The Man Who Hoards
James Tissot, 1890
My dear friends,
Today's passage from the Christian scriptures, telling the parable of the rich fool, begins as follows:
"Teacher, tell my brother
to divide the family inheritance with me."
But he said to him,
"Friend, who set me to be a judge
or arbitrator over you?"
And he said to them, "Take care!
Be on your guard
against all kinds of greed;
for one's life does not consist
in the abundance of possessions."
- Luke 12:13-15
The story begins with a dispute over inheritance. How often have we seen or heard of families being torn apart by material concerns? The heart of the issue is not the possession itself but our attachment to it. Material wealth, in itself, is neutral. It can be a tool for good, aiding in the alleviation of suffering, or it can become a chain, binding one to discontent and jealousy.
Jesus's caution, "for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions", reminds us that true prosperity is not found in material accumulation, but in inner peace, compassion, and wisdom. An individual with minimal possessions but a heart full of love and understanding is richer than someone surrounded by treasure but consumed with desire and anxiety.
And he thought to himself, 'What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?'
Then he said, 'I will do this:
I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
And I will say to my soul,
'Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'
But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you.
And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'
So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God."
- Luke 12:16-21
The rich man in this parable believed he had mastered his future by gathering an abundance of grain. However, all phenomena are impermanent. Even if we accumulate vast wealth, there is no guarantee of a long life to enjoy it. Therefore, we should avoid excessive attachment to the fleeting things of this world.
The culmination of this parable is the call to be "rich toward God." In Buddhist thought, this is akin to accumulating merit through acts of compassion, wisdom, and loving-kindness. Being 'rich toward God' does not necessarily denote religious piety, but rather a richness of spirit, a wealth of compassionate action and an abundance of love for all sentient beings.
This parable, like many teachings across traditions, beckons us towards a path of inner growth and spiritual richness. Regardless of faith or belief, the essence of such teachings is universal: the pursuit of inner peace, the cultivation of compassion, and the recognition that the true value of life is not in what we possess, but in who we become.
For spirit quivers in flesh like a bubble in water,
And after death one's good and evil deeds
Trail after one like the shadow trails the body.
Understanding that this most certainly is true,
May I discard every level of wrong,
And generate an infinite mass of goodness;
Inspire me to be thus continually aware.
The Foundation of All Perfections (3,4)
May we all seek to become "rich toward God," rich in spirit, and in our connections with all beings.