Generous Yet Regretful, Rich Yet Suffering: A Lesson from the Banker in the Dhammapada

**Summary:** The story of a wealthy banker who lived an austere life and died without an heir teaches us about the karma of a begrudging mind during giving. Through understanding, we learn to control our own minds to create merit and virtue.

Do you believe a person whose fortune was so vast it took seven days to be transferred to the state treasury, yet lived a life more torturous than a beggar’s? This is a story told by the Buddha in the Dhammapada, a lesson from an ancient banker that remains profoundly relevant for us today.

**The Lesson from the Miserly Banker**

Venerable Thích Chân Quang recounts the story: In the city of Sravasti, there lived a wealthy man named Chưởng Khố, who was a money lender, much like a modern banker or loan officer. When he died, leaving no heir, his entire fortune was absorbed into the national treasury. The strange thing was that he lived an extremely austere life: he only ate rice when it was old and spoiled, wore clothes until they were ragged, showed no compassion, and gave nothing to anyone. The servants in his household were all gaunt and miserable.

"Riches cause the foolish to forget the path to enlightenment. The foolish, for the sake of wealth, commit countless wrongs."

But the king questioned the Buddha: why was he so wealthy yet never made merit? The Buddha explained that in many past lives, the banker had once made an offering of a fine meal to a Pratyekabuddha (an Arhat). However, afterward, he felt deep regret, thinking why he had given away such good food. That very mind of regret followed him through many lifetimes, causing him to be reborn as a wealthy but profoundly stingy man who tormented himself. In his final life, his merit was exhausted; he died childless, his household fell into ruin, and after death, he fell into the hell realms.

**The Karma of a Begrudging Mind in Giving**

Venerable Chân Quang emphasizes that many of us also harbor this mind of “giving and then regretting.” Even the teacher admits there have been times he intended to make an offering of ten million, but when the time came, it became only five million, and he wondered if he was like the banker. This regretful mind, even if milder, is still karma. When we give with reluctance, we torment ourselves with that very state of mind.

"We naturally wish for ourselves what we wish for others."

Therefore, instead of regret, we should cultivate a wish to give even more. The Venerable teaches: “Once you have given, wish to give again. Even if you cannot give another coin, your merit increases through the very thought of expansion.” This is how we transform a mind of greedy regret into a mind of joyful letting go.

**Merit and Virtue: Two Different Things**

He makes a clear distinction: Merit is the external result, such as wealth and power. Virtue is the internal quality, such as compassion, wisdom, and the capacity to let go. In the story, the banker had great merit (from his offering) but lacked virtue (because his mind was one of regret, greed, and hatred). Thus, when his merit was exhausted, he fell into the hell realms.

Conversely, there are those with very good hearts who, lacking the conditions to create merit, do not achieve outward success. Both are incomplete. A person who possesses both merit and virtue, like a bodhisattva, is one who always has faith in cause and effect, who creates merit with a pure mind, unattached.

**Enjoying Merit While Believing in Cause and Effect – A Precious Jewel**

Venerable Thích Chân Quang points out a reality: When people enjoy great merit, they often become arrogant, believing everything is their own creation, needing no luck, no karmic law. They easily lose faith in karma and its effects. A wealthy person who still believes in cause and effect possesses deep and rare wholesome roots.

Therefore, when we are in a fortunate situation and have the conditions to hear the Dharma, we should cherish it. This is due to merit from past lives, and now the mind of the Way helps us continue to ascend, not to fall into wrongdoing.

**Practice: Controlling the Mind and Expanding the Heart**

The practical lesson we draw is to control our own minds. Whenever we see someone succeed or be happy, let us rejoice with them, cultivating the wish for their well-being. This costs no money, but merit and virtue grow. The Venerable advises us to “silently give each person we meet a wish” – wishing for them to visit a temple and learn the Way, wishing for them to renounce, wishing for them to become a Dharma teacher… This is how we destroy the unwholesome mind and cultivate the mind of compassion.

“The mind that wishes for all beings to be happy, wishes for all beings to succeed, wishes for people to have virtue… all those things come back to you.”

So, from today, let us not be stingy after we have given. Let us wish to give more. Let our hearts open wide like the blue sky, so that merit and virtue may blossom together. This is the path leading to enlightenment – a path that no amount of wealth can obscure.