It is an undeniable fact that ordinary people in the world are greedy for money, fame, and fortune. Therefore, in their view, it is impossible for anyone to underestimate money, fame, and fortune. In the eyes of ordinary people, money and fame are good things, and money can buy almost anything; Fame and fortune can satisfy almost all of one's vanity and make oneself physically and mentally happy. They cannot understand the behavior of underestimating money and fame, and they even suspect that there are no people in this world who can underestimate money and fame.

In fact, people who can disregard money and fame and fortune are everywhere, in every era. As a Buddhist practitioner, one must be indifferent to money and fame, because these things can arouse greed and lead to many evil deeds.
So, how should Buddhist practitioners underestimate money and fame?

Firstly, the knowledge and insight gained from the practice of Buddhism

Many Buddhist practitioners spend their entire lives practicing without understanding what enlightenment is. In fact, enlightenment is very simple, which is to open a Buddha and gain insight. All the actions we do as humans are determined by our own cognition. In Buddhist terms, 'cognition' is called 'knowledge and perception'. The perception of ordinary people is called 'sentient beings' perception', and the perception of awakened individuals is called 'Buddha's perception'. Enlightenment is to open up Buddha's knowledge and insight. After we have attained Buddhahood, we are able to act according to the understanding of enlightened beings when dealing with others and even doing anything.

For example, sentient beings believe that money is a good thing. There are too many people who "live, die, and suffer for money for a lifetime". They believe that money can bring them all happiness, so they must have money no matter what. However, Buddha Zhijian believes that money is like "oiling oneself up" and is an optional thing, and they will never become slaves to money. So, those who enlighten all sentient beings work hard and strive for perfection every day, only to obtain money. And those who are enlightened by Buddha's teachings live a leisurely and contented life every day.

Secondly, controlling greed

People who are open to the knowledge of all sentient beings have a strong desire for greed, wanting to possess everything for themselves. Even if they have it, they are not satisfied and want more. However, when we calm down and think carefully, there are actually many things we can do without. For example, drinking milk tea, which has no benefits for our body, only stimulates our taste buds and makes us feel temporary pleasure. And a cup of milk tea can cost as little as ten yuan or as much as tens of yuan. When we think and contemplate in this way, we open up our Buddha's knowledge and gradually control our greed. Without greed, we will no longer be obsessed with money and fame.

Thirdly, karma and retribution

We must truly understand karma, as there are too many people who do not understand what karma is or how to apply what they have learned. There is a saying that goes, 'Bodhisattvas fear the cause, and sentient beings fear the effect.' If you truly understand this sentence, you will open your Buddha's eyes and gain insight.

Karma tells us that everything in the world cannot escape the law of karma, where there is a cause and a result, and where there is a cause, there will be a result. In that case, Bodhisattva tells us that everything must start from the cause and effect, change the cause and effect, in order to ultimately change the outcome.

For example, my favorite example given by Shengzhong. The overcrowded hospitals are due to the fact that the vast majority of people nowadays do not believe in causality, do not follow causality, and naively believe that they are even more powerful than gods and Buddhas. Gods and Buddhas cannot change causality, but they can. So, indulging in excessive eating and drinking, staying up late and indulging, and not paying attention to one's own health at all, only fantasizing about using money to make the body better when it breaks down. The result is that the body hasn't improved, the money has been spent, and the hospital has become cheaper. If everyone believes in and fears cause and effect, will hospitals still be overcrowded? I'm afraid the hospital is going to close down.

In short, as Buddhist practitioners, we must be indifferent to money and fame, practice seriously, and strive for excellence in order to live a pure and comfortable life.