The wealth of the man in the Parable of the Rich Man and His Poor Son may be presented in terms of money, gems, and land – in other words material possessions – but remember the wealthy man was not happy until he was able to reconnect with his son, was able to raise his son’s life condition, and finally was able to pass on his fortune. The idea of connection, elevation, and transfer are important concepts for us to keep in mind more so than focusing on the accumulation of material possessions.

If what we do in life does not encourage or enhance connections then it is doubtful we could effectively carry out the mission of being a Bodhisattva. Without connections with others we will not be able to cause them to elevate their life conditions nor will we really be able to teach them Buddhism. The treasure that we really gain from practicing Buddhism is the indestructible joy that arises from the depth of our life and is not dependent upon outside circumstances. Our greatest joy though I believe ultimately comes from “sharing that wealth” with others through establishing a bond with them and then showing through the example of our own life how to practice Buddhism and make the necessary changes.