In short: the Buddha described seven kinds of wealth that matter more than money: "Mendicants, there are these seven kinds of wealth. What seven? The wealth of faith, ethics, conscience, prudence, learning, generosity, and wisdom." (AN 7.6). Someone who has them, he said, is "prosperous, their life is not in vain".
The seven kinds of wealth
"Mendicants, there are these seven kinds of wealth. What seven? The wealth of faith, ethics, conscience, prudence, learning, generosity, and wisdom."
| Wealth | In the Buddha's words (AN 7.6) |
|---|---|
| 1. Faith | "faith in the Realized One's awakening" |
| 2. Ethics | not killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false or harsh speech, or intoxicants (the precepts) |
| 3. Conscience | "conscientious about bad conduct by way of body, speech, and mind" |
| 4. Prudence | "prudent when it comes to bad conduct" |
| 5. Learning | "remembering and keeping what they've learned" |
| 6. Generosity | giving freely (generosity in Buddhism) |
| 7. Wisdom | "the wisdom of arising and passing away… [that] leads to the complete ending of suffering" |
A life not in vain
"When a woman or man has these kinds of wealth, they're said to be prosperous, their life is not in vain."
AN 7.6
Money can be lost, stolen or spent. These can't be taken from you, and they grow the more you use them. (Compare: contentment, "the ultimate wealth".)
Try it
Pick one treasure for this week and practice it on purpose. Start each day with intention: Practice → Morning.
Questions people ask
What are the seven noble treasures in Buddhism?
Faith, ethics, conscience, prudence, learning, generosity and wisdom (AN 7.6). The Buddha called them 'kinds of wealth' that no one can take away.