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In a cozy village where every morning brought a new song from the birds and the sun gently woke everyone up, the Buddha was taking a walk. As he strolled through the village, he met a man who didn’t have much money or many things. This man, known by everyone as the Poor Man, was asking people for help.

Seeing the Buddha, the Poor Man felt a spark of hope and decided to ask him a big question. “Buddha, can I ask you something?” he said.

“Of course,” replied the Buddha, with a smile that made the Poor Man feel a little better already. “What do you want to know?”

“Why am I so poor?” asked the Poor Man, looking for an answer to his troubles.

The Buddha answered calmly, “The reason is simple.”

“Simple?” the Poor Man was curious. “Please tell me.”

“You need to learn how to give,” said the Buddha.

The Poor Man was confused. “But I have nothing to give. How can I, with so little, give anything?”

The Buddha explained, “Everyone has something to give. You can start with a smile, or share kind words and happiness with others. These things don’t cost anything.”

“What else can I give?” the Poor Man asked, eager to learn more.

“Your time, your kindness, and your help. You have a lot to offer that doesn’t need money,” the Buddha told him.

Realizing what the Buddha meant, the Poor Man felt a warm feeling inside. “So, I’m not really poor?”

“No,” the Buddha smiled. “You’re only poor if your heart is not generous.”

Thankful and with a new understanding, the Poor Man thanked the Buddha and went on his way, feeling richer than ever before. He understood that true wealth wasn’t about having a lot of money, but about sharing love, kindness, and help with those around him. And with that, he became a rich man, not in money, but in his heart and in the way he lived his life.