There is predominance of ‘vivek’ (power of discretion) in the human being. ‘Vivek’ means to know what essence is and what essence is not, what is duty and non-duty. Man must make proper use of this ‘vivek’ (discriminative faculty), but he does not do so, he does not give due importance to this ‘vivek, therefore he suffers. If man listens to and obeys that ‘vivek’, then he will be greatly benefited. There are holy texts, great men, gurus, mother-father, etc. for the awakening of the ‘vivek’. They have the responsibility, and they awaken the ‘vivek’ within. There is one main point to know about ‘vivek’, now pay attention to it.
From an ordinary viewpoint, money appears to be a very great thing and it is so, because all things are acquired with money. We purchase a lot of things with money, and our work goes on. Therefore, money appears to be a great thing in life.
The life that we are leading, is very pleasing to us. Even the most miserable of creatures do not wish to die soon. Hence, food, water, clothes, and various things are useful to man. There is a need for these things to fulfill life’s necessities, and to continue to live. It is for these things that one needs money. But things are not needed for money. You can receive money from things; Money is useful for trading food, clothes, and various things. Therefore, things are far superior to money.
Much more valuable than things are ‒ creatures, man, animals, birds, trees etc. They are very useful. By taking care of these, we can get useful things for life. Therefore, those creatures through which the life is sustained, those living creatures are great. It is due to those creatures that there are things. Of all the creatures, human beings are best of all; because all the other creatures are bearing the fruits of their past actions and are thus getting purified. But there are two points in human beings ‒ one is to enjoy or suffer the consequences of old sins and virtues, and further to do things for one’s upliftment. To become happy and sad in favorable and unfavorable situations is also in animals. The effort to gain pleasure and to get rid of pain is also in animals as per their intellect. Animals and birds are not capable of thinking properly about what will happen in the future – but man is capable of it. Man has predominance of ‘vivek’, and has discretion to know what is for his supreme good and what is harmful? He has the ‘vivek’ to know what is for his progress and what will result in his downfall? What is essence and what is not? What is eternal and what is temporary? What is Truth and what is untruth? The ability to know all these things lies in a man, not in animals and birds. Therefore, even in man, ‘vivek’ is invaluable.
Those who follow their ‘vivek’ (power of discrimination) are the best among men. Since ‘vivek’ is superior, therefore those who take the support of ‘vivek’ are also superior. What is the purpose of ‘vivek’? The purpose of ‘Vivek’ is to do the work that is good and beneficial, and to not do that which is harmful. It is to do work, with the understanding of the essential (the moral), and by renouncing the non-essential (the sinful), by which there is joy at present and in the future, and there is no sorrow whatsoever.
When man begins to give greater importance to things and money, then the ‘vivek’ (power of discrimination) gives way. God has described three kinds of intellect in the Gītā. In Gītā 18-30, the intellect that clearly understands inclination (propensity to act) and disinclination (renunciation), and duty – non-duty, is ‘satvik’ (of the mode of purity). The intellect that does not properly and clearly understand righteousness (dharma) and unrighteousness (adharma), duty – non-duty is ‘rajasik’(of the mode of passion) (Gītā 18/31). The intellect that accepts ‘unrighteousness’(adharma) as righteousness (dharma), and thus see everything as opposite of what it actually is, is ‘tamasik’ (of the mode of ignorance) (Gītā 18/32). The ‘sattvik’ intellect is available in very few men. It does not mean it is not that other men do not have ‘sattvik’ intellect at all. There are very few men who use ‘sattvik’ intellect properly. There are many men who have ‘rajasik’ intellect. And those with ‘tamasik’ intellect are even more so in this ‘kaliyug’ (age of Kali), who see things opposite of what they are. What does seeing things topsy-turvy mean? They hoard money by regarding money as superior to things and beings. They are even ready to lie, cheat, steal, fight, plunder, kill for money. They are even willing to kill cows, simply to hoard money. This is absolute ‘tamasik’ intellect. To earn money and to protect it is not ‘tamasik’, but to leave aside inquiry into the real-unreal, eternal-perishable, beneficial-harmful, and to hoard money any which way you can, by lying, cheating, dishonesty, stealing etc. is gross ‘tamasik’ intellect. Now what will happen due to these tendencies? There will be greater importance given to money. And further ahead, money will not be for acquiring things, but more for increasing the bank-balance. If there are thousand, then let there be lakh, if lakh, then let there be ‘karod’ (million) and if ‘karod’ let there be arabo-kharabo (like billions and trillions). They neither think, nor are they able to think that what they will do by accumulating all that much money? There is no thought towards good conduct, nor towards other people, nor things; only to earn money and to accumulate and hoard in large numbers.
More superior to ‘vivek’ is ‘satya-tattva’ (Real Essence, the Truth). He who becomes engaged in attaining That Truth (Paramatma-tattva), becomes most worthy of respect. All honor and revere those who walk the path of Truth. Even ordinary people respect them, even the wealthy respect them, even the rishis-munis, saints and sages honor them. Moreover, even God honors those who walk the path of Truth. Therefore, Truth is superior to all. The power of discrimination (vivek) is for the realization of that Truth. Man is due to this ‘vivek’, and things are for man, and money is for those things. There are no gains in having large sums of money, rather having things is what is beneficial.
Man has predominance of ‘vivek’ (power of discrimination). It is most important for him to honor his ‘vivek’, and to engage his time – intellect in attaining that alone, the ‘Truth element’ (Existence, satya-tattva), which is greater than ‘vivek’; thereafter there will be no sorrow, even after death. Money, things, people, etc. all will remain right here, it will not go with you, but the Truth (Existent-element) will not be left behind, it will be realized, and there will be peace forever.
That Real (Existent, Truth) Element (satya-tattva), is itself called ‘Paramatma’ (God). It is man’s main aim, main goal, to attain That Imperishable element, which is altogether Real, and which never perishes. On attaining that, the human birth is a success. If one does not attain that, then man’s life is not a success.
Dogs, pigs, donkey also eat-drink etc. There is not much glory in doing so. The exceptional greatness is in God-realization only, whereby both man and the world benefit. All those who have become great soul ‘mahatmas’, like Goswami Tulasidasji, have themselves attained salvation, and they have benefited the world at large. Even today the world is supremely benefited by their words. Even the wealthiest of men, have not been able to do as much beneficial and charitable work as them. Therefore, the main aim should be one of only realization of the Truth. When money, things, men all of these are engaged in that Real, that Truth, then there will be progress. But when one does not care about God, and only cares about the perishable things, and more than the things, the focus becomes one of creating and hoarding money, then there is downfall and only downfall.
From book ‘For Spiritual Aspirants’ by Shradhey Swamiji Shri Ramsukhdasji Maharaj
www.swamiramsukhdasji.net
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