The Richest and Most Miserable Man of Shravasti

One afternoon in the city of Shravasti, golden sunlight stretched across red-tiled roofs. Amidst the bustling capital stood a large house with its doors firmly shut, silent as a tomb. Rumor had it that this was the home of the chief treasurer, a notorious moneylender known for his immense wealth. Yet no one ever saw him step outside in decent clothing, nor did anyone witness him inviting guests to share a meal.

His riches were so vast that upon his death, King Pasenadi had to send soldiers to inventory his assets. It took seven days of continuous transport just to move the gold, silver, jewels, and rice from his warehouses. However, while alive, he lived in extreme austerity. Each day, he ate only cold leftover rice from the previous night, afraid to waste fresh food. He wore rags, even though his closet held fine silk garments; he would only wear them when mice chewed holes in his old clothes. His servants were all thin and pale, for he never paid them extra or provided a proper meal.

When King Pasenadi heard this news, he was astonished. Why would such a wealthy man live in such misery? The king went to the monastery, bowed to the Buddha, and asked:

"World-Honored One, I cannot understand this. There is a treasurer in our city whose wealth takes seven days to transport. Yet he lives extremely miserably, refusing good food, beautiful clothes, or helping others. I have heard that wealth comes from generosity in past lives. How can he be so stingy? Does this mean the law of cause and effect (karmic law) is wrong?"

The Buddha smiled, looking at the king with compassion, and slowly began to tell a story:

"Great King, this treasurer does not lack blessings from merit. In a past life, he was also a prosperous man. One day, a Pratyekabuddha came to his door begging for alms. Seeing the holy monk, the man ordered his servant to bring out food for making offerings. The servant, moved by reverence for the practitioner, brought the finest dishes from the kitchen. After the Pratyekabuddha accepted the offering and left, the master looked at the remaining food and realized the best portions had been given away. A thought of intense regret arose in his mind. He thought: 'Why give such delicious food? Leftovers would have been enough. Better to save the good food for myself!'"

The Buddha paused, gazing deeply into the king’s eyes:

"That single thought of regret was powerful. Because the offering was made to an Arhat, the merit was immense. Thanks to that blessing, he was reborn in heavenly realms and enjoyed many lifetimes of wealth. But because the mindset of regret haunted him, even in his rich lives, he remained austere, tormenting himself. This current life is the last where he enjoys those fruits of merit. Since he planted no new seeds of goodness, after death, he will fall into hell."

The king listened, his heart tightening. He suddenly understood that merit and virtue are two different things. The treasurer had merit because he made offerings, but he lacked virtue because his mind was still filled with regret and selfishness. It was this mindset that turned blessings from merit into suffering.

The Buddha continued:

"Great King, those who enjoy merit often lose faith in cause and effect (karmic law). Because they have money and power, getting whatever they want, they believe everything is created by their own will, needing no luck or karmic law. Only those with deep roots of goodness understand that their wealth, intelligence, and talent come from blessings from past lives. Poor people find it easier to believe in cause and effect, because they see fortunate events happening beyond their control."

The king recalled the treasurer’s life—a rich man whom no one loved or mourned. When officials came to transport his assets, his servants merely watched with indifference. They felt neither sadness nor joy, having long lost any affection for their stingy master. The king sighed and exclaimed:

"To be so wealthy yet live like this is nothing less than hell right here in the human realm!"

"Precisely," the Buddha nodded. "It was his mindset of regret and stinginess that bound him. When one gives but then regrets it, the merit remains, but the soul becomes poor and austere. Therefore, when practicing generosity, one must give with an open, joyful heart, wishing to give even more. Do not let thoughts of regret creep into your mind, for they will torment you through many lifetimes."

From then on, King Pasenadi understood the law of cause and effect (karmic law) more clearly. He realized that not only actions but also thoughts and intentions create karma. A small thought of regret, if directed toward a holy being, yields enormous consequences. If one allows a stingy mindset to dominate, no matter how wealthy one is, life becomes a chain of suffering and self-torment.

The Meaning of the Story

This story teaches us that merit and virtue are distinct. Merit arises from the act of giving, but virtue resides in the state of mind. Giving with regret and a stingy heart leads to self-torment, preventing happiness despite wealth. Conversely, giving with an open, joyful heart, and the desire to give more, causes blessings from merit to grow infinitely. Always monitor your mind; do not let regret or selfishness dictate your life, for it is this mindset that shapes your existence.

Compiled from the dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang