Paise ka kya kasoor

I often wonder why it is said that ‘money is the root of all evils’ especially when the human mind conducts all action in planning, managing and handling money. Understanding & taking responsibility of the consequences of one’s actions, humans must improve on money related Karmas. Each time you give or take money much more is exchanged about your; thoughts, feelings, emotions, character, behaviour, attitude.

Visiting a place of worship the money taken out of the wallet may just be the smallest, folded in a manner no one sees while placing in the donation box. When occasionally larger donation is offered we want our names announced/engraved for others to notice. Donations we flaunt lose their worthiness in the eyes of the Divine.

Excessive splurge of money by doting parents buying happiness with worldly materials badly influences children. Money is then seen as an end by itself rather than a means to an end. Wiser parents balance and talk the importance of first earning before indulging in extravaganzas; entertainments, hobbies, passions, habits. Educate young minds by infusing a sense of simple living & saving, as it fosters every virtue, inculcates self-denial to forethought and broadens the mind. Money is a mirror that reflects our personal strengths and weakness with amazing clarity.

Money in the hands of the wicked exchanges cruelty, manipulation, selfishness and destruction to say the least, while the God conscious soul’s money exchanges are with love, virtuousness, restoration… in one word ’Barkat’ (blessed money). Money earned in any wrongful manner can never enjoy Barkat. Haven’t we noticed accumulated wealth by many is exhausting on medical bills, blocked in litigation - legal battles within family, seizers by government agencies, invested but ‘Ghate Ka Sauda’. Poorest man is the one who has nothing but money. If you want to know how rich you are find out how many things you have that money cannot buy.

Great learning’s from Guru Nanakji’s action at age 18, when his father gave him 20 rupees to buy merchandise and carry out some profitable transaction. On route came a village where illness and hunger prevailed. Guru Nanakji considered no bargain could be more profitable than to feed and clothe the needy and spent his money on them. He considered this to be Sacha Sauda. How we handle money has an impact on the intimacy of our relationship with one’s lord. Blessed are the souls with Nam ki Kamai (nam simran) who continue Guru’s legacy of free langar sewa and with their honest living share a 10th of their earnings for the needy as an on-going practice.

Chasing happiness with money and indulgence in (moh–maya) can be quite an unpleasant experience, even Alexander the Great or Aurangzeb was not able to figure out how much money is happiness. Can we learn from the 3 wishes of Alexander made from his death bed? He desired his body be carried by his physicians; for people to realise when death is due, doctors too have no power to heal. He wanted his treasures spread on his funeral path; for everybody to see no wealth acquired accompanies you. He wanted his empty hands be seen; so that people understand that we come and leave this world empty handed.

Humans boast their intelligence; soon machines will be doing it better. Human mind’s ability to ‘think’ is their superiority over machines and other livings. Make no mistake and choose wisely your present money Karmas. Gurbani is the user manual for all Beings; bringing meaning to life with lessons and learning’s to overcome Kaliyuga entrapments of moha & maya.