Zen story: The wealthy Zen master, was wealthy in more ways than just in money
@innertalks (21028)
Australia
November 5, 2023 8:37pm CST
There was once a Zen master, who was also a millionaire.
He had had a business, that prospered early on in his life, sold that business, and now the earnings made from the money gained, was sustaining him, and he no longer needed to work.
Another Zen master called in, and said to him.
“No real Zen master is a millionaire.”
The Zen master replied:
“Words of truth are wealthy words, for all who hear them. Every real Zen master is wealthy in such words.”
“And yet, truth, will cost you nothing to say, but if you have nothing to say, do not speak in untruths.”
“Wealth is meant for all, as much as truth is meant for all too.”
“I am rich in truth, in love, and in money, too.”
“Do not envy anyone their wealth in any of these areas, my friend.”
And so, the Zen master turned around, and walked off into his private room at his monastery, leaving the other Zen master to ponder long on his just spoken words.
Photo Credit: The photo used in this article was sourced from the free media site, pixabay.com
Let Zen loosen your attachment to money, but do attach yourself to wrong ideas about money either.
3 people like this
2 responses
@innertalks (21028)
• Australia
7 Nov
That is true.
Having God, and a connection to God, in our lives, is perhaps the greatest of all wealth positions that we can aspire to.
@Shiva49 (26207)
• Singapore
6 Nov
One need not feel sorry for money earned the right way.
When we work hard, we are also entitled to the fruits of our labor.
The main issue is our attachment to worldly possessions as everything is transient.
Attachment brings only misery and insecurity.
Truth is precious and one gets enriched in sharing it to benefit society.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (21028)
• Australia
6 Nov
Yes, most of us, in this day and age, need to work with money, befriending it to make our way in life.
We should not get trapped, into becoming enamoured with money only, and so waste the rest of our life, in its solitary selfish pursuit, rather than our living a more altruistic life, that includes sharing our life, truth, and love, with others around us too.
@Shiva49 (26207)
• Singapore
7 Nov
@innertalks I have seen in Asia, some getting obsessed with wealth accumulation as an end by itself.
It becomes a single-minded pursuit at the expense of family even.
Then the negatives that follow with the hangers-on who are up to no good.
Those with good intentions find no place in the inner circle.
It becomes a one-way path to misery in the end with vultures waiting for the inevitable.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (21028)
• Australia
7 Nov
@Shiva49 Yes, when money appears, so do the vultures.
Vultures never want to earn money for themselves, but get the pickings from other people's money instead.
It has been said that the wise person does not allow money to enter their heart, but does allow it to be in their mind, and so earns money in the right way to pull their weight in this world.
