Deep Commentary

These two verses were taught by the Buddha at Jetavana Monastery, relating to some monks. According to the story, "One day, several elders saw novices and young monks attending to their teachers, dyeing robes, washing robes... They discussed among themselves: 'We are those who teach and are proficient, yet we do not receive such care. Now let us go to the Buddha and say: Lord, we are all well-versed in the Dhamma. Please order the newly trained monks and novices that no matter who they study the doctrine with, they shall not review it until they have been taught by us elders.' Thus we will gain honor and material support. Having discussed this, the elders went to the Buddha and spoke as above. The Buddha thought: 'In the tradition of my religion, one has the right to speak thus, but these men are only thinking of their own advantage.' And he said: 'I do not judge you to be accomplished merely because you speak fluently. But one in whom all defilements and evil qualities have been destroyed by the fruits of the holy path – that one is truly accomplished.' On that occasion, the Buddha spoke these two verses." (Excerpt from The Dhammapada Story Collection, Volume III, Vien Chieu, p. 91) The two mental factors of jealousy and stinginess are among the twenty minor defilements. Their nature is unwholesome. Their function is to envy and not want anyone to surpass oneself. Because of envying those better than oneself, they constantly seek every means to harm. The nature of stinginess is miserliness, avarice, tight-fistedness. Outwardly it feigns poverty and hardship, but inwardly it accumulates wealth and gives nothing to anyone. Hence the folk saying: "One's own goods one clutches tight; others' goods one brings home by the basketful." Because of their miserly and avaricious nature, unwilling to give even a penny, they complain bitterly to everyone they meet. They are skilled at pretending and acting. They fear others knowing of their wealth, which might cause them loss. Due to stinginess, they hide it by all means. Though they may have great wealth, they never help anyone. Their hearts are hard toward the poor and destitute. They never know how to open their hearts to love others. Their lives know only money and more money. Thus their minds are never at ease. Because their bucket of greed has no bottom, they never know satisfaction. Having one, they want ten, and so on endlessly. They are busy with their work all day long, always absorbed in their careers. They are not present with their family members. A warm, intimate family meal is sometimes absent. Their presence is only about calculating profits and losses; sometimes they are irritable and unpleasant. They are not present with their loved ones in a fresh and joyful way. They never know how to give the gift of that fresh presence to their family. All of this comes from stinginess. Therefore, they and their families never attain happiness. Thus we see that wealth and riches are not the foundation for happiness. Many millionaires live in lonely, withered suffering, both physically and mentally. That is the reality of life. In these two verses, the Buddha clearly states that those who still have hypocritical, false minds, jealousy, and stinginess – though they may be eloquent speakers or appear outwardly virtuous – their inner nature is only greedy and deceitful. If one wishes for peace and happiness for oneself and one's family, the Buddha advises living truthfully with oneself by removing stinginess, jealousy, and hatred, so that the mind becomes light and free. Only then does life truly have meaning. Otherwise, one merely lives in vain and dies in vain!