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Aptavani-2
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Aptavani-2
at the way they die. They die like dogs. This is a result of their enjoying what was not rightfully theirs. The intellect today has become deviant (viparit buddhi) and that is why even those who have money experience so much suffering. Only the right intellect (samyak buddhi) gives happiness.
The right kind of money i.e. money that brings only happiness comes when one's intentions become honorable. How can it come if he has adulterous intentions? Money destined to bind demerit karma and unhappiness will gnaw at every pore in one's body as it leaves.
Questioner : Yes, but money is necessary and needs to be acquired, is it not?
Dadashri : Yes, but does that require such negative adverse meditation (durdhyan)? It is necessary for you to take a bath everyday, but you do not spoil your inner state (dhyan) over it do you? Nowadays, some people become perturbed even when there is shortage of water. All you have to do is decide beforehand that you will take a bath if water is available and you won't if it is not, but you should not spoil your dhyan. Just as water flows, so does money and when the time comes it goes away. That is the nature of money. No one in the entire world has the independent capacity to evacuate his bowels. One is merely an instrument in all that is happening in this universe. And in that, where does the need to have adverse internal meditation for acquiring money lie?
A man sat under a tree in anticipation of eating mangos. The Lord asked him, "Why are you sitting under this tree?" The man replied, "To eat mangos." The Lord said, "But this is a banyan tree. How will you get a mango here? At least learn to recognize the 'trees'. Know and understand your trees and then you can have expectations of the fruits." Similarly, if you want liberation, go to a Gnani purush. People run after Lakshmiji (money) and by-pass God (Narayan) altogether.
Staunch devotees will always be short of money because they are whimsical and become so engrossed in their bhakti that they become one-track minded. God and devotee are separate; there is a difference between the two. Devotees can be whimsical and nutty. The natural principle is that money will move away from madness. Gnanis are not whimsical, senseless or crazy when it comes to the worldly life; they are very precise and perfect. Doing bhakti will lead to a meeting with the Gnani Purush and one will attain Gnan. Liberation is attained through Gnan.
The Lord has said that the water which flows in the river Narmada is within the capacity of its width, but what would happen if the waters exceeded its capacity? That water will break the banks of the river and flood the surrounding villages and towns. This is the same with money, as long as its flow is within normal limits, it is fine. There is a problem if it falls short but there is also a problem if it rises higher than its limits. An excess of money is more of a problem, but in either case, it creates problems.
The nature of money is such that it will increase one's acquisitiveness (parigraha) as it increases. Many people develop a state of non-acquisitiveness (nispruha, opposite of parigraha) towards money. Now who can become truly non desirous of money? This can only happen to the one who has acquired the Self (saspruha). How can he move towards the Self without realizing the Self? So he cannot remain hanging in the middle. If he truly gives up something there needs to be something that replaces it. So he cannot really become nispruha without gaining the Self. Therefore, the combination of renunciation of the non-Self and acquisition of the Self leads to liberation, otherwise not. 'We are not against money that 'we' renounce it. Ignorance needs to be renounced, not money. Many people shun money. Whatever you shun will never come back into your life. It is nothing but madness if a person rejects