Appaka Sutta: Few
From TheBuddhism.Net
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
At Savatthi. As he was sitting to one side, King Pasenadi Kosala said to the Blessed One: “Just now, lord, while I was alone in seclusion, this train of thought arose in my awareness: ‘Few are those people in the world who, when acquiring lavish wealth, don’t become intoxicated & heedless, don’t become greedy for sensual pleasures, and don’t mistreat other beings. Many more are those who, when acquiring lavish wealth, become intoxicated & heedless, become greedy for sensual pleasures, and mistreat other beings.’”
“That’s the way it is, great king! That’s the way it is! Few are those people in the world who, when acquiring lavish wealth, don’t become intoxicated & heedless, don’t become greedy for sensual pleasures, and don’t mistreat other beings. Many more are those who, when acquiring lavish wealth, become intoxicated & heedless, become greedy for sensual pleasures, and mistreat other beings.”
That is what the Blessed One said. Having said that, the One Well-Gone, the Teacher, said further:
Impassioned with sensual possessions,
greedy, dazed by sensual pleasures,
they don’t awaken to the fact that they’ve gone too far —
like deer into a trap laid out.
Afterwards it’s bitter for them: evil for them the result.
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When one comes into Wealth and Power it leads to heedlessness and intoxication and the mistreating of other beings…….reminds us that we should not be intoxicated by great wealth and misconduct ourselves when we become rich. Always remembered not to be greedy, negligent and hurting any living beings. Be kind, caring, and be compassionate to all sentient beings nor matter who we are rich or poor.
All that exists is impermanent and nothing will lasts forever and nothing is free.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing .