In the previous episode of The Missing Conversation, Robert Strock explored the relationship between Buddhist spiritual teachings, their impact on students' and teachers' relationships, and the impact of a lack of personal transparency with money.

Most of the current Buddhist teachers tend to live simply and frugally, in relative simplicity, with a low income to moderate lifestyle. More often than not, they depend on donations or Dāna (alms) from their students or those who attend their spiritual services. In this episode, Robert talks about his conversations with several teachers who had mixed emotions about the degree of simplicity required to live according to the current donation system. This meant that the teachers often lived in different neighborhoods than their students. This ambivalence with the students was significantly uncomfortable for some of the teachers. There was concern that it might provoke resistance if the students were asked to evaluate their own relationship with money or the teacher's desire to live in a more moderale way. Privately, most of these teachers agreed that it would be a good idea to deal with the great attachment towards money prevalent among their students in America. But there was also concern about the impact of this and that it might lessen the need for a role model in some students.

Sometimes we may feel the need to look up to or learn from teachers who appear as though they aren't attached to money. Buddhist teachers often appear detached from money, which doesn't encourage them to share any learnings from their own life or experience.

But money is a neutral asset, devoid of any religious connotation. Therefore, there is an open opportunity for Buddhist teachers to share more about their relationship with money to share learning and beneficial examples for their students.

Those blessed with money might benefit from a better understanding of their relationship to their wealth. This, in turn, may help transform the sensation of blessing into a feeling of generosity — the desire to give back and help humanity and those in need. After all, the core tenets of Buddhism and most other religions are to help others and live a life full of caring and understanding.

Read the transcription and listen to this episode on The Global Bridge Foundation website.