There is great significance of the feelings that lie within. One man is doing outwardly work, he serves with the body, but the feelings that are within him, is more important. It is a very sad thing that man has given too much importance to money. As such it is not that important and deserving of that much attention. The body is significantly more important than money. The service that can be done by making an effort with this body, it cannot be done by money. It is not great to just have money in your possession. However, today there is much greed for money. We will work hard with our body. We will remain hungry, if we have to go somewhere we will walk it, but we will not spend the money. The value of money has increased significantly ! The money is given more importance than even the body. By working hard, one can generate money, but with money one cannot get a body. Even if lakh, ten lakhs, fifty lakh rupees are given, then too in place of it, you cannot get a human body. At the time of death, even if you give billions and trillion rupees then too you cannot save the body from dying. Even if you give all the money that exists in the entire world, then too, you will not be able to extend your life a moment longer – so precious is the time of this human body ! That time you are simply wasting away frivolously – There is no greater loss than this. In smoking cigarettes, trifling in playing and entertainment, cards and gambling, talking, joking around, gossiping, in complaining and criticizing others, in sleeping excessively, this is all a very great loss. This is not an ordinary loss. If ten-twenty thousand rupees are spend, then that is not much of a loss. You have to leave it here anyway and die. Even if you get lakhs and crores, then too you have to leave it and die. If you give something to someone, if you put it to use in some good work, then what is the big deal? It is the kind of thing that was going to depart from us only.
If someone has a lot of money, then it is not some exceptional grace of God. Even a sinner can get this money and possessions etc. – “sut dwaara aru Lakshmi paapi ke bhi hoi” There is nothing extra-ordinary about getting wealth. There was a king. That king was very committed to serving the saints and ascetics (sadhus). There are only a few people who have such commitment. The king used to become very pleased on seeing saints and sadhus. However a sadhu came, even if someone came dressed as a sadhu, he used to give them much respect them and serve them. If he heard from someone that a saint was coming towards the king’s palace, he would personally walk towards them to greet them and bring them with him, and make them stay in the palace, and serve them well. Whatever the sadhu asked for, he would give them. He became very well-known in due time. In the neighborhood country, there was another king, who heard of the king’s fame. A thought came to his mind that the other king is very foolish, any person can pretend to be a “sadhu” and cheat him. He called an actor in his court to go to the other king, dressed as a sadhu. Come back and report on all the activities and his behavior with you. The actor was also very clever. Dressed as a sadhu, he went to the other kingdom. As soon as the other king heard about a sadhu on the way, he immediately went to greet him and served him personally in various ways.
One day the king said to the sadhu, “Oh Great one, please share some of your wisdom.” The sadhu said “O King, you are most fortunate, that you have such a large kingdom, so much wealth, and such a huge army. You wife, son and servants all obey you and do as you like. Therefore God’s grace is showering immensely on you.”
In this way, the actor (pretending to be a Sadhu) said many different things and the King silently listened. After a few days that actor sadhu said, “O’ King! Now I must leave.” The king said – “Alright Maharaj, as you wish.” The king opened his treasury in front of him and told him, “Please take as much as you like, of the gold, silver, diamonds, pearls, money.” The actor sadhu, took a lot of the precious things, and loaded it on his camel before departing. The King said, “O’ Maharaj, so far you have taken from your side, but here is a silver box, which I wish to gift you. The king wrapped the silver box in a fine cloth and gave it to him and said, this is a gift from me. The actor sadhu, accepting the gift departed from there.
The actor sadhu returned to his own kingdom, where his king asked, what all did you bring back with you? The actor sadhu relayed the events that took place and said he had brought back lakhsand crores in jewels and money with him. The king thought this neighboring king to be most certainly foolish, that he did not even recognize that this man was not a genuine sadhu ! That king definitely is very ignorant ! The actor said that he has also brought back a silver box, that the king personally gifted to him. The king asked him to bring the box to see what was in it. The actor, brought the box. They unlocked the box and found another silver box inside. Opening that box, was yet a smaller silver box in it. In the smallest box, there was a broken shell. The king now understood, that the other king is not foolish and ignorant. Rather he is quite wise and intelligent. He is respectful of the garb of a sadhu. The king then asked about the conversation he had with the other king. The actor said, one day the king asked to share some words of wisdom. At that time I said, “O’ King! You are most fortunate. You have a kingdom, wealth and possessions, a favorable wife and son etc. God is most merciful to you.” On hearing this, the king understood everything. The three boxes are the gross body, subtle body and the causal body. What is in them? Inside is nothing more than a broken shell. Outwardly in appearance the actor sadhu looked good, but within there was nothing. This talk that God is most gracious to you – is like a broken shell. Is this something that is grace ? Grace is that in which one becomes Gods and remains engaged in “bhajan” (worship, prayer remembrance of God).
The point is that there is nothing great about have worldly things. The glories sung of the human body, such glories have not been sung about wealth or having a high post. There have been no glories sung of even Lord Indra, the Lord of Heaven. In front of devotees of the Lord, even Indra has no value. Butby giving importance to wealth, you have fear that may be it will get over, exhausted. Is this humanity? But who to tell all this to ! There is no one who will listen.
I had heard that people get upset on listening to such things and they say that he is criticizing money. Gentlemen ! I am not criticizing money; but I am criticizing the greed. I am not criticizing your intellect that where is it hiding ! Keep lakhs and crore rupees, keep your post, but the intellect should not be shot! A man should become alert and conscious ! He should use his intelligence and realize that what are we doing ! We have received such a human body, which is a rarity even for “devatas” –
“Durlabho manusho deho dehinaam kshanbhangurh.” (Bhagwat 11/2/29).
“Bade bhaag manush tanu paawa |
Sur durlabh sab granthanhi gaawa ||” (Manas 7/43/4) –
On receiving such a human body, what are you doing?
“Anityasasukham lokamimam praapya bhajasva maam ||” (Gita 9/33)
In other words, God says “on attaining the human body that is perishable and void of pleasure, only become devoted to Me and remember Me only”.
One must become engaged in God, by which once and for all salvation will be attained.
How long will this money keep you company? Think ! If you die today, then what will happen to the money? The sins that you have incurred to acquire that money, will most certainly go with you, but not even a single penny will go with you. Everything will remain right here. For such money, you have ruined your feelings and sentiments. You have quarreled with your brothers and friends. Like this, how much injustice and nonsense you have done. With that money what else can happen besides your fall.
Narayan ! Narayan !! Narayan !!!
From book in hindi “Vaastavik Sukh” by Swami Ramsukhdasji.
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