The Buddha describes the seven kinds of wealth in detail, of 1) faith, 2) virtue, 3) conscience, 4) fear of wrongdoing, 5) learning, 6) generosity, and 7) wisdom. One who possesses these is not truly poor, and their life is not lived in vain.

AN 7.6  Vitthatadhana sutta - Wealth in Detail

“Sattimāni, bhikkhave, dhanāni. Katamāni satta? Saddhādhanaṁ, sīladhanaṁ, hirīdhanaṁ, ottappadhanaṁ, sutadhanaṁ, cāgadhanaṁ, paññādhanaṁ.

“Bhikkhus, there are these seven kinds of wealth. What seven? The wealth of faith, the wealth of virtue, the wealth of conscience, the wealth of fear of wrongdoing, the wealth of learning, the wealth of generosity, and the wealth of wisdom.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, saddhādhanaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako saddho hoti, saddahati tathāgatassa bodhiṁ: ‘itipi so bhagavā arahaṁ sammāsambuddho vijjācaraṇasampanno sugato lokavidū anuttaro purisadammasārathi satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavā’ti. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, saddhādhanaṁ.

And what, bhikkhus, is the wealth of |faith::confidence, conviction, trust [saddha]|? Here, bhikkhus, a disciple of the Noble Ones has confidence, is convinced in the awakening of the |Tathāgata::one who has arrived at the truth, an epithet of a perfectly Awakened One [tathāgata]|, acknowledging: ‘Indeed, the Blessed One is an Arahant, a perfectly Awakened One, accomplished in true knowledge and conduct, who has reached the destination, knower of the world, an unsurpassed guide of trainable persons, a teacher of gods and humans, Buddha, Fortunate One.’ This is called the wealth of faith.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, sīladhanaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako pāṇātipātā paṭivirato hoti, adinnādānā paṭivirato hoti, kāmesumicchācārā paṭivirato hoti, musāvādā paṭivirato hoti, pisuṇāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, pharusāya vācāya paṭivirato hoti, samphappalāpā paṭivirato hoti, surāmerayamajjapamādaṭṭhānā paṭivirato hoti. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sīladhanaṁ.

And what, bhikkhus, is the wealth of |virtue::moral conduct, ethical behavior [sīla]|? Here, bhikkhus, a disciple of the Noble Ones abstains from the destruction of life, abstains from taking what is not given, abstains from sexual misconduct, abstains from false speech, abstains from divisive speech, abstains from harsh speech, abstains from idle chatter, abstains from alcoholic drinks and drugs that lead to negligence. This is called the wealth of virtue.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, hirīdhanaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako hirīmā hoti, hirīyati kāyaduccaritena vacīduccaritena manoduccaritena, hirīyati pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, hirīdhanaṁ.

And what, bhikkhus, is the wealth of |conscience::internal sense of right and wrong used for guiding one’s behavior, moral shame, scruple [hirī]|? Here, bhikkhus, a disciple of the Noble Ones possesses moral conscience; he is ashamed of bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, and mental misconduct, and is ashamed of acquiring |harmful::injurious, destructive, bad, or evil [pāpaka]|, unwholesome states. This is called the wealth of conscience.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, ottappadhanaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako ottappī hoti, ottappati kāyaduccaritena vacīduccaritena manoduccaritena, ottappati pāpakānaṁ akusalānaṁ dhammānaṁ samāpattiyā. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, ottappadhanaṁ.

And what, bhikkhus, is the wealth of |moral dread::fear of wrongdoing out of regard for others [ottappa]|? Here, bhikkhus, a disciple of the Noble Ones fears wrongdoing; he dreads misconduct by body, speech, and mind; he dreads acquiring harmful, unwholesome states. This is called the wealth of fear of wrongdoing.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, sutadhanaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo. Ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti. Tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasānupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sutadhanaṁ.

And what, bhikkhus, is the wealth of |learning::studying, understanding, acquiring knowledge [suta]|? Here, bhikkhus, a disciple of the Noble Ones has learned much, remembers what he has learned, and consolidates what he has learned. Those teachings that are beneficial in the beginning, beneficial in the middle, and beneficial in the end, that are meaningful and well-expressed, that proclaim the perfectly complete and purified spiritual life—such teachings as these he has learned extensively, remembered, recited verbally, mentally examined, and thoroughly penetrated by view. This is called the wealth of learning.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, cāgadhanaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako vigatamalamaccherena cetasā agāraṁ ajjhāvasati muttacāgo payatapāṇi vosaggarato yācayogo dānasaṁvibhāgarato. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, cāgadhanaṁ.

And what, bhikkhus, is the wealth of |generosity::sharing, relinquishment [cāga]|? Here, bhikkhus, a disciple of the Noble Ones dwells at home with a mind free from the stain of stinginess, freely generous, open-handed, delighting in relinquishment, responsive to requests, delighting in sharing gifts. This is called the wealth of generosity.

Katamañca, bhikkhave, paññādhanaṁ? Idha, bhikkhave, ariyasāvako paññavā hoti …pe… sammā dukkhakkhayagāminiyā. Idaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, paññādhanaṁ.

And what, bhikkhus, is the wealth of |wisdom::distinctive knowledge, discernment [paññā]|? Here, bhikkhus, a disciple of the Noble Ones is endowed with wisdom that discerns the |arising and passing away::appearance and disappearance, formation and dissolution [udayatthagāmī]|, which is noble and penetrative, |leading to the complete end of suffering::leading to extinction of stress, leading to gradual and complete wearing away of discontentment [dukkhakkhayagāmī]|. This is called the wealth of wisdom.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, sattadhanānīti.

These, bhikkhus, are the seven kinds of wealth.

Saddhādhanaṁ sīladhanaṁ,
hirī ottappiyaṁ dhanaṁ;
Sutadhanañca cāgo ca,
paññā ve sattamaṁ dhanaṁ.

The wealth of faith, the wealth of virtue,
The wealth of conscience and of fear of wrongdoing;
The wealth of learning and generosity,
And wisdom as the seventh wealth.

Yassa ete dhanā atthi,
itthiyā purisassa vā;
Adaliddoti taṁ āhu,
amoghaṁ tassa jīvitaṁ.

Whoever possesses these wealths,
whether a woman or a man;
is said not to be poor,
their life is truly |not in vain::fruitful [amogha]|.

Tasmā saddhañca sīlañca,
pasādaṁ dhammadassanaṁ;
Anuyuñjetha medhāvī,
saraṁ buddhāna sāsanan”ti.

Therefore, the wise should apply themselves,
to the cultivation of faith and virtue,
to clearly see the |Dhamma::the ultimate truth that the Buddha’s teachings point to [dhamma]|,
recollecting the Buddhas’ dispensation.”

Topics & Qualities:

Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
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Conscience

Conscience

An inner moral sensitivity that shrinks from wrongdoing out of self-respect and personal integrity. It is the voice within that knows what is beneath one's dignity, guarding conduct through an inward standard of honor.

Also known as: with sense of right and wrong, sense of shame, modesty, (comm) originating from inside
Pāli: hirī
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Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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Fear of wrongdoing

Fear of wrongdoing

A wholesome dread of misconduct that considers consequences and the censure of the wise. It looks outward—aware of blame, loss of reputation, and the suffering that follows unskillful action—and holds the mind back from crossing ethical boundaries.

Also known as: conscientious, moral dread, respect for others, (comm) originating from outside
Pāli: ottappa
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Learned

Learned

One who has broad learning and retention of the Dhamma, gained through hearing, reciting, and carefully investigating the teachings. Such learning penetrates their meaning through discernment and serves as a strong support for practice.

Also known as: having knowledge, well studied
Pāli: bahussuta, suta
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Wisdom

Wisdom

Lived understanding and sound judgment that steers the mind away from suffering, distinct from mere accumulation of facts.

Also known as: (of a person) wise, astute, intelligent, learned, skilled, firm, stable, steadfast, an experiential understanding of the four noble truths
Pāli: paññā, vijjā, medhā, dhīra, paṇḍita
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Last updated on December 13, 2025