To do so, first and foremost, we must deeply understand the principle of causality that shapes our lives—the causality of past, present and future. Any prosperity we enjoy now comes from the meritorious deeds of a past life or this present one. If we had performed wholesome deeds and accumulated merits in past lives, we usually have great support and can achieve success with little effort. Conversely, if we failed to practice wholesome deeds in the past, without supporting merits, we have to work very diligently now to make things better. We can practice in three ways: first, embark on a right and pure livelihood; second, proactively do good deeds to accumulate merits; third, repent and amend all wrongdoings. So long as we can follow these guidelines, we will be able to transform our future and achieve success in life. One day, Shakyamuni Buddha and his disciples were begging for alms when they happened upon a few bags of gold that had been abandoned in a ditch. Elder Ananda (阿難尊者), one of the Buddha’s great disciples, asked, “Should we take this gold and use it to build a monastery?” To everyone’s surprise, the Buddha replied, “These are not bags of gold; they are poisonous snakes. We should not take them.” Confused, the Buddha’s disciples asked themselves: “Why does the Buddha say these are poisonous snakes?” Not long after the Buddha and his disciples left, a homeless man came by, saw the bags of gold, and excitedly carried them home. Since he had become rich overnight, the man promptly bought a huge plot of land and built himself a mansion. Upon hearing this news, his relatives and friends rushed to borrow money from him. However, being stingy and selfish, he refused to lend anything to anyone. One friend, who had really gotten his nose out of joint, decided to report the man’s inexplicable and questionable wealth to a local official. The local official immediately reported this to his superior. Upon investigation, the officials found that there were a few bags of gold missing from the national treasury. Subsequently, the emperor confiscated the man’s gold, land, and mansion, and then sentenced him to death. To send a strong message to everyone, he was subject to a public beheading. The Buddha, hearing of this, told his disciples, “The [unwarranted] gold is very much like a poisonous snake, which can do great harm to our minds. This person’s life was completely ruined by this poisonous snake.” When it comes to our own money and possessions, put them to good use and accumulate merits. As for wealth belonging to others, it is not ours, so we should never feel entitled to or wrongfully ask for it. Regardless of who owns what, never covet anything, especially if it appears out of thin air. The Confucians also taught, “Take nothing from treasure you chance upon. Face calamities without running away in dishonor.” If we can all lead our lives by these principles, all calamities can be transformed into blessings, and our lives will become brighter and brighter. Those who are greedy are prone to making foolish mistakes, whereas those who are not will have good self-control and know what to do and what not to do, making wise choices. Guided by wisdom, we can bring peace and serenity to our mind, be virtuous in doing good deeds, and enrich our merits and blessings. A genuine bodhisattva practitioner integrates spiritual purification and enrichment with a material life. By contrast, if all we can manage to do with our lives is blindly pursue money and wallow in a life of luxury, then no matter how wealthy we are materially, our spiritual life will suffer in great poverty, and we will be demoralized thereafter. Insatiable greedy thoughts make hungry ghosts. Compassionate and generous thoughts are qualities of bodhisattva practitioners. With these bodhisattva qualities, we will illuminate our own lives and create brighter futures for ourselves.