- Earning wealth is one of the four recognized ends of human life,
purusharthas. Wealth is ‘artha’. (Note 1)
- We worship Goddess Lakshmi, who represents wealth.
- Goddess Lakshmi is the companion of Lord Narayana, the ultimate good.
- "Hold Narayana, make Him yours, Lakshmi will also come to you." – Pujya
Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda.
- Wealth empowers us to perform virtuous deeds. (Note 2)
- Poverty is a curse. It is as bad as death itself at times. (Note 3)
- He alone is clean, who is clean in handling money. – Chaanakya (Note 4)
- A leader should ensure that his institution’s income is greater than
expenses. (Note 5)
- A leader must take care that no money goes to the undeserving. (Note 6)
- Wealth (when not handled well) can lead to great evil. Note 7
- "Think of yourselves as trustees, not owners." Mahatma Gandhi to rich
people.
- As we grow spiritually, we detach ourselves from material wealth and seek
spiritual wealth like discrimination (viveka) and dispassion (vairaagya).
Note1: Wealth is arthah, dhanam, vittam, shreeh etc. in Sanskrit.
Note2: vidyaa dadaati vinayam, vinayaad yaati paatrataam, paatratvaad
dhanam-aapnoti, dhanaad dharmah tatas-sukham. Subhaashita Shloka.
Note3: dhanam-arjaya Kaakutstha, dhana-moolamidam jagat, antaram naiva
pashyaami, nirdhanasya mritasya cha. An old Sanskrit Shloka.
Note 4: yo’rthe shuchih, sa shuchih.
Note 5: aayas-te vipulah kacchit, kacchid-alpataro vyayah? Lord Sri Rama in
Valmiki: 2: 100: 55.
Note 6: appatreshu na te kacchit, kosho gacchati Raghava? Sri Rama to Bharata:
2:100:55, Valmiki.
Note 7: artham-anartham bhaavaya nityam. Bhaja Govindam of Shankaracharya,
verse 29.
Swami Chidananda
