Our goal in life is to seek happiness, and the common understanding is “Money brings happiness.”
Come, let’s verify whether this understanding is right…
Looking at our ever-increasing materialistic needs, the never-ending list of our desires, and the continuous competition to race ahead than others in accumulating wealth, one is generally led to feel that money is life; it is one of the most important things in life. And therefore our highest priority in life becomes that of earning more and more money; and our life seems secured only when we have loads of money in our bank account.
Being surrounded with all these wrong beliefs, one starts living a meaningless life as one becomes so obsessed with the idea of accumulating money that he is constantly found running after money, money and money throughout his life.
One may have collected enough wealth in their bank account, may have spent more than enough wealth in buying a new car, big house and all the luxuries in life. However, if we analyze the whole picture a bit more closely, we will notice that he has undergone immense pain in earning money; and after earning, so many clashes and differences of opinions have happened on the subject of spending that money, and ultimately the pain and fear he is going through all his life only to protect the money that he has brought together in his life. Is there any meaning to such life?!
We were looking for happiness in life and we always believed that money shall bring that happiness to me. What happened then? This shows that money indeed is not life!
A person enjoys immense happiness in life, even when there is no money whatsoever with him, and another suffers deeply even while there is plenty of money all his life. So, the difference lies in the right understanding. People used to say that Ford was the richest man, but a few years later we heard that someone else was. Yet, in the dream of becoming the wealthiest, one wastes his precious human life; only because one’s understanding is not right!
What is the purpose of money in human life?
Money is useful; but only to the extent that we are able to live a decent and happy life.
So today, if you have enough money to afford your daily livelihood comfortably plus some necessary capital to protect you against contingencies, you don’t even need to harbor any inner intent to earn more money, because “through such intent you are pulling the money beyond your given quota towards you, and thus eating into the quota of other people who shall now experience a shortage”, says Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan.
Further, the purpose of money should be to be able to help others in need; to give out happiness by bringing a smile on the face of others.
Param Pujya Dadashri explains, “When you give happiness to others, you will receive happiness. Whatever you give, you will get back. That is the rule. We receive by giving to others and we lose by taking away from others.”
Hence, donating a percentage of our earnings for a good cause is an ideal practice that each one of us must cherish for sure. And whatever we donate, we will give it open-heartedly without the desire of expecting something in return for it; just with a pure inner intent that people should benefit from our donation. Doing so, our wealth and peace both will keep increasing in life.
To know more: https://www.dadabhagwan.org/path-to-happiness/self-help/science-behind-h...
Ambalal M. Patel was a civil contractor by profession. In June 1958, spontaneous Self-Realization occurred within Ambalal M. Patel. From this point on, Ambalal became a Gnani Purush, and the Lord that manifest within him became known as Dada Bhagwan. A Gnani Purush is One who has realized the Self and is able help others do the same. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan used to go from town to town and country-to-country to give satsang (spiritual discourse) and impart the knowledge of the Self, as well as knowledge of harmonious worldly interactions to everyone who came to meet him. This spiritual science, known as Akram Vignan, is the step-less path to Self-realization.