The Two Beggar Spouses by the Pond

On a misty morning in the city of Varanasi, the Buddha and his monks walked with their alms bowls. At a corner of the market, the Buddha paused, a gentle smile touching his lips. Venerable Ananda, standing beside him, clasped his hands respectfully and asked what had caused such joy.

The Buddha looked toward two ragged figures huddled by the roadside, holding broken bowls with hollow eyes. He spoke slowly, revealing that these beggars were once the wealthiest couple in all of Varanasi. Their fortune had been vast enough to rival a kingdom, yet within twenty years, they had fallen into destitution.

Ananda was stunned. How could such wealth vanish so completely? The Buddha then shared their story. The husband, named Dai Phu, came from an immensely rich family. His parents arranged a marriage with another heiress of equal fortune. Believing their combined assets would last for generations, they neglected to teach their children how to earn a living, cultivate virtue, or create merit. They assumed money alone would sustain them forever.

When the parents passed away, the young couple inherited everything. They became the richest people in the city, possessing gold like seawater. However, lacking guidance, they descended into reckless indulgence. They spent thousands of gold coins daily without regret, engaging in gambling, drinking, and buying frivolous luxuries. Like water slipping through fingers, their wealth drained away day after day.

Within less than twenty years, they had sold their homes, lands, and possessions. Former friends who had feasted at their tables now turned their backs in silence. With no skills and nothing left, the couple wandered the streets, begging for food.

Sitting by the road, the Buddha explained to Ananda that this couple possessed great blessings. Had they chosen monastic life early on, they might have attained Arhatship. Even as lay practitioners, they could have reached the stage of Non-Returner. If they had awakened later, they still could have achieved the stages of Once-Returner or Stream-Enterer. Instead, they exhausted both worldly blessings and spiritual potential, leaving them empty-handed.

The Buddha recited a verse: "If one does not practice holy conduct in youth and fails to gather resources, one is like an old crane by a dried pond, waiting sadly for fish that never come."

These former tycoons had held a golden opportunity for liberation. Yet blinded by delusion, they squandered their blessings. Now, only their frail bodies remained by the pond of life, watching time pass in decay.

The Meaning of the Story

Blessings are not fixed as either worldly or transcendent; they depend on the direction of one’s mind. Worldly blessings, such as wealth, beauty, and fame, are limited. They often inflate the ego and lead to negative karma. Transcendent blessings, born from practice and enlightenment, are infinite and lead to liberation. Therefore, those with good fortune should invest it in spiritual cultivation and virtuous deeds, rather than wasting it on fleeting worldly pleasures.