seeing others practising generosity and, moreover, (2) being oneself unwilling to be generous. These are, O monks, the modes of behaviour rendering a person poor and destitute.

“The, monks, there are two modes of behaviour rendering a person estimable. Which two? (1) When seeing a person distributing things to others, gladly supporting him or her in this charitable act and (2) oneself taking in delight in being generous. These are, monks, the two modes of behaviour rendering a person estimable.

“Thus, O monks, one should train in practising generosity and overcoming acquisitiveness.”

After listening to the Buddha’s words, the monks were pleased and respectfully applied themselves to practice.

Translated from Sanskrit to Chinese by Dharmanandi.

Originally published as Ekottarikāgama XXII, Buddhist Studies Review 14.1, 1997, pp. 46–52. Translated from the Chinese version by Thích Huyên-Vi in collaboration with Sara Boin-Webb and Bhikkhu Pāsādika. Used with kind permission of the Buddhist Studies Review and Bhikkhu Pāsādika.

Transcription by Nola Webb, 2014.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato.