chownah wrote:I'd really like to see a sutta reference where the Buddha teaches about how we should only make our living by "the sweat of our brow".....I don't think he said that or anything else directly to that effect.....can anyone provide one/some?
chownah
I never said *only*...Anyway, although I do remember reading that 'sweat of one's brow' quote, I cannot now find that quote, but I think it was just a 'figure of speech' implying that one should actually be doing something productive, and putting forth
effort in one's work (but I'm speculating here). I certainly was
not implying that the Buddha said we all have to do work that involves working up a sweat...
haha... Anyway, regarding Wall Street, take a look at this:
A balanced livelihood
"Herein, Vyagghapajja, a householder knowing his income and expenses leads a balanced life, neither extravagant nor miserly, knowing that thus his income will stand in excess of his expenses, but not his expenses in excess of his income.
"Just as the goldsmith, or an apprentice of his, knows, on holding up a balance, that by so much it has dipped down, by so much it has tilted up; even so a householder, knowing his income and expenses leads a balanced life, neither extravagant nor miserly, knowing that thus his income will stand in excess of his expenses, but not his expenses in excess of his income."
— AN 8.54
Interesting...'don't spend more than you earn!', pretty clearly spelt out.
EDIT: I wish to thank all those above who recalled the location of and / or found that quote...I knew I had read it somewhere!!