How do Buddhists justify or explain that monks and/or temples amass and use wealth?
score:6
One should feel pity for those ignorant monks for they're sowing some very bad seeds for their future's well-being:
Bhikkhus, there are these five themes that should often be reflected upon by a woman or a man, by a householder or one gone forth. What five? (1) A woman or a man, a householder or one gone forth, should often reflect thus: ‘I am subject to old age; I am not exempt from old age.’ (2) A woman or a man, a householder or one gone forth, should often reflect thus: ‘I am subject to illness; I am not exempt from illness.’ (3) A woman or a man, a householder or one gone forth, should often reflect thus: ‘I am subject to death; I am not exempt from death.’ (4) A woman or a man, a householder or one gone forth, should often reflect thus: ‘I must be parted and separated from everyone and everything dear and agreeable to me.’ (5) A woman or a man, a householder or one gone forth, should often reflect thus: ‘I am the owner of my kamma, the heir of my kamma; I have kamma as my origin, kamma as my relative, kamma as my resort; I will be the heir of whatever kamma, good or bad, that I do.’ ~~ AN 5.57 ~~
Upvote:-2
It's not justified by the suttas. Karaniya Metta Sutta gives instructions for the performance of metta. (Metta is the basis of Buddha's noble path.)
This is to be done by one skilled in aims who wants to break through to the state of peace: Be capable, upright, & straightforward, easy to instruct, gentle, & not conceited, content & easy to support, with few duties, living lightly, with peaceful faculties, masterful, modest, & no greed for supporters.
Do not do the slightest thing that the wise would later censure.
So how can one begin to transgress the path is such a wealth-amassing atmosphere with his mind focused on wealth? However, one can be living with all kinds of luxuries and be a self-realized sage. Krsna explained this to Arjuna in the second chapter of Bhagavad-gītā.
"Arjuna said: What are the symptoms of one whose consciousness is thus merged in Transcendence? How does he speak, and what is his language? How does he sit, and how does he walk?"
"The Blessed Lord said: O Pārtha, when a man gives up all varieties of sense desire which arise from mental concoction, and when his mind finds satisfaction in the self alone, then he is said to be in pure transcendental consciousness. One who is not disturbed in spite of the threefold miseries, who is not elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind. He who is without attachment, who does not rejoice when he obtains good, nor lament when he obtains evil, is firmly fixed in perfect knowledge. One who is able to withdraw his senses from sense objects, as the tortoise draws his limbs within the shell, is to be understood as truly situated in knowledge. The embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, though the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste, he is fixed in consciousness. The senses are so strong and impetuous, O Arjuna, that they forcibly carry away the mind even of a man of discrimination who is endeavoring to control them. One who restrains his senses and fixes his consciousness upon Me is known as a man of steady intelligence." -- Bhagavad-gītā 2.54-61
The justification comes from one's self. Arjuna asked Krsna what are the symptoms of the self-realized human being? Arjuna inquired about the external symptoms. Can his transcendental state of consiosunsess be recognized by external symptoms, seen with material senses? Is his transcendental state of consciousness reflected on his external actions?
Krsna replied from the point of view of consciousness or internal, subjective self-awareness. Real symptoms are seen in the quality of consciousness. This means one can be extremely materially opulent and still be situated in transcendental consciousness. On the other hand, one can be fooling himself by living like a hermit in a cave but actually contemplating the object of sense gratification. See?
Upvote:0
Householder Thihara, interested,
Lay people, since old here, always advice their fellows saying "don't touch the fruits of actions of the monks" (that is their merit or demerit) when someone feels he needs to govern another society.
How to avoid the dangers of gain and honor (lābhasakkara)? and [Q&A] Should Buddhist teachers get rich? (Dhamma-trade) might assist those in the danger of such.
How ever, there is possible more danger related to one self if not able to rejoice with the gains of others and that is the very pitfall here. So when focusing on ones own good mind states, which does not mean not to judge good or bad behavior of others, it's the best protection, also a prerequisite to possible meet good followers.
Those seeking and pointing out faults but stingy with sharing attainments and good will not easy ever be near good association.
A person who is able to rejoice with good and gain of others, who does not like stingy and ill-will tendency will possible meet up with likewise people rejoicing in doing merits and leave it to others how they might act further, take only the good food and leave behind the low.
One should also not forget that many, even most, monasteries are run by lay people and people after lābhasakkara and dwelling monks do not necessary take part on such and things may look total different from outward. There are 'good' and 'bad' rich monasteries and 'good' and 'bad' poor. There are those after "luxory" and there are those being given supportive means without any asking or for proper use.
May all soon develop the Sublime mind-state of Mudita, able to lead till the highest goal beings could archive!
(Note that this is not given for trade, exchange, stacks, entertainment and akusala deeds, but as a share of merits and to continue such for release)
More post
- 📝 Is thinking just measuring and comparing?
- 📝 Is there a correlation between sukha and passadha?
- 📝 Pride and Compassion
- 📝 Are "Saya Asadharana Nana" part of Nibbana?
- 📝 Fate and karma same or different?
- 📝 Responding to Worldly Questions
- 📝 What does "Namaste" mean in Buddhism context and why is it even associated with Buddhism?
- 📝 What is the substantial cause of an instance of consciousness?
- 📝 I have been meditating by myself since 2015 but nothing worked for me
- 📝 Can a non-Buddhist get Nirvana?
- 📝 How to disconnect family life & become monk?
- 📝 Is there a source that Dalai Lama wants scientists to invent a "meditation machine"?
- 📝 Am I Bearing the pain or observing it, When my leg hurts during Vipassana?
- 📝 What could go wrong if one misconstrue Buddhism with nihilism?
- 📝 Eradication of the Five Hindrances
- 📝 What is mind contain of?
- 📝 What's the awakened state like?
- 📝 The Bane of Social Media
- 📝 Is an analogy between karma and modern day physics possible?
- 📝 In what realm did archaic humans live? Is it manussa (human) realm or tiracchāna (animal) realm?
- 📝 As a Buddhist lay-follower is there a need and good form to do good deeds?
- 📝 Buddhism practices on decease
- 📝 How we can go to the pari-nirvana if not by being a bodhisattva?
- 📝 Proper meditation at hard times ( to be kind, open mind and enjoy hard times )
- 📝 Ignorance of others when practising the teachings of the Buddha
- 📝 Is there an Dzogchen monastery in Canada with a accomplished lineage?
- 📝 'Dukkha': What is the difference between 'suffering' & 'unsatisfactoriness'?
- 📝 Can Buddhism give any justification for military violence?
- 📝 Can all human beings potentially be enlightened in this lifetime?
- 📝 Is it correct view, as in renunciation, or desire, to want to die
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 How do Buddhists justify or explain that monks and/or temples amass and use wealth?
- 📝 Please explain when and where to use the terms Theravada and Hinayana
- 📝 How to use Sloth and Torpor as an object for meditation
- 📝 How do Buddhists use mudras?
- 📝 How does a monk cope with all the bad things happening in the world if the only thing monks do is sitting and meditating?
- 📝 Are non-Theravada monks allowed to eat after noon, and to use money?
- 📝 Do Mahayana Buddhists explain birth and extinction in the same way?
- 📝 AN 7.64 kodhana (anger), case 3 of 7 unclear what is meant by "profit" or "loss", and how exactly that sabotages what angry person wants
- 📝 How is possible that monks memorised 10.000 sutras?
- 📝 How can the Buddha (after he was enlightened) reflect that he was not at ease and then became at ease in seclusion?
- 📝 How can you use Q&A to gain good Karma and also aid to realize liberation
- 📝 How would Buddhist monks organize countries and the world?
- 📝 How careful must monks be about their use of water?
- 📝 How different is the lifestyle of male monks from that of the female monks?
- 📝 Buddhists advise against "me and mine" does that include times?
- 📝 How can the world's youth discover careers that are aligned with consciousness and Buddhism?
- 📝 How do we determine when to use logic and reason in Buddhism?
- 📝 How do Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhists make sense of Maitreya's prophecy?
- 📝 How comes that praising oneself and blame others is unskillful but the teacher of it does?
- 📝 How do experienced Buddhists preserve their equanimity and well-being in unfavourable circumstances?
- 📝 How do Buddhists talk about forgiveness and turning the other cheek, for extreme wrong doing?
- 📝 Auto-suggestion and buddhism and how to use it
- 📝 Which Buddhists say that there are no conventionally existent wholes, and for what reasons?
- 📝 How to explain that relationship with someone worthy of respect is more than just a friendship?
- 📝 How can we conclude that something is unarisen and eternal?
- 📝 How do monks live with medical conditions that require regular meals?
- 📝 How do Buddhists that think of karma figuratively do so about rebirth?
- 📝 What do Buddhists think of the premise that power is a necessary good and a necessary evil?
- 📝 How to explain what Buddhism is?
- 📝 How do Buddhists express condolences?