Day ​93 : samajīvikatā (accomplishment of ​Balanced Finances) Dīghajāṇu Sutta (AN 8.54)– Study Notes from BMV Monday Sutta Study with Bhante Dr. G. Chandima

1. Katamā ca, Byagghapajja, samajīvikatā?

And what, Byagghapajja, is balanced living (balanced finances)?

2. Idha, Byagghapajja, kulaputto āyañca bhogānaṃ viditvā, vayañca bhogānaṃ viditvā, samaṃ jīvikaṃ kappeti nāccogāl̤haṃ nātihīnaṃ: ‘evaṃ me āyo vayaṃ pariyādāya ṭhassati, na ca me vayo āyaṃ pariyādāya ṭhassatī’ti.

Here, Byagghapajja, a gentleman, knowing his income (āya) and knowing his expenses (vaya), maintains a balanced living (balanced finances)—neither overspending nor underspending—thinking: “In this way, my income will stand having exceeded my expenses, and my expenses will not stand having exceeded my income.”

3. Seyyathāpi, Byagghapajja, tulādhāro vā tulādhārantevāsī vā tulaṃ paggahetvā jānāti: ‘ettakena vā onataṃ, ettakena vā unnatan’ti;

Just as, Byagghapajja, an appraiser (tulādhāra) or their apprentice, when holding up a scale, knows: “By this much it is low; by this much it is high”;

4. Evamevaṃ kho, Byagghapajja, kulaputto āyañca bhogānaṃ viditvā, vayañca bhogānaṃ viditvā, samaṃ jīvikaṃ kappeti nāccogāl̤haṃ nātihīnaṃ: ‘evaṃ me āyo vayaṃ pariyādāya ṭhassati, na ca me vayo āyaṃ pariyādāya ṭhassatī’ti.

In the same way, Byagghapajja, a gentleman, knowing his income and knowing his expenses, maintains a balanced living (balanced finances)—neither overspending nor underspending—thinking: “In this way, my income will stand having exceeded my expenses, and my expenses will not stand having exceeded my income.”

5. Sace ayaṃ, Byagghapajja, kulaputto appāyo samāno ul̤āraṃ jīvikaṃ kappeti, tassa bhavanti vattāro: ‘udumbarakhādīvāyaṃ kulaputto bhoge khādatī’ti.

If, Byagghapajja, a gentleman with a small income lives an opulent life, people will say of him: “This gentleman/lady consumes his/her wealth like a fig-eater (A “fig-eater” is someone who eats up the figs in their possession without thinking about tomorrow.)!”

6. Sace panāyaṃ, Byagghapajja, kulaputto mahāyo samāno kasiraṃ jīvikaṃ kappeti, tassa bhavanti vattāro: ‘ajeṭṭhamaraṇaṃvāyaṃ kulaputto marissatī’ti.

But if, Byagghapajja, a gentleman with a large income lives a wretched life, people will say of him: “This gentleman/lady will die like one who starves to death without having eaten what is at hand. (The starvig-with-food person is someone who has a large income but lives a wretched, stingy, or overly frugal life)”

7. Yato ca kho ayaṃ, Byagghapajja, kulaputto āyañca bhogānaṃ viditvā, vayañca bhogānaṃ viditvā, samaṃ jīvikaṃ kappeti nāccogāl̤haṃ nātihīnaṃ: ‘evaṃ me āyo vayaṃ pariyādāya ṭhassati, na ca me vayo āyaṃ pariyādāya ṭhassatī’ti.

But when, Byagghapajja, a gentleman, knowing his income and knowing his expenses, maintains a balanced living (balanced finances)—neither overspending nor underspending—thinking: “In this way, my income will stand having exceeded my expenses, and my expenses will not stand having exceeded my income.”

8. Ayaṃ vuccati, Byagghapajja, samajīvikatā.

This, Byagghapajja, is called balanced living (finances).

9. Evaṃ samuppannānaṃ, Byagghapajja, bhogānaṃ cattāri apāyamukhāni honti—

For wealth acquired in this way, Byagghapajja, there are four channels of ruin:

10. Itthidhutto, surādhutto, akkhadhutto, pāpamitto pāpasahāyo pāpasampavaṅko.

Being a debauchee (itthidhutta), an addict to liquor (surādhutta), a gambler (akkhadhutta), and having bad friends (pāpamitto), bad companions (pāpasahāyo), and bad associates (pāpasampavaṅko).

11. Seyyathāpi, Byagghapajja, mahato tal̤ākassa cattāri ceva āyamukhāni, cattāri ca apāyamukhāni.

It is like Byagghapajja, a large reservoir with four inlets and four outlets.

12. Tassa puriso yāni ceva āyamukhāni tāni pidaheyya, yāni ca apāyamukhāni tāni vivareyya;

If a person were to block the inlets and open the outlets,

13. Devo ca na sammā dhāraṃ anuppaveccheyya.

and the sky was not to provide proper rainfall,

14. Evañhi tassa, Byagghapajja, mahato tal̤ākassa parihāniyeva pāṭikaṅkhā, no vuddhi;

One would expect that a large reservoir would dwindle, not increase.

15. Evamevaṃ, Byagghapajja, evaṃ samuppannānaṃ bhogānaṃ cattāri apāyamukhāni honti—

In the same way, Byagghapajja, for wealth acquired in this way, there are four channels of ruin:

16. Itthidhutto, surādhutto, akkhadhutto, pāpamitto pāpasahāyo pāpasampavaṅko.

Being a debauchee, an addict to liquor, a gambler, and having bad friends, bad companions, and bad associates.

Understanding and Balancing Finances

1. Know Your Income (āya) Precisely

Track all sources of income, whether from salary, freelance work, or investments. The Buddha’s emphasis on knowing your earnings prevents overestimating resources.

2. Know Your Expenses (vaya) Precisely

Just as important as income tracking is accurate expense tracking. Use budgeting tools to identify spending patterns and avoid blind spots.

3. Live Within Your Means (nāccogāl̤haṃ)

Avoid overspending beyond your capacity. Credit card debt or loans for non-essential luxuries are modern forms of imbalance. Overspending isn’t just a money issue — it creates stress, dependence on debt, and a constant chase to “catch up.” In the Buddha’s time, this was living in a style beyond one’s income; today, it’s credit card balances, payday loans and many more.

How to Apply Today:

-Track your “real” disposable income — subtract fixed needs (rent, utilities, food) before deciding what you can spend on wants.

-Use the 50/30/20 rule — 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings/debt repayment.

-Limit credit use to essentials — or pay it off in full each month to avoid interest.

-Pause big purchases — wait 48 hours or more before buying non-essential items.

-Avoid “lifestyle creep” — if your income increases, upgrade savings first, not just spending.

4. Avoid Harmful Under-Spending (nātihīnaṃ)

Don’t cut costs so severely that it harms health, education, or relationships. Wise spending supports well-being and productivity.

How to Apply Today:

-Budget for health — annual check-ups, dental visits, mental health support.

- Buy quality for essentials — e.g., durable shoes, ergonomic work tools, nutrient-rich food.

- Invest in skills — courses, certifications, or tools that improve earning potential.

-Allow modest joy spending — occasional leisure, cultural events, or travel to nourish relationships and prevent burnout. Frugality turns harmful when it compromises your physical health, mental well-being, or growth opportunities. In the Buddha’s time, it meant a wealthy person living like a beggar; today, it can mean skipping healthcare, eating poorly, or refusing to invest in education just to save a little.

5. Maintain a Sustainable Balance 

 The Buddha’s principle — income should not be consumed before expenses, and expenses should not overtake income — mirrors the modern “spend less than you earn” rule.

6. Regularly Review Financial Position

Like the tulādhāra (scale keeper) adjusting for imbalance, periodically review and recalibrate your budget to reflect income or cost changes.

Guarding Wealth from Loss

7. Recognize the “Four Channels of Ruin” (apāyamukhāni)

-Sexual misconduct & wasteful indulgence (itthi dhutta) → modern equivalent: expensive affairs, reckless dating expenses.

-Addiction to intoxicants (surā dhutta) → money lost in alcohol, drugs, or other harmful addictions.

-Gambling (akkha dhutta) → from casinos to speculative online betting and high-risk trading.

-Bad company (pāpamitto) → friends who normalize harmful spending or lead into risky ventures.

8. Close Financial Leakages

Just as the reservoir loses water if its outlets are open, identify recurring “money drains” like unused subscriptions, penalties, or impulsive purchases.

9. Ensure Income Streams Are Maintained

Keeping the “inlets” open means maintaining employability, skill development, and reliable income sources — not relying on luck or temporary windfalls.

Social and Ethical Dimensions

10. Guard Against Social Pressure

Living an “opulent life” on a small income invites debt and social judgment. Resist spending to impress others; focus on your financial reality.

11. Avoid Miserly Neglect

Withholding even from yourself despite abundant resources — like “dying without eating what is at hand” — can erode joy and well-being. Balance generosity, self-care, and saving.

12. Practice Ethical Earning and Spending

Maintain sammā-ājīva (right living) by ensuring both income and expenditure align with ethical principles, avoiding harm to self and others.