The Buddha taught that only when people ... - Dhamma by Ajahn Jayasāro
The Buddha taught that only when people are free of worries concerning the essential needs for clothing, food, shelter and medical care, can they progress spiritually. Rather than overlooking the importance of material development the Buddha recognised that it forms the necessary foundation for the fulfilment of the deeper spiritual needs. Problems arise when material development becomes the sole focus of life. The results of such an approach range from stress and depression to drug abuse and suicide. A balanced life is one in which we take care of both inner and outer needs. But as inner needs are not so obvious and outer needs are much more pressing, time for inner cultivation does not often present itself. We must make time for it.
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