Question 75: IF WE BELIEVE THAT WEALTH AND POWER COME FROM HAVING DONE MANY GOOD DEEDS IN PAST LIVES, WHICH IMPLIES HAVING A GOOD HEART, THEN WHY ARE SO MANY WEALTHY AND POWERFUL PEOPLE ALSO RUTHLESS AND CRUEL?

Answer: Great merit comes from doing things that benefit many people. One might perform such good deeds because of their genuine virtues, but sometimes these deeds are done unintentionally without a strong moral basis.

For example, imagine you are an officer required to follow orders from a superior to build a bridge over a river, construct a road to a remote village, or establish a hospital in a densely populated area… These actions all generate significant blessing for the future. However, the mindset while carrying out these public works can vary greatly.

You might carry out these projects with a sincere desire to help others, or you might do them hoping to please your superiors and receive rewards. These two attitudes are vastly different.

If you do these things with a genuine love for others, in the next life, you will not only enjoy wealth and power but also possess strong moral qualities. Conversely, if the motivation is simply to please the superiors or gain rewards, in your next life, you may still enjoy wealth and prosperity, but your morality may not be as developed. Doing good deeds and cultivating moral virtues are distinct activities, even though they are interconnected.

The Author

JANNA is the pen name of a certain monk who does not wish to use his real name. He is likely mature enough to understand that fame, wealth, and glory are as fleeting as morning mist.

In Pali, “JANNA” means purity, so it’s unclear which country he’s from. However, he seems to have studied the Nikaya scriptures.

Although he writes about Buddhism, he appears to desire unity with other religions to contribute to the cause of world peace. He attempts to demonstrate how differences can complement one another…