Money – an Anathema of Spiritual Life.

                Two spheres of life coexist in man. One is the spiritual sphere and another, the material sphere. These two spheres of lives are inherently incompatible with each other and yet, they seemingly coexist with each other in man. All conflicts of man arise mainly due to the incomprehensibility in resolving the nature of existence in these two spheres of lives. All conflicts of man arise due to the finiteness of existence in the material sphere of life. Therefore, man ought to know clearly the nature of these two spheres of life. We will see how money acts as a great impediment in resolving the conflict between these two spheres.

Spiritual sphere:

                The spiritual sphere is opposite to the material sphere of life. It stands for everything non-material. In other words, it is not subjected to any material conditions. All material activities cease to exist in this sphere. All identifications of the body and its associated objects cease to exist in this sphere. All traces of ‘I’, and ‘mine’ is completely obliterated in this sphere.

                Man in infinite, eternal without pain and suffering. Man in this sphere is identified with the universal consciousness. These are not mere theories, as we often think, but is the blatant truth.

Idea of Infinite

                The whole struggle of mankind is indeed the struggle to arrive at this spiritual sphere of life. All challenges that we undertake in our lives is simply aimed at but arriving at this phenomena.

Material sphere:

                In one word, if this sphere has to be defined, it is the limitation. It is the limitation of the existence of the body, the limitation of birth and death, the limited condition of material life and so on. Every day, we are the witness to this phenomena. Every day, we witness the death of an innumerable number of fellow beings. Every day, we witness the deformity associated with the material body. The outcome of such a living would be nothing but pain and suffering. The material sphere is further complicated by the idea of enjoyment in material opulence, which in fact furthers suffering. Material sphere poses an insurmountable wall, difficult to overcome. We, human beings are normally confined to this material sphere.

Idea of material and body

                There is a way to move out of this material sphere. Its principles are laid down in ancient times by Yogis (men of insight). The principles, as we see are always contrary to the ordinary run of the world. For example, whatever brings the idea of the body must be rejected. This, in fact, is contrary to the very idea of living in a body but is in perfect accord with the spirit. Money is one such a thing, as we see, poses a great impediment to the attainment of the spiritual sphere of life.

Money:

                The whole gamut of the material world can be squared into a single entity called money. Money represents an idea of reference to the body. Money represents the possession of sense objects. Money represents the idea of enjoyment of sense objects. Money refers to everything that signifies material. Money represents the base of the material world.

Money - a curse for aspirants

                Therefore, hard-core spiritual aspirants, wishing to get rid of the idea of body, get rid of money altogether. Money, for them, even possessing in the least trace, would hinder the goal towards highest realization. What money means for those aspirants is detailed below.

1.        Money implies the loss of peace.
2.        Money brings all external movements towards objects, which is contrary to all meditation.
3.        Money implies all sense objects, which gives an aspirant, the idea of a body.
4.        Money explicitly implies sex, which again generates an idea of the body.
5.        With money, one cannot begin any meaningful spiritual practice.
6.        Money makes an aspirant behave like a whore, who parades the idea of the body in the world outside of  the spiritual realm. 

Caution:

           Therefore, money is an anathema of spiritual life. For those who give up their lives entirely for the sake of striving towards the higher spheres of life, must reject the money altogether. But the case certainly does not apply for those who lead a marital life. The best practice for them is detachment towards money and objects, but keeping up the work at the same time. 

The challenges for a spiritual aspirant are always upside down, contrary to the world outside. But nevertheless a significant challenge and what is life without such challenges?

Thank You.

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