The Buddha affirmed the kammic results of actions such as giving, which will indeed transport one to the higher levels of samsara, but he did not make that the central point of his teaching or suggest that one should be satisfied with that. Just on the contrary, he warned that monks will become lax in the future due to seeking such gifts from the laypeople:The Buddha affirmed the kammic results of actions such as giving, which will indeed transport one to the higher levels of samsara, but he did not make that the central point of his teaching or suggest that one should be satisfied with that. Just on the contrary, he warned that monks will become lax in the future due to seeking such gifts from the laypeople:
Anāgatabhaya Sutta
The Discourse on Future Dangers (4)
http://www.buddha-vacana.org/sutta/angu ... 5-080.html
Anāgatabhaya Sutta
The Discourse on Future Dangers (4)
http://www.buddha-vacana.org/sutta/angu ... 5-080.html [/quote]
The Dhammakaya doesn't teach that people should be satisfied from donating money. They teach that meditation is the highest merit. The vice Abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya says this in one of his q&a videos on youtube. The story of the founder of the Dhammakaya is that he contemplated and saw that money and work wasn't really that important, so he went to ordain. Ajahn Martin, one of Luangtas students, was complaining at Wat Pa Baan Taad once, one of the most famous forest monasteries in thailand,that the westerners come and never donate. But is there ever a thread about how the forest tradition only cares about money and complains that people don't donate? Dhammakaya is completely singled out for just teaching Buddhism. And about that sutta you sent me where the Buddha is saying that monks will come to live in the cities, Wat Phra Dhammakaya has a forest monastery branch.
"Material wealth is so ingrained in man’s values that he loses touch with the reality and true purpose of life. In the end everyone must die. My father has died. My relatives have died. And when they died they could take nothing with them. What is the point of having all these possessions when you can’t enjoy them after your death? One day, I, too, must die. Haven’t I learned from my deceased father and relatives?”
He pondered about what he should do with his life, and came to the conclusion that there was nothing more worthwhile for him to do than pursuing a life of purity by becoming a monk. He made the resolution: “Please don’t let me die before I have a chance to ordain. Once I take ordination it will be for life.” From Lp Dhammajayos book beyond wisdom, which you can read for free on the internet.
And a picture below from one of the Dhammakayas forest monasteries.