Buddhism also believe that the poor have to be educated to help themselves. Poverty like everything else is not a permanent condition. It can be changed and it should be changed. Man may be born poor due to his past Kamma. Buddhism extols virtues such as viriya (energy) and adhittana (determination) with which he should forge ahead. Thus there is hope for the poor according to theory of Kamma.

Buddhism fully endorses the fact that a man has to learn a craft by which he can fend for himself as an adult. Sigalovadasutta spells out the parents’ duties towards the children to include the duty of educating and teaching an occupation with which they can earn a living.

The Buddha’s advice to a householder enjoying the pleasures of life are as follows:

1. Be industrious and resourceful
2. look after the wealth you earn
3. associate with noble friends
4. lead an even life.

The above is applicable to both rich and poor. It should be noted that while industrious activity is extolled as a great virtue by the Buddha it also emphasises the quality of contentment or the ability to be satisfied with little. Buddhism advocates the ability to be satisfied with little . One will be able to lead a happy life in spite of having very limited resources.