[Buddha-l] Those who in youth have not led the holy life, or have failed to acquire wealth

[Piya Tan]

The Pali here for "holy life" is brahma,cariya, and "wealth" is dhana.
Brahma,cariya literally
translates "brahma" living, or godly life. Firstly, the Buddha
"demythologized" the concept
of "divine life" as that of preparing for happiness here and now, not
hereafter in some high
heaven (which is impermanent anyway).

Traditionally brahma,cariya also entails celibacy (notice parallel with "
bachelor of arts," etc in
the western academic system: it began as a monastic system). The idea I
think is that the
youth should conserve and direct his/her energies to learning until
(wo)manhood when s/he is ready for
marriage and family life. (This is the brahminical notion, but the early lay
Buddhists could relate
to it. The brahmins however were thinking only of the sons not the daughters
here.)

We can take "wealth" (dhana) in its normal sense, ie, as a means of personal
sustenance and making
merit. The point is that it is difficult to live a still-centred life when
one has to worry about one's
daily bread or rice-bowl. Unless, of course, one becomes a monastic. With
wealth, esp surplus wealth, one
could satisfy personal needs and fulfill one's social duties (see Sigalovada
Sutta) incl supporting the monastics, etc.

Of course, one could interpret dhana on a higher level to mean the seven
spiritual treasures (faith,
moral virtue, moral shame, moral fear, deep learning, charity, and wisdom)
(D 3:163, 267; A 4:5),
which is an extended form of the threefold training of moral virtue, mental
concentration and wisdom.

Buddhaghosa (DhA = "Buddhist Legend" in the Harvard Oriental Series) says
that these verses
are spoken with regards to a millionaire's son who squandered his wealth and
was reduced to poverty.

The point is worldly and spiritual success are more likely if one starts
cultivating them young.

So the traditional interpretation of Dh 155 f.

Piya Tan




On 5/27/07, jkirk <jkirk at spro.net> wrote:
>
>  http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/dhp.11.budd.html
>
> Something set me to reading the Dhammapada again, online..
> these 2 passages, section on old age:
>
> *155.* Those who in youth have not led the holy life, or have failed to
> acquire wealth, languish like old cranes in the pond without fish.
>
> *156.* Those who in youth have not lead the holy life, or have failed to
> acquire wealth, lie sighing over the past, like worn out arrows (shot from)
> a bow.
>
> This is puzzling--does it mean who failed to acquire spiritual or moral
> wealth, or what?
>
> Thanks for clarificatiom
>
> Joanna
>
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.8.0/819 - Release Date: 5/26/2007
> 10:47 AM
>
> _______________________________________________
> buddha-l mailing list
> buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com
> http://mailman.swcp.com/mailman/listinfo/buddha-l
>
>


-- 
The Minding Centre
Blk 644 Bukit Batok Central #01-68 (2nd flr)
Singapore 650644
Website: dharmafarer.googlepages.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.swcp.com/mailman/private/buddha-l/attachments/20070527/62114426/attachment.htm