06/12/2025
In Buddhism, there’s a saying in The Dhammapada that goes like this: “Attā hi attano natthi (You do not truly own yourself): Many people think they own their lives, families, and possessions—like money, property, or status. But in reality, we don’t have full control over our own bodies or lives. We can’t stop ourselves from ageing, getting sick, or facing unexpected events. This shows that we don’t really possess ourselves.
All the things we collect—money, cars, gadgets, houses, and even our jobs—will eventually be left behind when we die. The only things that truly stay with us are our actions, words, and thoughts. These shape who we are and what we experience, even after we’re gone.
Everyone faces death, no matter how much they own. What really matters is the good or bad we do. Good actions lead to happiness, while bad actions bring suffering. So, in today’s world, it’s essential to focus on doing good, being kind, and helping others. These are the things that will always support us, now and in the future.
To learn more about this, let us examine the above statement in full as it appears in the Bālavagga or in the section of the Fool in the Dhammapada, as follows:
In Pāli:
“Puttā matthi dhanammatthi iti bālo vihaññati
Attā hi attano natthi kuto puttā kuto dhanaṃ.” (Dhp 62)
Here, me: I; puttā atthi: have sons; me: I; dhanaṃ atthi: have wealth; iti: this way; bālo: the fool; vihaññati: worries; attā hi: one’s own self; attano natthi: one does not have; puttā: sons; kuto: how can that be; dhanaṃ [dhana]: wealth; kuto: how can that be.
Simply, it can be translated as follows: "I have sons (both son and daughter), I have wealth"; with this (feeling of attachment), the fool (untrained mind) is afflicted. Indeed, he himself is not his own; how can sons and wealth be his?
The Buddha uttered this reference to a miserly rich man named Ananda as follows:
The Story of Ananda, the Rich Man
At that time, the Buddha was residing at the Jetavana monastery. There was a very wealthy man named Ananda in Savatthi. Although he possessed eighty crores, he was very reluctant to give anything in charity. To his son, Mulasiri, he used to say, "Don't think the wealth we have now is very much. Do not give away anything from what you have, for you must make it grow. Otherwise, your wealth will dwindle away." This rich man had five pots of gold buried in his house, and he died without revealing their location to his son.
Ananda, the rich man, was reborn in a village of beggars, not far from Savatthi. From the time his mother was pregnant, the income of the beggars decreased; the villagers thought there must be a wicked and unlucky one amongst them. By dividing themselves up into groups and by the process of elimination, they came to the conclusion that the pregnant beggar woman must be the unfortunate one. Thus, she was driven out of the village. When her son was born, the son proved to be extremely ugly and repulsive. If she went out begging by herself, she would get as before, but if she went out with her son she would get nothing. So, when the boy could go out by himself, his mother placed a plate in his hand and left him. As he wandered about in Savatthi, he remembered his old house and his past existence. So he went into the house. When the sons of his son Mulasiri saw him, they were frightened by his ugly looks and began to cry. The servants then beat him and threw him out of the house.
The Buddha, who was on his alms-round, saw the incident and asked the Venerable Ananda to fetch Mulasiri. When Mulasiri came, the Buddha told him that the young beggar was his own father in his previous existence. But Mulasiri could not believe it. So, the Buddha directed the beggar boy to show where he had buried his five pots of gold. Then only, Mulasiri accepted the truth, and from that time he became a devoted lay-disciple of the Buddha. Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
"I have sons, I have wealth"; with this (feeling of attachment) the fool is afflicted. Indeed, he himself is not his own; how can sons and wealth be his?
Therefore, let us take time to reflect on what truly matters in life. Instead of attaching ourselves solely to material things or status, let’s also focus on nurturing our inner qualities. Let’s practice kindness, compassion, and honesty through our daily actions, words, and thoughts. Remember, the good you do for others and the positive impact you leave behind are far more valuable than anything you can possess.
Make it a habit to help others, be mindful, and choose good deeds—even in small ways. When faced with challenges or uncertainty, remind yourself that these are natural parts of life, and that your true possessions are your intentions and actions. By living with purpose and goodness, you create lasting peace and happiness for yourself and others, both now and beyond this life.
