Just as a foolish businessman gives up his present wealth in exchange for a promise of some future treasure, foolish persons spend their wealth on sacrifices, imagining blessings in the present life and promotion to material heaven in the future, which, although pleasing to hear about, are actually unreal, like a dream. Moreover, they have very little intelligence. Desiring pleasant next life and blessings in this life, which are as if unreal, but at the same not confirming those results because it is difficult to do so, they spend their wealth in performing karmas. Similarly a merchant with a desire for great wealth to be attained by crossing a difficult ocean gives up his present wealth, and then ends up with nothing.