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Did the Buddha give clear advice on how lay Now, monastics are asked not only to avoid carrying
people should earn their living other than specific money, but also not to have command over money or
prohibitions on what occupations not to be accept money or to use money. In other words, they don’t
engaged in? have personal money. But monasteries and monks are
supported by people who do. They buy things and offer
The Buddha gave advice about attitudes in your the basics of life to the monastics. It’s just that money
working relationships. For instance, if you are the gives access to anything one wants and this is why people
employer, you should pay your workers appropriately. like it. Everybody likes it. Even a four-year-old child, after
You should not overwork them. You should give them they learn that money can buy candy, they like money!
some responsibilities and pay attention to the benefits Somebody who’s 80 years old, they like slippers. And
that they need. If they have a family and somebody’s they can buy slippers with money. It’s basically the genie
sick, you need to give them a little time off. in the lamp - money gets whatever you wish.

If you’re an employee, then you need to show up for It’s not inherently destructive. It’s more like an IQ test
work at the right time. You have to work honestly and or a test of one’s wisdom, because obviously some
vigorously, in agreement with the contract you made. people just make a complete disaster of money. When
And, not to cheat or be lazy in the job, and to finish the people win the lottery, often they end up with nothing
full amount of time that you have promised. These are at the end of it because they did not pass the money IQ
attitudes between employers and employees, and this test. So, it’s a very good test and the Buddha has much
is mentioned several times in the suttas because this advice about how to live sensibly. And, that money is
is a basic function of society. Sometimes you are the not the problem. The problem is greed, hatred, and
boss, sometimes you are the employee, and sometimes delusion, and using money as a means to manifest one’s
you have obligations in both directions. So, that is greed, hatred, and delusions.
the Buddha’s advice in general about these types of
employments. Any final advice to lay Buddhists on how they can
know if the work they do are currently within the
As lay people work to earn money, how should we definition of Right Livelihood as taught by the
treat money? Is it deemed as the source of all evil? Buddha?
Is this the reason why monastics are not allowed to
carry money? If you have doubts about whether your livelihood

is Right Livelihood, you really should spend some
The phrase “money is the root of all evil” is actually a considerable time exploring that question with a well-
misquote from the Old Testament. What is said there is versed monastic or stable and wise lay person who is
that “the love of money is the root of much evil.” Much of deeply familiar with the Buddhist teachings so that your
the mischief and evil done in the world can be traced to conscience is not troubled. It’s really well worth the
the excessive love of money. It’s not money itself that is time, however much it takes, to sort this question out
the root of all evil. It is greed that is the root of some evil. because I would say that in the West, people who come
The Buddha did not object to people having money. In to Buddhist monasteries are already quite ethical. In
fact, he thought it was a very good idea, and he hoped fact, they’re usually over-conscientious and they worry
that if lay people worked honestly and intelligently and excessively about whether their livelihoods are causing
developed skills, they would do well. In the Mangala any secondary or tertiary problems in the world. The

Sutta, some of the blessings of life are having useful Buddha’s primary aim is that you’re not directly causing
skills, which one can make a livelihood with, and to use difficulties and suffering for other beings through your
the money one makes to support one’s family. livelihood. EH