Money does matter for every one to meet essential needs of one’s sustenance, although too much of it does lead to vices. This is equally applicable to worldly people (materialistic minded) like us as well as to Spiritually awakened persons. If you have adequate resources, you earn respect of your friends, society and even distant and close relatives. With adequate money, you can even donate to charitable organizations and help the society. So it is ideal to possess adequate means to be able to sustain and carry on in the Society. Of course such dispensation must be earned by fair means, good planning and hard work. Wealth earned by hook or crook invariably leads to vices and disastrous results in the long run. So there has to be a balance between the Materialistic outlook and Spirituality. Even great saints have been affected by it. I recently listened to one hymn (shabad) of Bhagat Kabir (who had very little means and lived a life of poverty though being very pious). The shabad runs like this.
” Bhukhe Bhagati Na Keejay
Yeh Mala Apni Leeje.
Madho Kaise Banne Tum Sange,
Aap na Devo, Levo Mange”
Implies,
” Meditation cannot be done if stomach is empty,
please take you rosary (mala) back.
O lord what kind of companion are you?
you give not but demand from me”
Exactly matches with Maslow’s theory of Motivation (Need hierarchy ) which states that a man tends to attain higher needs like Spirituality and Self esteem only when his lower order hygienic needs are met.
Guchi
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