Part 10 (1/2)
A. In the Sigalovada Sutta.
213. Q. Do riches help a man to future happiness?
A. The Dhammapada says: ”One is the road that leads to wealth, another the road that leads to Nirvana.”
214. Q. Does that mean that no rich man can attain Nirvana?
A. That depends on which he loves most. If he uses his wealth for the benefit of mankind--for the suffering, the oppressed, the ignorant--then his wealth aids him to acquire merit.
215. Q. But if the contrary?
A. But if he loves and greedily h.o.a.rds money for the sake of its possession, then it weakens his moral sense, prompts him to crime, brings curses upon him in this life, and their effects are felt in the next birth.
216. Q. _What says the ”Dhammapada” about ignorance?_
A. That it is a taint worse than all taints that a man can put upon himself.
217. Q. _What does it say about uncharitableness towards others?_
A. That the fault of others is easily perceived, but that of oneself difficult to perceive; a man winnows his neighbour's faults like chaff, but his own fault he hides, as a cheat hides the bad die from the gambler.
218. Q. _What advice does the Buddha give us as to man's duty to the poor?_
A. He says that a man's net income should be divided into four parts, of which one should be devoted to philanthropic objects.
219. Q. _What five occupations are said to be low and base?_
A. Selling liquor, selling animals for slaughter, selling poison, selling murderous weapons, and dealing in slaves.
220. Q. _Who are said to be incapable of progress in spirituality?_
A. The killers of father, mother, and holy Arhats; Bhikkhus who sow discord in the Sangha; those who attempt to injure the person of a Buddha; those who hold extremely nihilistic views as to the future existence; and those who are extremely sensual.
121. Q. _Does Buddhism specify places or conditions of torment into which a bad man's Karma draws him on leaving this life?_
A. Yes. They are: Sanjiva; Kalasutra; Sanghata; Raurava; Maha-Raurava Tapa; Pratapa; Avichi.
222. Q. _Is the torment eternal?_
A. Certainly not. Its duration depends on a man's Karma.
223. Q. _Does Buddhism declare that non-believers in Buddha will of necessity be d.a.m.ned for their unbelief?_
A. No; by good deeds they may enjoy a limited term of happiness before being drawn into rebirth by their unexhausted _tanha_. To escape rebirth, one must tread the n.o.ble Eight-fold Path.
224. Q. _What is the spiritual status of woman among Buddhists?_
A. According to our religion they are on a footing of perfect equality with men. ”Woman,” says the Buddha, in the _Chullavedalla Sutta_, ”may attain the highest path of holiness that is open to man--Arhats.h.i.+p.”
225. Q. _What does a modern critic say about the effect of Buddhism on woman?_