Deep Commentary

This verse was taught by the Buddha at Jetavana Monastery, concerning a childless treasury minister named Aputtaka. When the minister died, King Pasenadi of Kosala asked the Buddha about certain puzzling behaviors: the minister refused delicious food, fine clothes, carriages, and umbrellas, instead eating only porridge, wearing coarse cloth, using an old carriage, and covering his head with leaves. He was harsh and abusive toward servants who offered him superior items. The Buddha then revealed the minister's past life. Long ago, this minister had offered excellent food to a Paccekabuddha named Tagarasikhi. His wife, a devout woman, was delighted. However, after making the offering, he regretted it, thinking the food would have been better given to his servants to strengthen them for work rather than to a monk who would just sleep afterward. Additionally, he had killed his brother's only son to inherit his brother's wealth. Because of the karmic merit from offering to the Paccekabuddha, he was born for seven lifetimes in heavenly realms. When reborn as a human, the residual good karma allowed him to become the sole treasury minister for seven consecutive lifetimes. Yet, because of his regretful thought and unwholesome speech after giving, he could not enjoy fine food or precious objects despite his position. Furthermore, due to killing his nephew for inheritance, he was condemned to hell for hundreds of thousands of lifetimes and remained childless for seven lifetimes. King Pasenadi remarked that the minister's offenses were great—with such immense wealth, why did he not use it himself or offer it to the Buddha? The Buddha taught: "Indeed, great king. When a fool becomes rich, he does not seek Nibbana. On the contrary, wealth only gives rise to craving in his mind, causing him long-lasting suffering." For most people, even those with some spiritual practice, it is rare not to crave wealth, as craving is an inherent human nature. Only noble ones or true practitioners regard wealth as worthless. The Buddha's teaching here is worth noting: "Riches ruin only the foolish, not those in quest of the Beyond." If we do not wish to be foolish, we should not become slaves to wealth. As the saying goes, "Greed leads to depth"—the more greed, the more suffering. Sometimes people sell their conscience for wealth, even betraying friends. The nature of material things is impermanent and subject to decay. No matter how hard we try to cling to them, they do not last. Even our own bodies cannot be kept forever, let alone external possessions. Understanding this, we should stop clinging and refuse to let wealth exploit us or make us harm others. The story of the treasury minister provides a clear lesson in karma. His current wealth and status came from offering to a Paccekabuddha. Yet he could not enjoy his wealth because of his regretful mind at the time of giving. He fell into hell for many lifetimes because he slandered and scolded an enlightened practitioner. He remained childless because he had killed his own nephew to seize the inheritance. Thus, his wealth was confiscated into the royal treasury. The law of karma is just—whatever seed one sows, that is the fruit one reaps.