Training in Nonviolence

Author(s): Mahapragna Acharya
Publisher: Anuvrat Global Organization

Page 49

Effects of Attachment to Wealth
new branch of studying the changes in the nervous system at the sight of money has come into being. It tells us about the activity of the nervous system when it faces money. We come to know which new connections of the neurons of the brain have been formed and which ones have disappeared. Mankind knows such complex things these days.
So let us accept the inevitability of getting money. The nervous system begins to function differently whether it is a question of consuming money or getting money or accumulating money. Therefore we should deliberate on the question of money from a scientific-cum-spiritual point of view.
Money creates such an impact on a man that it drives him to madness, arrogance and violence. This entire subject is being studied in neuro-economics and neuro-science. After acquiring money a man's way of thinking changes. He leads an ordinary or normal life as long as he does not have much money-ordinary food, clothes and style of living. But on acquiring wealth a new awareness gives rise to an action, which requires satisfying the senses, feeding the heart and the ego. A new awakening takes place and the way of thinking undergoes a change.
A boy told his father to give him a rupee. "What will you do?" Asked the father. "I will buy a lottery ticket", replied the boy. The father added, "Suppose you get a hundred thousand rupees through the lottery what will you do then?" The boy replied, "Respected father, do not worry. I'll return the rupee given to me by you." Neuro-economics and neuro-psychology fully study the ways of thinking. They study what thoughts come to a man at such moments and how his thinking changes. It is very important to know what changes in a man and how money affects him.
Let me narrate an incident to you. A labourer invested some money in a lottery and won five hundred thousand rupees. The officials thought that he was a mere labourer and a poor person who has won five hundred thousand rupees. If they broke the news to him, his heart would fail. What should they do then? A doctor was also sharing their thoughts. He said, “Hand the case over to me and I'll set it right." He was given the responsibility asked for. The doctor found out the address of the labourer and started walking to and fro in front of it. The labourer asked him what the matter was and whether there was some work to do. The doctor said that there was nothing. Then the labourer invited him to go into his house and said that he should sit and rest there and drink a cup of tea with him. They sat down together. A poor man is more compassionate and honest. On the other hand a rich man is heartless. A poor man is full of kindness and compassion, but everything comes to an end once he acquires wealth.
They started talking. During the talk the doctor asked the labourer, "What will you do if you come to have ten thousand rupees?" The latter said, "Why are you joking. How can I get ten thousand rupees? If I do get it half of the amount I will share with you." The conversation went on. The amount was increased to one hundred thousand first and two hundred thousand later. "What will you do if you
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