Question by Wait a Minute: Do Buddhists believe the wealthy, beautiful and powerful have the most enlightened souls?
I heard Buddhists believe your spiritual growth is reflected by the gifts you possess such as wealth, beauty and power. These attributes have been earned from past lives.
From what I have seen, as a whole, such people seem to be the least enlightened and the most shallow.
Thoughts?
This Buddhist outlook is what lends justification of the Indian Caste System.
The most powerful are the most enlightened. Please correct me if I am mistaken.
Best answer:
Answer by Neville Devil
you heard that from somebody who doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
Give your answer to this question below!
That sounds more like the Biblical jews who believed that wealth was a sign of blessing/favour from God and that poverty was a sign of sinfulness.
Am reading a book about the Khmer Rouge and it’s painting a less than peaceful picture of the Buddhist monks of Cambodia pre-revolution.
As a Buddhist, I can tell you that what you have heard is incorrect.
In Buddhism, we work toward ending our “attachments” to these material, earthly things.
Buddha himself turned his back on his family’s riches in order to find “enlightenment.”
And all those years under the banyan tree were for “spiritual growth,” not “material growth.”
Peace.
Buddhists believes beauty soul is the most beauty in the world.
And there is also a saying, if you do many good things this life, the next life you will live in healthy, wealthy and happy.
No, no, Not at all. Material possession has nothing to do with spiritual growth.
But, some human beings may be born as wealthy and attractive individuals and may be born in power full families as a result of some meritorious deeds they have done in their past lives. But, the point is we all have done many meritorious deeds in our past lives in some way or another. As Buddha teaches virtually every human being has born incalculable number of times not only as kings, emperors, queens, wealthy businessmen ect..but also as animals, deformed individuals, poor ones, slaves, prostitutes ect… What we see as ‘today’s status’ is only a ‘snap shot’ of this eons long journey called Sansara. Therefore, ‘we all are same’ in gross terms!
Doing meritorious deeds is encouraged in Buddhism. It is obvious that being generous is better than being greedy. But, engage in insight meditation to realize the ultimate truth is the most valuable and precious thing that human being can do. Only that leads to the growth in ‘spirituality’. Buddhas always encourage this path but nothing else. Buddha said ”I do not admire this aimless wandering ( Sansara) at any rate” Therefore, the aim of the teaching is very clear.
Let me correct you: the Indian caste system is based on hinduism, not buddhism.
And no, the idea that spiritual growths is reflected by the gifts you posses such as wealth is not buddhist.