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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 29

and delusion, as the Buddha specifically points out, then Investing in the stock market possibly could be that
you will have very negative results. attitude. There are people who are just flinging money
into stocks, like on a roulette wheel. But, the Buddha is
As to music, musicians can promote certain attitudes actually quite pro-business. He’s talking about people
through their performances. For example, military opening businesses. He’s talking about the state, like the
music can prompt aggression and send people off to king, supporting people who want to start businesses.
war. Plato mentioned that music was one of the most He says that one should divide one’s money into four
powerful ways to change people’s minds in society, and parts. One portion is to be saved, i.e. put into a bank.
he thought that the State should control music, because Another portion is to be invested in business. Another is
it can be very influential. Some types of music can raise to be used for generosity. Another is to be used for your
people’s sense of generosity and kindness, and that type own pleasure and enjoyment.
of music is very beneficial for the social environment.
Others have very negative social messages advocating The Buddha is advocating investment. This must be
violence, racial and gender discrimination, drug use, distinguished. When one puts one’s money into a stock
and sexual manipulation. Artists are not exempt from market, they are actually participating in a business.
moral obligations. Both music and acting can produce Hopefully they’re investing in something they are in
sublime and beautiful messages, including Dhamma. But ethical agreement with, and hope that when it succeeds,
they can also promote very dark and troubling types of it will be of benefit to people, not negative to people. So,
messages, from which the people who have participated this means not investing in a new marijuana company,
will have negative results. or a new arms company or a new machine gun maker.
The investment is in something that promotes green
While gambling is mentioned in the Parābhava technology or better farming techniques, something
Sutta, Sn 1.6 as one of the causes of one’s downfall, that benefits people.
is modern day stock broking business or buying and
selling commodities deem as a form of gambling If money is used in the right way, it’s not necessarily
that lay Buddhists should avoid as well? a negative thing. Somebody who is not a monastic,
needs to make money and have a livelihood to support
Is participating in the stock market gambling? It can be. themselves. By investing in business, one might make
The Buddha talks about gambling as being the doorway money through the stock market, which is alright, with
to the lower realms. Gambling is a certain attitude - the right attitude. Those who are wildly inflamed with
the attitude that you want something for nothing. It’s the gambling bug as an addiction, even if it’s in the
typically associated with addictions as well. It is an stock market, leveraging their investments and losing
addiction. This was obvious in the time of the Buddha. everything, that is a wrong attitude, which can lead to
It’s plentifully obvious now as well that people who destruction.
have addictive personalities will be addicted to drugs,
alcohol, sex and gambling. If you remember the collapse of the stock market in
1929, you saw that there were many reports of people
Gambling has its moments of a high, just like a drug who had been successful before, jumping out of windows,
does, and that’s what’s addictive. That’s why it leads to committing suicide after the collapse of the stock market.
downfall. One becomes deluded. This tragedy happens You can see that people’s delusions are very easy to stir
to many, many people. The person who is responsible up when we talk about money.
for the household takes their paycheck and gambles
it away, and then their family has nothing to eat. They Stocks are not about money; they’re about real
get into debt and then violence follows and eventually businesses.
even suicide can follow this. You can see the destructive
nature of that kind of attitude to gambling.