Everything that is happening is perfect (How to break attachment to wealth)

[shivraj]

Some people are the masters of wealth, while wealth is the master of some. When your wealth becomes your master, then it becomes as dangerous as an unrestrained mind. When the mind is restless and unsteady, the attachment to wealth increases. This works as a block in man's life. Through contemplation and self-enquiry, you need to break this attachment to wealth. By self-analysis and in-depth thinking, get rid of wrong habits like carelessness towards wealth, laziness, not saving enough, squandering, and excessive attachment to wealth.

There was a bank clerk who had a nice family consisting of his wife and two children. While working in the bank, he always used to dream about being a rich man. Due to shortage of money, he was always unhappy. One night, before going to sleep, he prayed with all his heart - "O God! Why didn't you make everyone rich? When will I find a treasure trove?" When he woke up the next morning and opened the door, he was shocked to find a bagful of currency notes. He was delighted that God has finally answered his prayers. He called his wife and told her the whole story. To celebrate his good fortune, he ordered food from the finest restaurant. He resigned from his bank job. He gave the resignation letter to his son to hand it over to the bank manager. After some time, his wife came and informed him that the restaurant was closed. After some enquiry, he came to know that all the restaurants in town were closed. His son came back from the bank and said that even the bank manager had put in his resignation letter. He had told him that the letter be given to the Assistant Manager, who had also gone on leave! The wife then came and reported that their daughter was unwell. But all the clinics and medical stores were also found to be closed.

After all this chaos, when enquiries were made, it came to light that every person in the town had found a bagful of money at their doors, and hence all the shops, banks, firms and all other working places were closed. Nobody was there to do any work. His prayers had been answered, but the solution of his choice for eradicating problems had given birth to a new set of problems. Looking at this, his dream got shattered and he prayed to God saying, "O Lord! Please forgive me. Whatever is happening is perfect. Don’t listen to my ideas, do what you feel is right for us all."

[Mew3692002]

Good story but most people who work in banks (that I know of) wouldn't resign from their bank job immediately after receiving a large amount of money (they have better sense than that in most cases). Instead what would happen would be, they would first make sure that they have taken care of the consequences of receiving such a large sum of money (family, financial matters, tax implications, assembling a team of advisors such as a CFP, lawyer, etc.) before quitting their job or doing anything. If you don't accept the complexity of money, you will be ruled by it, that much I can agree on.

[mlbr23]

Wealth is a means to an end.

The end, ideally, is a good and comfortable life (according to your standards and definitions).

Being attached to the means is crippling and shackling.

Being passionate about the end means you have to be open to an infinite myriad of means to accomplish that end, which is in harmony with what you are and what you want.

[Lionheart]

Good story Shivraj. The parable certainly makes your point. Like honey bees accidentally pollinate, we are "money bees" that make the world prosperous by creating with the intention of making money. Actually, the way to earn the most money is to be of the most amount of service that you can to as many people as possible.

The trouble come in when we are attached to the money, or as Eckhart Tolle says, "attachment to form". I struggle with this a little bit as I am in the business of personal, business and spiritual growth and development. I teach people to become wealthy, because they can do more good for others and for themselves if they are wealthy and then I teach them not to be "attached to form". When I say form, I mean money and all the things that the money can buy.

The secret to enlightenment is awareness combined with absence of judgement and attachment. In other words, being aware of your egoic thoughts, noticing things (not judging) and not being attached to any outcome or any physical thing.

Any comments on my thoughts?

Bob Baker

Bob Baker