1. In the Dhammapada the Buddha says: "There is no greater benefit than. health, and there is nothing more valuable than the spirit of contentment."
2. This spirit of contentment is not to be understood to mean meekness or surrender to circumstances.
3. Because that would be quite contrary to the other teachings of the Buddha.
4. The Buddha has not said, "Blessed are they who are poor."
5. The Buddha has not said that the sufferer should not try to change his condition.
6. On the other hand, he has said that riches are welcome; and instead of listless suffering he taught Virya, which is energetic action.
7. What the Buddha meant when he said that contentment is the highest form of wealth is that man should not allow himself to be overpowered by greed which has no limits.
8. As the Bhikku Rathapala has said, "Rich men I see who, folly-led, never give, but still amass, athirst for pleasures new; the king whose conquests to the sea extend, for sway over empires overseas will pine; still craving, kings and subjects pass away; lacking, still lacking, they their bodies quit; never on earth can pleasure's measure be filled."
9. In the Maha-Nidan-Suttanta the Buddha has explained to Ananda the necessity of controlling greed. This is what he said:
10. "Thus it is, Ananda, that craving comes into being because of desire for gain, when desire for gain becomes a passion for possession; when the spirit of possession gives rise to tenacity of possession, it becomes avarice.
11. "Avarice or possession due to [the] uncontrolled acquisitive instinct calls for watch and ward.
12. "Why is this craving or greed to be condemned? Because of this," said the Buddha to Ananda, "many a bad and wicked state of things arises--blows and wounds, strife, contradiction and retorts; quarrelling, slander, and lies."
13. That this is the correct analysis of class struggle, there can be no doubt.
14. That is why the Buddha insisted upon the control of greed and craving.
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