Reading guide
The teaching in one sentence
With legitimate wealth, earned by one's own effort, a noble disciple makes themselves and their household happy, makes friends and colleagues happy, protects against loss, makes five spirit-offerings, and supports virtuous ascetics and brahmins with a religious donation.
Wealth’s legitimacy, stated before its use
Every one of the five reasons is prefaced by the identical qualifying phrase: wealth earned by his efforts and initiative, built up with his own hands, gathered by the sweat of the brow, and dhammikehi dhammaladdhehi, legitimate and legitimately acquired. The discourse is not indifferent to how wealth was obtained; the five uses that follow are licensed only for wealth that meets this standard first.
Five spirit-offerings, without comment
The fourth reason names pañcabali, five spirit-offerings, to relatives, guests, ancestors, the king, and deities — a frankly non-monastic, culturally embedded set of obligations that this discourse simply includes as one of five legitimate uses of wealth, alongside supporting virtuous renunciates. This reading guide does not read this as a later addition or an embarrassment to be explained away; the discourse places ordinary social and religious duty and support for Buddhist practitioners side by side, without ranking one above the other.
No regrets, either way
The discourse's final claim is its most psychologically interesting: a noble disciple who has used their wealth for these five reasons has no regrets whether their wealth later runs out or increases. Regret, on this account, is not a response to outcome; it is a response to whether the wealth was rightly used while it was held. Once that condition is met, the discourse says, either direction of fortune leaves the disciple equally free of remorse.
The verses' closing claim
The verses restate the five uses in the first person and close with I've achieved the goal for which an astute layperson wishes to gain wealth. I don't regret what I've done — framing the entire discourse not as a rule to obey but as a description of what a satisfied conscience, examined honestly, actually rests on.
Key terms
The text
Five reasons to get rich
§1At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then the householder Anāthapiṇḍika went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him:
§2“Householder, there are these five reasons to get rich. What five?
§3Firstly, with his legitimate wealth—earned by his efforts and initiative, built up with his own hands, gathered by the sweat of the brow—a noble disciple makes himself happy and pleased, keeping himself properly happy. He makes his mother and father happy … He makes his children, partners, bondservants, workers, and staff happy … This is the first reason to get rich.
§4Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he makes his friends and colleagues happy … This is the second reason to get rich.
§5Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he protects himself against losses from such things as fire, water, kings, bandits, or unloved heirs. He keeps himself safe. This is the third reason to get rich.
§6Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he makes five spirit-offerings: to relatives, guests, ancestors, king, and deities. This is the fourth reason to get rich.
§7Furthermore, with his legitimate wealth he establishes an uplifting religious donation for ascetics and brahmins—those who refrain from intoxication and negligence, are settled in patience and gentleness, and who tame, calm, and extinguish themselves—that’s conducive to heaven, ripens in happiness, and leads to heaven. This is the fifth reason to get rich.
No regrets, either way
§8Now if the riches a noble disciple gets for these five reasons run out, he thinks: ‘So, the riches I have obtained for these reasons are running out.’ And so he has no regrets. But if the riches a noble disciple gets for these five reasons increase, he thinks: ‘So, the riches I have obtained for these reasons are increasing.’ And so he has no regrets in both cases.
The closing verses
§9‘I’ve enjoyed my wealth, supporting those who depend on me; I’ve overcome losses; I’ve given uplifting religious donations; and made the five spirit-offerings. I have looked after the ethical and disciplined spiritual practitioners.
§10I’ve achieved the goal for which an astute layperson wishes to gain wealth. I don’t regret what I’ve done.’
§11A mortal man who recollects this stands firm in the teaching of the noble ones. They’re praised in this life by the astute, and they depart to rejoice in heaven.”
Self-check quiz
Ten questions. Click an answer to see immediate feedback. No score is recorded — this is for your own checking.