Chapter Four:The Way of Humanity 28

The Founding Master was explaining the meaning of “being content with poverty and rejoicing in the Way”:
“Generally speaking, poverty refers to an insufficiency of some sort. If one’s facial appearance falls short, it is poverty of the face; if one’s learning falls short, it is poverty of learning; if one’s property falls short, it is poverty of material assets. The saying ‘being content with one’s lot’ means to be comfortable with one’s given portion in whatever aspect. If one is not content with one’s existing poverty and struggles to avoid it unreasonably, then one will only become more anxious and increase one’s suffering, instead. If poverty is unavoidable, accept it with equanimity, and take pleasure in preparing for future wisdom and merit. The reason, however, that a practitioner who is content with one’s lot comes to rejoice in the Way is because one understands that whatever poverty and suffering one receives now will change into merit and happiness in the future; furthermore, one derives pleasure from the fact that the functioning of one’s mind never digresses from the truth and one’s power of cultivation is able to enter the genuine realm that transcends suffering and happiness. Since ancient times, sages and philosophers have all understood this principle and applied such a state of mind in their actual lives; and thus, while living in poverty, they lived an unparalleled life of rejoicing in the Way.”

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