Money Makes The World Go Through
Bhikkhu Pesala
Money is the driving force that makes the world go round at an ever increasing pace. It motivates much of human activity such as geological exploration, scientific research, technological advances, and politics. Money itself, of course, is not evil, but the love of money is called the root of all evil. What this really means is that greed, or desire is the root of all evil. The Buddha taught that craving is the cause of suffering. For lay people, money is a necessary evil. They must earn money to fulfil their needs and responsibilities. If they use money wisely, it will enable them to live a happy and blameless life, and it will not do them any harm. All too often, however, money takes over people’s lives, and they become obsessed with acquiring it by any means, fair or foul. What people love about money, of course, is the power that it gives to enjoy sensual pleasures. This is why the Buddha prohibited his ordained disciples from using it. The story illustrating the laying down of the rule shows how the first monk to accept money was overwhelmed by greed. When a certain monk was invited for alms to a house, the donor was unable to buy any meat to offer to him. The monk, overwhelmed by greed for meat, said, “Never mind, give me the money, and I will find meat myself.” So the Buddha made the rule prohibiting the acceptance of money.
Money Makes the World Go Round
