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? – BUDDHISM FOR BEGINNERS

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, … Continue reading 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?