Wealth, Debt-Free, and Ethical Conduct: Buddha's Guide to Happiness for Laypeople

Wealth, Debt-Free, and Ethical Conduct: Buddha's Guide to Happiness for Laypeople, Numerical Discourses 4.62

At one time, the lay follower Anathapindika went to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down. 

The Buddha said:

“Householder, these four kinds of happiness can be earned by a layperson who enjoys senses pleasures of lay life, depending on time and occasion. 

What are four kinds of happiness? 

The happiness of seeking wealth, using wealth, without debt, and blamelessness. 

And what is the happiness of seeking wealth? 

It’s when a respectable gentleman seeking to legitimately earned and honestly gained wealth; by his own efforts and skills, accumulate using his own hands, earned by the sweat of his hard working. When he reflects on this, he’s filled his life with pleasure and happiness. This is called ‘the happiness of seeking wealth’. 

And what is the happiness of using wealth? 

It’s when a respectable gentleman uses his legitimately earned and honestly gained wealth, and makes virtuous merit with his wealth. When he reflects on this, he’s filled his life with pleasure and happiness. This is called ‘the happiness of using wealth’. 

 And what is the happiness of without debt? 

It’s when a respectable gentleman owes no debt, large or small, to anyone. When he reflects on this, he’s filled his life with pleasure and happiness. This is called ‘the happiness of without debt’. 

And what is the happiness of blamelessness? 

It’s when a noble disciple has blameless conduct by way of body, speech, and mind. When he reflects on this, he’s filled his life with pleasure and happiness. This is called ‘the happiness of blamelessness’. 

These four kinds of happiness can be earned by a layperson who enjoys senses pleasures of lay life, depending on time and occasion. 

Then, Buddha continued:

Knowing the happiness of without debt, and the extra happiness of seeking wealth, a man enjoying the happiness of using wealth, Again and again the wisdom is clearly seen. 

Understanding clearly, a wise person knows both kinds of happiness: the other happiness are not worth a sixteenth part of the happiness of blamelessness.”

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