Editing SG33SHS-T (section)

=== 23. Without a Steady Livelihood There Can Be No Enduring Peace of Mind ===

Indeed, many of the current spiritualists who disregard the reform of institutions may lack understanding or exhibit a lack of compassion. However, the revered spiritual leaders of the past, including Śākyamuni Buddha, were not like that, as I argued in the previous section. Now, let us further illustrate this point by borrowing appropriate words from Mengzi 孟子 [371–289 BCE] and continue the discussion. Mengzi’s advice to King Hui 惠 [fl. 4th c. BCE] of Liang 梁 famously began with the statement, “Your Majesty, why must you place such emphasis on profit? It should be righteousness and benevolence alone.”<ref>''Mencius'' 1A.1.</ref> However, Mengzi’s concept of righteousness and benevolence went beyond mere abstract ideas. He taught that it is through politics that the livelihood of the masses is guaranteed, and he further expounded on this idea as follows:

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If there is no stable livelihood, there can be no enduring commitment. Only the noble class can maintain enduring commitment, while the common people, lacking a stable livelihood, cannot. Without enduring commitment, they will be prone to indulgence and extravagance. When they fall into wrongdoing, they will be subject to punishment. This will only lead to the confusion and disturbance of the people. . . . Nowadays, the livelihood of the common people is so restricted that it is neither sufficient to serve their parents nor to support their wives and children. Even in prosperous years, they suffer until the end of their lives, and in years of famine, they cannot escape death. How then could they have leisure for cultivating ritual and righteousness?<ref>''Mencius'' 1A.7.</ref>
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Indeed, this criticism closely reflects the current state of society. It is futile to preach spiritualism and impose moral compliance on a restless and burdened population that lacks the opportunity to redirect their focus and learn about proper etiquette. Not only is it ineffective, but it also exhibits an extreme lack of compassion. It is truly necessary for the general population to have a stable livelihood first, as emphasized by the teachings of Mengzi when he spoke about understanding rituals and propriety. Nāgārjuna (fl. 2nd–3rd c.) also mentioned this in the ''Great Treatise on the Perfection of Wisdom'': “When people commit the ten unwholesome actions, it is all due to poverty. If a person has their five desires fulfilled, they will act according to their wishes and will not engage in the ten unwholesome actions.”<ref>Skt. ''Mahā-prajñāpāramitā-śāstra'', Ch. ''Da zhidu lun'' 大智度論, Jp. ''Daichidoron''.</ref>

Indeed, love is not simply a concept or an illusion, but is itself a practice. It is through practice that we can better discover and rectify errors, constantly engage in objective criticism, and recognize universality.