Is a Buddhist poor in both mind and money?

At present, a widespread misconception in society is that a Buddhist, meaning a person who follows Buddhism, is an economically weak, mentally diminished, and unsuccessful individual. It’s clear that many examples are presented and strong propaganda is carried out to substantiate that claim.

However, the truth is that a Buddhist is an economically successful, mentally strong person. And there are many example stories to prove that in Buddha’s teaching.

//Catunnavutito kappe, yaṃ kammamakariṃ tadā;

Duggatiṃ nābhijānāmi, puññakammassidaṃ phalaṃ.//

//Catunnavutito kappe, yaṃ thambhamadadaṃ tadā;

Duggatiṃ nābhijānāmi, ekatthambhassidaṃ phalaṃ.//

//Tiṃsakappasahassamhi, yaṃ dānamadadiṃ tadā;

Duggatiṃ nābhijānāmi, gandhālepassidaṃ phalaṃ.//

//Ekanavutito kappe, yaṃ kammamakariṃ tadā;

Duggatiṃ nābhijānāmi, phalaṃ sammajjanāyidaṃ.//

//Satasahassito kappe, yaṃ dussamadadiṃ tadā;

Duggatiṃ nābhijānāmi, ekadussassidaṃ phalaṃ.//

//Dvenavute ito kappe, yaṃ kammamakariṃ tadā;

Duggatiṃ nābhijānāmi, padapūjāyidaṃ phalaṃ.//

The above are several verses from the Apadāna Pāli which is in the Kuddhaka Nikaya. This shows the stories of noble beings who have enjoyed royal wealth, merchant riches, and divine treasures for an exceedingly long time in the fortunate worlds of devas and humans as a result of a single virtuous deed.

At the end of that noble life, they attained the supreme, deathless Nibbāna beyond the world, as clearly described in those stories.

A Buddhist is such a person.

That is, he is an extraordinary person who enjoys not only the royal and merchant wealth of the human world, but even the treasures of a universal monarch. Not stopping there, he partakes of the highest riches in the divine realms, perceives the Dhamma while possessing such wealth, remains unattached and unentangled in worldly possessions, relinquishes them entirely, and ultimately realizes Nibbāna.

Wouldn’t that Buddhist fall in to a lower realm?

There is no certainty of avoiding rebirth in a realm of suffering for those who have not realized Nibbāna. Thus, even for a Buddhist, there remains a definite possibility of being reborn in a realm of suffuring. It is indeed possible to fall. This is a principle of the Dhamma that applies not only to the followers but also to the great Bodhisattas.

However, 

A Buddhist is not someone who suffers eternally in a realm of suffering, nor a person who attains a happy realm yet remains economically weak, mentally fragile, and unsuccessful. That’s because a person who has taken refuge in the Noble Triple Gems engages in wholesome deeds whenever possible.

A noble person who applies themselves to wholesome deeds at every opportunity will, as the fruit of those actions, experience abundant wealth in a fortunate realm. Even if one may fall into a realm of suffering due to some mistake, they will be liberated immediately.

This is clearly illustrated in the life stories of both the great Bodhisattas and the noble disciples. Likewise, in the Buddha’s time, the majority of those who attained the fruits of the path—both monks and lay followers—were great in wealth, noble in lineage, and powerful. This is because they were true Buddhists who had practiced wholesome qualities throughout saṃsāra.

Therefore, 

If someone claims that a Buddhist is an economically weak, mentally diminished, and unsuccessful person, such a statement is indeed a falsehood, a delusion, an untruth, and should be utterly rejected. 

If a person is not a Buddhist, they may be economically strong, yet in the face of saṃsāra, they can ultimately be regarded only as a helpless and empty being.

Therefore, may everyone diligently practice wholesome deeds without pause, so as to realize Nibbāna by following the path of bliss.

May all take refuge in the Triple Gems…!!!