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It’s not about the money: “Sutta on the Dung Beetle”


It’s not about the money: “Sutta on the Dung Beetle”


A talk based on the Pilahaka Sutta from the Pali Canon given at Buddhist Fellowship West in Singapore.

  • Recognizing that worldly desires are an obstacle to nirvana
  • Objects of attachment are not the problem, it’s our attitude toward them
  • Developing genuine self-esteem
  • The value of our actions depends on our motivation

It’s not about the money: “Sutta on the Dung Beetle” (download)

Venerable Thubten Chodron

Venerable Chodron emphasizes the practical application of Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives and is especially skilled at explaining them in ways easily understood and practiced by Westerners. She is well known for her warm, humorous, and lucid teachings. She was ordained as a Buddhist nun in 1977 by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche in Dharamsala, India, and in 1986 she received bhikshuni (full) ordination in Taiwan. Read her full bio.