Buddhism in Economics

 Buddhism in Economics
The Economics of Buddhism
(Buddhist Advice) The 4 Dhammas of Benefit in the Present that the Buddha taught more than 2,500 years ago.
Understand Business: A Famous Businessman Explains the 4 Dhammas That You Learn and Practice to Become Rich.
Mr. Ieng Sotheara, a famous businessman in Cambodia, explained the 4 Dhammas that you learn and practice to become rich to avoid poverty. On the occasion of participating as a guest speaker in the campaign for business owners to help each other in difficult times under the theme “Dhamma to Become Rich” via the online system, Mr. Ieng Sotheara, The Benefit in The Present, Economics for the Present Life. He stated that the 4 Dhammas to become rich are:
1: The Endowment Of Industriousness: Not being lazy, working hard, and striving. For example: If there is a family, both husband and wife must work hard and guide their children to work hard. When all the wealth, food, and clothing are created in a proper manner and the efforts are continuously built up, the second endowment is the endowment of watchfulness.
2: The Endowment Of Watchfulness (Protecting Wealth): Protecting wealth and saving the wealth that has been earned well. Protecting wealth well requires doing five things: (1) Protecting it from confiscation by the authorities, which may occur due to wrongdoing, (2) Always looking after everything carefully, (3) Taking care of natural disasters, (4) Protecting it from thieves, (5) Beware of those who want to destroy us. Taking care to manage wealth carefully so that it does not get wasted is a very good deed, but we should try to do this continuously and practice the third endowment, which is the endowment of friends.
3: Good friends: are good people for us and help us, give us good advice. But please remember: we want to be good people only if we are good people. Having good friends can be good advisors for us and go to good advice, not those who are wealthier than us, the important thing is that they can give us advice.
Next, we should practice the fourth virtue, which is Samjitna, continuously.
4: Samjitna (The Endowment Of Balanced Livelihood) Do not spend more than your income; do not spend wastefully (equal life): The equation of life that must be careful at all times (not boasting, not boasting), do something according to your ability. For example: you see a new, modern car, want to drive the same car as them, even though you are not able to buy it, go and borrow money from them to buy it. This is an act that should not be done, which leads to debt.
Therefore, "Currently, it is seen that young people are lacking in the four dhammas, so if you want to have a lot of money, be dharmaful, only develop these four dhammas."
He said that those of you who want to become high and big businessmen should have an advisor and we must work hard to have the right work rules so that we can become truly rich. Otherwise, we will only work hard and save our wealth and have nothing to go forward. He said this: "A good advisor may not have more money than us, or less money than us, but he has better ideas than us, has higher knowledge than us, knows more reasons than us, and can show us the way that is worthy of respect and follow."
Therefore, if you want to do something, you must have a clear campaign and system, and you cannot just sit and think about it. No matter what, you must have a clear and correct plan.
"Knowing these four Pali words will make you a rich businessman"
Of course, each of us wants to have something, and wanting something, no matter how much we want, does not come easily, unless we work hard, persevere, and are frugal.
The principles that make life beneficial, called wealth, are three:
1. The Dhamma view, current benefits or benefits related to daily life, is the primary benefit, the first step, related to work for living, having wealth, reputation, fame, and friends, all are good both for livelihood and for living, with a balance in income and expenses. Especially important is to strive to earn wealth through righteous work.
• Work hard in work • Keep what you have earned • Associate with good people • Live a life according to the right.
The teacher, the king, came and preached the punishment of a person who does things that should be done first and puts them behind him and preached this verse:
Udāna kālamhi ឣnutthahano yuvā pāli ឣalsīyam ឣupetō samsānnāsangkāppāmono ឣkosīto ឣpānaya māgṭha ឣlṣo n vinti.
A person who is young, strong, stubborn, and lazy, does not make an effort when he should make an effort, and his mind is immersed in the unwholesome life. He is a lazy person. A lazy person will never encounter the path of wisdom.
These four aspects of Dhamma and benefit are the basis for solving life's problems and taking a big step towards progress. I would like to emphasize that the first principle of benefit in Buddhism today is the courage to do business, so that wealth is created, which corresponds to the primary economic principle, PRODUCTION, as we have already mentioned, because economics was only born a thousand years after Buddhism. It is more likely that the second principle is knowing how to save the wealth that has been earned, which corresponds to the principle of saving or saving wealth (SAVING). The third principle is knowing how to make friends, gain honesty, wisdom, and the idea of ​​helping each other. This idea is similar to the idea of ​​an association, or a community, or a cooperative, which requires the selection of highly qualified individuals from among its members to manage or lead.Lead the community as a governing body or board of directors within the framework of developing the livelihood of its members by taking into account the common good. The last principle is to use and spend wealth to a level that is appropriate to one's status or to live only. In economic terms, the term HOUSEHOLD BUDGET is used, which translates to the family budget in private terms. If it is a state policy, it is called THE NATIONS ECONOMY BUDGET, which translates to the national economic budget. In short, it comes down to examining income and expenditure to be balanced in accordance with Buddhism, which is stated in the Dhamma (present benefit). As for other teaching principles, such as avoiding all kinds of wealth loss (disgrace), knowing what is the happiness of the household, making the family stable for a long time, all of these are another economy that must be combined with morality. At this point, it is clear that Buddhism has clearly seen that human morality is very difficult to achieve if the personal economy of each person is not developed or is not carried out in a dignified manner. For this reason, the Buddha taught to emphasize the state economy and the family economy in the framework of building a position, that is, how to make the state and private economy at a high or medium level as much as possible. To quickly understand, the reader should review a story in our Buddhist scriptures that relates that one day the Buddha introduced the Brahmin Kodanta, who asked him about the issue of sacrifices. The Buddha did not give an answer to this issue, but he took the opportunity to enlighten the Brahmin next to his question, saying, You are a person who has the function of managing and maintaining the Brahmins in a country with many villages and communes. You are a person who is recognized by all the Brahmins, recognized by the Father and the Father. You must manage this local economy properly, achieve high development, stability, and a good level before you can do anything else. Oh Brahmin! The program to eradicate theft should not be carried out by imposing any punishment up to and including killing, because all these actions are ineffective, because they do not eliminate people from committing theft. Why? Because other wicked people will take their place, and they will commit theft again. But if they manage the economy well, giving people jobs according to their abilities and knowledge. At the same time, they must have a plan to help farmers, merchants, and government officials to live comfortably in their businesses, then your country will certainly be in peace and prosperity. The Buddha taught about economics and morality as he said. We can answer the question that Buddhism teaches people to be lazy, to live by the help of deities, to sleep in adventures, etc. Buddhism does not teach this, not even a single word. Moreover, in some cases, the Buddha expressed the virtues of doing certain types of business, such as trading, clearly stating that if a trader has three virtues, he will definitely have a high profit. However, progress can only be rapid if an economist or businessman has three more characteristics.
Buddhism in Business
The Business Of Buddhism
The characteristics of a businessman who quickly achieves success can become a wealthy person, become a millionaire in the world, must have three characteristics
Three tips that young businessmen must maintain for their business life In doing business, it is also a very important issue for people's daily lives. How to do business must also be studied and understood clearly when entering this field. Here are some quick tips to help young business owners:
The Buddha showed three business qualities to become wealthy, rich, and loved by many people, to avoid some views that the Buddha taught people only about karma, results, merit, and demerits, so most of his followers were poor. In some cases, the Buddha expressed the virtues in doing business, such as selling, clearly stating that if sellers have three virtues, they will definitely get high profits. The lessons taught by the Buddha to make their business run smoothly, the public should follow the direction of the three virtues:
1. Wise, intelligent, with good eyesight or bright eyes, especially those who know the rules of economics and business, that is, they know how to sell and buy to get a lot of profit. In particular, they know and are skilled in business, how to make a profit, how to make a loss, and know the seasons, such as knowing the seasons of each occupation. Know the place to sell, this place sells at a high price, this place sells at a low price, and know the needs of people in each place. What do they need to buy? Find a buyer to provide what they need. So, etc. Be wise, that is, be smart in buying and selling. Know how to make a loss and how to make a profit. Know the season of each business. Know the market for selling, such as where it is expensive and where it is cheap. Know the needs of people in each place. What goods do they need? Sell them according to their needs, etc. Note: Young businessmen must have wisdom and vision: For veteran businessmen, business stories There is no secret, but for those who are just starting a new business, it is necessary to be wise in the field of investment, sales, buying and selling, knowing the time, knowing the place, knowing the needs of customers, knowing the rules of business economics, being skilled in business, knowing the time and weather clearly, that is, knowing how to sell, buy and produce, and how to make a lot of money. In particular, you need to know the opportunities in doing business, that is, knowing the places to sell, this place sells high, that place sells low, and knowing the needs of people in each place, what they need to find that product to meet their needs.
2. Behavior: A person who is diligent, who does the work he is doing without delaying beyond the time of the business and the needs of the buyer. Being technically minded, smart, such as buying things in a cheap place and selling them in a high-priced place. Effort, perseverance, is to work hard to do the work he is doing, that is, not being lazy, not letting it be spoiled beyond the needs of the buyer. Note: Young businessmen must be diligent. That means that young businessmen must be diligent in the work they are doing, not wasting time on their business and missing out on customer needs, but rather be businessmen who do market research to develop themselves. Those who do the work they are doing without delaying the time of their business and the needs of the buyer are considered to be technically minded and intelligent, such as buying things at a cheap place and selling them at a high price. This does not mean that doing this kind of business is morally wrong, but it is a type of business that understands the geographical location of the people's economic income.
3. Sanatho is a person who has many needs, a person who is loved by many people, has many friends, how to make people from all walks of life feel discouraged, has faith, and trusts them until they dare to fight to the death together. He is skilled in contacting many customers. Wherever he goes, he is always loved, loved, knows how to make himself loved and trusted by others, and is friendly. If he has these three qualities, he will always bring wealth to those who follow him at all times. These three business concepts will be useful to the general public in their work to earn a living through righteousness. Hint: A young businessman must be very reliable. In a sense, you must be skilled in making many friends, going to places where people are respected. A person who is respected by many people. Not only that, you must be a person who knows how to make people from all walks of life feel confident and have confidence in yourself.
The story of a businessman in the story tells of a man, a wealthy businessman, who picked up a dead mouse and sold it to a cat breeder for 1 kangana, saving it as capital to sell and trade until he had a fortune of 200,000 kangana, and finally became a millionaire. Because the effort to save is futile, the Buddha has said: A wise and intelligent person, with little capital, becomes wealthy, just as a small fire is kindled and becomes large. The Buddha has brought this story to show in a way to those who like to acquire wealth through business. There is a Buddhist proverb to support this: Tehi bhikkhuvā anghi samṛṣadhātto, paṇika, nichirsabov, mahānṭṭām, vebolṭṭām, paṇāṭi, bhāgēsukātāmehi, tehi īth bhikkhuvā čapānikā caṇḍa, viṭhūra, caṇī, nissāyasambaño caṇḍa. Monks, a merchant who possesses the three qualities is one who is wise, one who is diligent, one who is rich with dependents, and one who will soon become rich with wealth.
An economist or businessman must have three qualities:
1- Wise, one who has clear and clear wisdom.
2- Diligent, one who is diligent and diligent.
3- Sanatha, one who is rich with many dependents.
The first quality, “one who is wise,” is that he must be wise. The three causes of wisdom are: listening, thinking, and cultivating. Those who want to make money through trade or business should listen carefully to the explanations and advice of businessmen, paying attention to them often, so that they can learn the techniques of trading in advance, such as knowing the price of goods, etc., and should study in a business school or in the home of a businessman who has been skilled for a long time. When they have listened and learned as mentioned above, wisdom will arise. This is called wisdom born from listening and learning. As for thinking, a marketer or businessman must think carefully and find the reason for trading clearly to understand whether there is a profit or loss. If you don't see it yourself, you should ask someone who has lost a business before you act, as the ancient proverb says, "Think before you act." No matter what, you must think about the loss and profit before you act. When you think and think like this, wisdom is born. This is called wisdom born from thinking. Progress is doing it often. If you do it occasionally, it is not called progress. Only when you do it many times, many times, or repeatedly, is it called progress? Do it and do it again until you get used to it. If you have done it often, it will tell you to understand it gradually. The previous steps are a model for the next steps. Just like those who have been doing a business for a long time, wisdom always comes to their hearts, allowing them to know other businesses in a row. You who have never done it will always be confused and not wise in business. Even those who have learned to master a skill Even in business school, if you have not done it before, you cannot know everything. Only after doing it often can you understand more and more. This is called wisdom born of growth. A businessman who listens, learns, and grows as mentioned above always finds wealth in abundance. He is a person with good eyes or bright eyes, with skillful knowledge in business, knowing capital, knowing costs. Especially knowing the rules of economics and trade.
The second one, “one who is diligent,” is that a merchant or businessman must diligently manage work at home and outside the home. Trying to manage work at home means trying to control the list, trying to control all the items for sale, trying to find ways to arrange the house so that the inside is clean, so that it is arranged in a unique and unique way, so that travelers or shoppers can see it from a distance and want to walk closer to see it and look again. Try to arrange the few things that are visible to them, and the more that are in a good order, do not just place them randomly. If there are many houses of the same merchant, try to write signs or post notices to let everyone know so that they can quickly recognize your name and the name of your goods. This is household work. As for trying to manage work outside the home, it is trying to find different goods from other places that are popular with the people and sell them in large quantities, in many different ways, or any unusual thing that is perceived to be popular with the people, such as the first ripe fruit or the first goods to arrive, etc., also try to find and store them in the house first. Merchants who try as mentioned above, etc., quickly increase their wealth. They are people who have a sharp mind, a broad mind, know how to survey, consider, and examine circumstances. They have a technical mind, are extraordinarily intelligent, know how to do business, and know how to know where to buy things at a low price and where to sell them at a high price. Especially if they make a lot of profit, they do not forget the spirit of losing capital, they are not willing to give up or become lazy.
The third element, which is “Be rich with many people, have many dependents,” is that a businessman must find people who are wealthy, have many friends, and have many close friends, so that it will be easy, because all of them will help to promote, help start, help provide resources as capital, help provide support in times of various kinds of events. Be a person who has soft words, sweet and pleasant, friendly, and kind to people who come to you or to others. Do not act arrogantly or arrogantly, so that you will be loved and appreciated by others. Be a person who has a good moral character, is honest, and does not become a person who has a bad reputation by playing various games, gambling, etc. Be a person who spends his wealth in moderation, does not spend too much, does not waste too much, so that those who have a lot of wealth will dare to help, start with various things, help with capital, etc. A businessman who has many dependents will grow his wealth quickly. He is a person who is loved by many people, even friends, knows how to make people in all walks of life feel loved, have faith, gain trust, and even struggle for profit together. Whether you work in the fields, farms, businesses, wages, government jobs, or even a trade, you will be able to grow your wealth and become wealthy because of your hard work and intelligence as mentioned earlier. That is why there is a Buddhist proverb: “Udhata Vinte Thanam, the rich will always have wealth.” This Buddhist proverb is in line with the ancient Khmer proverb: “Knowing from learning, there is wealth, poverty from laziness.” Teach the way of business or learn in the home of a businessman who has been practicing for a long time. When you listen to what is said, wisdom arises. This is called wisdom arising from listening to learning. The thinking is that a marketer or businessman must think carefully and find the reason for trading clearly, to understand whether there is a profit, a loss, or a loss. If you don't see it yourself, you should ask those who have lost their business before you decide to act. As the ancient proverb says, "Think before you act." No matter what, you must think about the loss and profit before you act. When you think and think like this, wisdom arises. This is called wisdom arising from thinking. As for progress, it is doing it often. If you do it occasionally, it is not called progress. Only when you do it many times, many times, or repeatedly, can you call it progress? Do it and do it again until you get used to it. If you have done it often, it will tell you to understand gradually. The previous is an example for the next. Like someone who has been doing a business for a long time, wisdom always comes to your mind, so that you can understand other businesses in a row. You who have never done it, you will always be confused and not wise in business. Even those who have learned to master the skills in business schools, because if you have not done it before, you will not know everything. Only when you have done it often can you understand more and more. This is called wisdom born of progress. A businessman who listens, learns, and progresses as mentioned above will always find wealth.
The city of Rajagaha was a very important place for trade during the Buddha's time because it was rich in many kings and wealthy people, to the point that cart marks remain to this day.
Economically
The city of Rajagaha was a city with a flourishing trade, to the point that there were many wealthy people, called Rajagaha, who were rich in wealth.
At that time, trade was carried out using carts pulled by animals until the cart marks were carved deep into the rock at the foot of Mount Udya, the southern gate of the city.
The wealthy Anathapindika brought hundreds of carts of goods from Savatthi to sell in Rajagaha regularly, until he met The Buddha was born in Sitavan near the city and attained the fruit of the Buddha's enlightenment when he first saw him.
The rich man of Rajagaha
1- Jotika Sethi The rich man had a seven-story temple with seven windows. The temple had seven walls, with a kapok tree growing along the walls all around, and had great treasures, as well as a wife named Satulkaya, who was a deva from the northern Kuru continent.
Jotika Sethi obtained these treasures because the monks built a shrine for the Buddha Vipassi.
Later, the rich man prayed to the Blessed One, and soon he attained the fruit of arahantship, becoming a unique person in the world.
2- Jadila Sethi had a golden mountain about 80 cubits high, rising from the earth behind his house. This was the result of offering golden flowers to the stupa where the Buddha's relics were buried. Later, he entered the monastery and became an arahant in just 2-3 days.
3- Mendaka Sethi had golden goats as big as elephants and as big as oxen, growing behind his house in an area of ​​about 8 karisas around it, etc. These are the results of building 4 golden goats to support the Dhamma-asana bed, 2 more golden goats to support the floor, and 6 more golden goats to surround the center, etc. in the Vipassana Buddhist religion.
Mendaka Sethi, a Sotābān, was supported by the Dharma by 4 precepts.
4- Punna Sethi, who earned money from plowing the fields for Suman Sethi, got all the gold coins. The king brought him to the kingdom, which was 80 cubits tall, which was the largest gold coin in the kingdom. The king appointed him as a wealthy man named Puthuthana Sethi.
This is the result of the present merit, having offered alms to Sāriputta, who had just come out of Nirvāsamabha.
Having become wealthy, he offered alms to the monks headed by the Buddha for seven days, listened to the Dhamma of the Blessed One, and attained the fruit of the Sātapatti with his wife and daughter named Uttara.
5- The wealthy man Kakavalliya acquired seven large pits of wealth. This was the fruit of the merit he gave to the venerable Mahakassapatra, who had just come out of the Nirodhasamapatti.
In the Atthakatha Ettakaka of his mother Visakhamika Mata, it is stated that in the kingdom of King Bimbisara, there were five persons who possessed innumerable wealth: one Jotika, one Jadila, one Mendaka, one Punna, and one Kakavalliya.
Prepared by:
- Student Tholl Un graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Khmer Literature from Preah Sihanouk University
- Graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Information Technology from Buildbridge University
Address: Sya Ampil Village, Baray Commune, Srey Santor District, Kampong Cham Province.
References
- Chuon Nath (Samdech Sanghareach) Dictionary (Volume 1 - Volume 2)
- Bhikkhu Dhammabal Khieu Chum (Gala Chenda)
- Preah Bodhivaeng So-hai (Titth Dhammaikath Katha)
- Preah Udom Moni Um-sur (Avasankhas Ignorance. Sangha. Mind. Form)
- Bhikkhu Ngin Phen Intpannhao (Buddhism and Society)
- Preah Monikoal Hul Sovann (Three Benefits)
- Preah Udom Prija Chap Pin (Three Benefits)
- Preah Balat Udom Lep Song Siv Siddhartha (Buddhism and Science)
- Professor Maha Dhamma Gurukoal Prak Prum (Buddhism and Social Issues)
- Chhon Iam (Buddhist Economic Philosophy)
- Mr. San Sochea Book (Three Benefits)
- Mr. Cher Kaen (Buddhism and Economy)
- The Story of the Great Hero
- King Jayavarman VII (Khmer History by Ros Chantrabot)
- The Art of War (Sun U)
- The Book of Great Men, Volume 4
- The Story of the Great Hero (Dr. Maha Chhim Som, Former Professor at Preah Suramrit Buddhist University, 1959)
- Ancient Military Rules (Compiled by Mekhthara, Excerpted from Khmer Historical Documents)
- Mr. Minh-Lingan, Professor of Literature, Boeung Trabek University, Master of Public Administration
- The Story of the Great Hero (Dr. Kol Pheng, Founder of Pannasastra University of Cambodia)
Preah Traipetak > Sutta Pitaka > Anguttar Nikaya > Athakanibhata > Tikhajeanu Sutta (Book No. 48, Page 244)

The Buddhism of Economic

Part 1
The View of Dhamma Benefits
Benefits in the Present It has been achieved in this nation.

Prepared by:
My Majesty, I am
Student of Tholl Un
B.E. 2569
AD 2025

4 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒘.
𝟏- 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭
By whatever means one engages in to earn a living , he or she should be hard-working and not lazy.
𝟐- 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
Any wealth that has been legally and rightfully 𝟑- 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝
One should associate with the right kind of friends. It does not matter whether they are young or old as long as they are virtuous, charitable, have wisdom, and spirituality.
𝟒- 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝
One should be aware of one's income, expenses, and live within one's means.

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