Falling on Hard Times

Falling on Hard Times

Date Posted:
November 2005

A Hong Kong businessman had been very well-to-do, but now no matter what he did, he lost money.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche teaching outdoors at Manjushri London (currently Jamyang Buddhist Centre), 1983. Photo by Robin Bath

Dear Tony,
It is important that you practice with strong faith. Your good karma from the past to have wealth and enjoyment has finished. When you had the opportunity, you didn’t use it to create more good karma and more wealth by making offerings to the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, and by offering charity to sentient beings.

Your recent good karma was just used for yourself, with attachment clinging to this life, so it did not become virtue, and the merit finished. This is the same as working hard and accumulating a lot of money, and then spending it, without putting anything in the bank or investing anything. All the money just gets used up. It is the same here.

When you are enjoying the results of good karma, you should continuously use it to create more good karma with a sincere heart, with the thought of benefiting others. This way, there will be prosperity continuously.

Much love and prayer...