Buddhist Beliefs about Rights, Equality and Social Justice » Metta, Karuna and Generosity: Buddhism on Rich and Poor

Wealth is not the problem

An earlier lesson, Rich and Poor: Charity, Justice and Compassion, looked at the gap between rich and poor and at the ideas of charity, justice and compassion. Here we look at what Buddhists teach about the wealthy and the poor.

Buddhism does not say that being rich is wrong. Many of the Buddha's lay supporters were wealthy. The Buddha taught that the cause of suffering is craving (tanha), the endless wanting you met in The Four Noble Truths: Dukkha and Tanha. A rich person who clings to their money and wants ever more is caught in craving. A rich person who shares it is using wealth skilfully. So the question for a Buddhist is not "How much do you have?" but "How do you hold it, and what do you do with it?"

One famous example is Anathapindika, a wealthy merchant who, in the Buddhist texts, gave a park to the Buddha and his monks to live in and also fed the poor. He is remembered as a model of a generous lay follower.

Key terms:

• Right livelihood (recap from Buddhist Teachings on War and the Simile of the Saw): the part of the Noble Eightfold Path about earning a living in a way that does not harm others.
• Merit: the good result that Buddhists believe comes from skilful actions such as giving. It supports a good rebirth and a calmer mind.
• Alms: food and other gifts given to monks and nuns.

Metta, karuna and dana

Three teachings lead Buddhists to help the poor. You have met all three before, but here they work together.

Giving helps the person who receives. Buddhists also believe it helps the giver. It weakens greed and the habit of clinging to "mine", which is why dana is placed first. It also builds merit. The best giving, Buddhists teach, comes from a kind and unselfish mind, not from a wish to look good.

The Dhammapada, a collection of the Buddha's sayings, tells people to overcome the miser by giving. Buddhist teachers often say that a person who shares even a little has more peace of mind than a person who holds on to a lot.

Right livelihood

Right livelihood is part of the Eightfold Path. It means earning money without harming other beings. The traditional list of wrong trades includes dealing in weapons, in poisons, in intoxicating drink and in living beings, such as slavery or killing animals for meat.

This links wealth to justice. A Buddhist should not become rich by cheating, exploiting workers or selling things that cause harm. The Sigalovada Sutta, which you met in Family Life and the Vihara in Buddhism, also says that an employer should care for the people who work for them, for example by giving fair work and looking after them when they are ill. In this way the wealthy are asked to be fair as well as generous.

Practical generosity in Buddhist communities

• Giving to the Sangha: in many countries, lay Buddhists give food to monks and nuns on their morning alms round, and give robes, medicine and a place to live. The monks and nuns teach the Dhamma in return. The Sangha and the lay community depend on each other, a link you will study later.
• Viharas: a vihara is a Buddhist temple or monastery. Many hold community meals, collect food and money for people in need, and run Dhamma classes. Visitors of any background can often join in.
• Charities: some Buddhists give money or time to charities that fight poverty, in line with karuna and dana.

How the poor should be treated

Buddhism treats the poor with compassion: they are people who suffer, as everyone does, and they deserve help. It also treats giving as a matter of justice: the wealthy should not exploit people, and should share fairly. And Buddhists stress respect: giving should be kind and without pride, so the poor are never looked down on.

Buddhists do not all give in the same way. Some give mostly to their local vihara and to monks and nuns. Others give to charities that help the poor in general, and some, called engaged Buddhists, work to change unfair systems.

Recap

• Wealth is not wrong for Buddhists, but craving is.
• Metta and karuna lead to help for the poor, and dana is the first perfection.
• Right livelihood asks the wealthy to earn money fairly.
• Examples include giving to the Sangha, viharas and the Tzu Chi Foundation.

Exam-style question

Paper 1, Section 4 style.

(a) Identify three ways in which wealthy people can help the poor. [3 marks]

(b) Choose one religion. Outline two teachings from this religion which encourage the wealthy to help the poor. [4 marks]

(c) Choose one religion. Explain why generosity is important in this religion. [6 marks]

(d) "Rich people have a duty to give to the poor."
Evaluate this statement, showing you have considered different points of view. In your answer you should refer to at least one religion. [12 marks]