Way of Life Part 4

Author(s): Bhadraguptasuri
Publisher: Vishvakalyan Prakashan Trust Mehsana

Page 23

DISCOURSE 73
looted and which would not involve you in difficulties and miseries. Discard your desire to become wealthy and affluent. In case you are already affluent, do not hoard your wealth. Keep spending your money to extend help to the needy secretly. Give as much as you can secretly, that is, unknown to others. It is dangerous to show benevolence to others openly. If you come into the view of the men of power, calamities may arise. The merchant, Ded came into the view of the king. Of course, he had not yet done any great deed of benevolence. Only a great change had taken place in the standard of his living. He had repaid all his debts and he was generous in his day-to-day dealings in life. This was enough to create jealousy in people. The news reached the ears of the king, "Ded has found some secret treasure". The king entertained a strong desire to grab that wealth.
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RUMOURS SOON TAKE WING
In villages and in small towns, such news spreads like wildfire. If anyone becomes prosperous, the news spreads soon. Even if someone becomes poor and penniless, that news also spreads soon. In large cities like Bombay and Calcutta, such rumours may not spread very soon. The city of Nanduri was a small one. The news that Ded had become wealthy spread soon throughout the city. Some people were also happy; while some burnt with jealousy. In every age, we can see two kinds of people. In every age, whether it is the fourth Ara or the fifth Ara, whether it is a Satyuga (a noble yuga) or the Kaliyuga (the period of moral decline), we can see these two kinds of people.
You should never feel jealous of those who are prosperous. "He has crores of rupees; I have nothing". You should not become agitated by such a feeling. Men can attain wealth only by the effect of their Punyakarma. If punya or merit has not emerged to the surface in your life, even if you grab somebody's wealth it will not remain with you. Another point. If you try to cause somebody's fall and if you try to involve someone in difficulties, if that person has punyodaya, you cannot throw him down; nor can you cause any difficulties to him. If you