How should we balance the pursuit of wealth and the pursuit of life’s purpose? Bhagawan lovingly guides us today.
Truly speaking, human life is holy, sublime, sacred, ever-new, and ever-fresh. Upanishads try to arouse and awaken man into the awareness of this Truth for man is slumbering in ignorance, wrapped in his ego and desires. “Awake and adore the Sun and recognise your Reality in the light of his rays,” that is the call reverberating from the Upanishads. But, man is deaf to this entreaty. Three eshanas (ardent desires) are holding man back: he is enamoured of wealth, spouse and children. These obstruct him at each step and act as handicaps for his spiritual advancement. Of course, wherewithal is essential for the process of life and labouring for it cannot be avoided. But, beyond a limit riches foul the mind and breed arrogance. They must be used for good purposes, promoting virtue and well-being, fostering Dharma (virtue) and fulfilling one’s duties along the Divine path. If riches are spent for realising fleeting desires, they can never be enough, and the ego discovers newer and more heinous ways of earning and spending.
– Divine Discourse, Apr 13, 1981.
