December 10, 2007
When the Buddha attained enlightenment, he went around the cities and collected small pieces of cloth that were thrown away by other people. Apparently, he was a good seamstress, so he sewed all those little squares of cloth together, and he made a monastic garment out of them. And it came out beautifully, wonderfully. People remarked, "Look! Who is that person, that well-dressed, well-clad person?" That's where the tradition of sewing monastic robes out of small pieces of cloth came from. Buddha demonstrated that kind of richness, power, and strength. It was not a question of having expensive cloth sewn together, but it was the way the robe was worn, the way it looked. So richness is not purely a result of dollars and cents, or as they used to say in England, LSD, pounds, shillings, and pence. When a person is worthy of wealth, he has it; he embodies it.
From "Regarding Money as Mother's Milk," an address at a business conference, June 19, 1981. Unpublished transcript.
All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used by permission.
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Our friends at Shambhala Sun Foundation (publishers of the Shambhala Sun and Buddhadharma magazines) are hosting their first-ever online auction. The auction began November 21 and continues through December 12. They have assembled a wonderful selection of unique auction items -- including original art, photographs, gift certificates from contemplative publishers, meditation supplies, and retreat opportunities. An original calligraphy by Chogyam Trungpa is being auctioned. Bidding is underway.You can browse and bid at http://www.shambhalasun.com/auction
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