Money and Spirituality
By Asoka Selvarajah
Money
causes most people more emotional problems than almost any other
life issue. How many times have you heard that "Money doesn't
grow on trees", that "Money is the root of all Evil"
or that anyone who is rich must, by definition, be either a crook or
extremely hard and tough? Most people have extremely negative
associations about Wealth and Money that were gained subconsciously
whilst growing up.
The world's spiritual traditions seem to be in agreement:
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one
and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew
6:24).
Other world religions say much the same. Buddhism certainly sees
earthly wealth as a source of desire and attachment, both of which
are viewed as detrimental to spiritual growth.
Yet most personal development teachers today tell you that you can
"have it all" and extol the virtues of becoming wealthy.
Moreover, it seems to be a very modern version of spirituality that
says you can be rich AND highly spiritual. So who is right?
Within a strictly limited sense, both are correct. However, the
balance is extremely hard to maintain correctly.
Given that the Universe and the Source that created it are
infinitely abundant, it is entirely correct that you should expect
to be similarly abundant in your life. You have a right to wholesome
expansion and wealth. Poverty is not intrinsic within
creation--rather it is created by Man himself!
However, there is a big problem, and this is what the teaching from
Jesus above highlights perfectly. It is the problem of focus.
Whatever we focus our minds upon, for good or ill, always expands.
This is one of the fundamental laws of life. No matter what anyone
tells you to the contrary, making money is hard. It does not come
easy to most people. Moreover, making a LOT of money is VERY hard
and takes a tremendous level of concentrated focus. It also requires
a commitment that is primarily EXTERNAL, i.e., devoted to the outer
material world.
Herein lies the apparent conflict. The truth is that powerful
spiritual development ALSO requires a tremendous level of focus and
commitment. It is not a part-time activity either. Moreover, the focus is primarily INTERNAL. If you now read the verse
from Jesus again, you will receive a fresh perspective. It is
not that money is intrinsically evil: rather, the accumulation of it, for someone with limited years on this earth, is
a major distraction because of the level of focus it requires.
Whatever you focus upon expands. If you set your mind upon the
external world, this will assume increasing importance in your life.
Spiritual growth will increasingly become a hobby or something to be
crammed into your spare time. If you vigorously dispute this, ask
yourself the following questions. (1) Do you make sure you get three
full meals a day? (2) Do you also make sure that you meditate (or
pray) three times a day for the same amount of time?
Do you see the point and the problem? Whatever is most important to
you is what you spend most of your time doing and thinking about.
This is why most spiritual traditions advise against the external focus which the pursuit of material wealth
entails. The Spiritual Masters know human nature too well. They know
that given half a chance, we will veer off the path and go off
chasing soap bubbles.
Happily, there can be a satisfactory resolution to this. The answer
is twofold.
The first principle is that if you make the spiritual path (and this
does NOT mean exclusively the Christian path) your primary focus,
then you will eventually master laws of the universe that will
ensure your abundance forever. Moreover, abundance here is
interpreted in the widest possible way, as well as many ways that we
can't conceive of with finite minds! If you can truly tune yourself
to the ultimate Source of all abundance in the universe, then how
can you remain poor in any sense?!
This is what Jesus had in mind when he said, "But seek ye
first the kingdom of God and his righteousness: and all these
things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
In other words, bring your finite Mind and Being increasingly in
tune with the Source of infinite abundance, and you cannot help but
manifest abundance too. Moreover, you will do it with ease, at will, and to a greater level than you ever believed
possible for yourself and others. If the universe is infinitely
creative, then you can be too once you are in tune with the
spiritual laws by which the universe functions.
The second principle--also implicit in the verse above--is to decide
from the outset what your true life purpose and hence priority is.
Then determine NEVER to let that balance between spiritual commitment and external effort be undermined. When we work
upon an external goal--particularly financial abundance--it is VERY
easy to allow that goal to consume an increasing amount of time and
mental capacity.
Decide from the outset that you are going to focus upon the process
of being excellent in the field of endeavour that is your life's
purpose. Then pursue it with the intention of being the very best
you can be, rather than focusing primarily upon some monetary
result/goal at the end of the process. You can certainly have a
monetary goal. However, just be aware of the danger of letting this
becoming the primary obsession. Don't ever let it happen. Also,
always continually re-assess the balance and level of commitment
between your externally focused activities and your spiritual goals. Never let that balance slip.
In conclusion, it is possible to be financially abundant whilst
following a spiritual path. However, it is very
difficult--much more so than most personal development gurus would
have you believe. It is for this reason that the great Spiritual Masters
strongly discouraged trying to do both. However, by using the two
principles mentioned here from the outset, it is possible to create
abundance in your life in the widest possible sense of the word.
Copyright © 2002
Spiritual Awakening Network is a registered trademark
Spiritual Awakening Network/All rights reserved
Money
causes most people more emotional problems than almost any other
life issue. How many times have you heard that "Money doesn't
grow on trees", that "Money is the root of all Evil"
or that anyone who is rich must, by definition, be either a crook or
extremely hard and tough? Most people have extremely negative
associations about Wealth and Money that were gained subconsciously
whilst growing up.
The world's spiritual traditions seem to be in agreement:
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one
and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew
6:24).
Other world religions say much the same. Buddhism certainly sees
earthly wealth as a source of desire and attachment, both of which
are viewed as detrimental to spiritual growth.
Yet most personal development teachers today tell you that you can
"have it all" and extol the virtues of becoming wealthy.
Moreover, it seems to be a very modern version of spirituality that
says you can be rich AND highly spiritual. So who is right?
Within a strictly limited sense, both are correct. However, the
balance is extremely hard to maintain correctly.
Given that the Universe and the Source that created it are
infinitely abundant, it is entirely correct that you should expect
to be similarly abundant in your life. You have a right to wholesome
expansion and wealth. Poverty is not intrinsic within
creation--rather it is created by Man himself!
However, there is a big problem, and this is what the teaching from
Jesus above highlights perfectly. It is the problem of focus.
Whatever we focus our minds upon, for good or ill, always expands.
This is one of the fundamental laws of life. No matter what anyone
tells you to the contrary, making money is hard. It does not come
easy to most people. Moreover, making a LOT of money is VERY hard
and takes a tremendous level of concentrated focus. It also requires
a commitment that is primarily EXTERNAL, i.e., devoted to the outer
material world.
Herein lies the apparent conflict. The truth is that powerful
spiritual development ALSO requires a tremendous level of focus and
commitment. It is not a part-time activity either. Moreover, the focus is primarily INTERNAL. If you now read the verse
from Jesus again, you will receive a fresh perspective. It is
not that money is intrinsically evil: rather, the accumulation of it, for someone with limited years on this earth, is
a major distraction because of the level of focus it requires.
Whatever you focus upon expands. If you set your mind upon the
external world, this will assume increasing importance in your life.
Spiritual growth will increasingly become a hobby or something to be
crammed into your spare time. If you vigorously dispute this, ask
yourself the following questions. (1) Do you make sure you get three
full meals a day? (2) Do you also make sure that you meditate (or
pray) three times a day for the same amount of time?
Do you see the point and the problem? Whatever is most important to
you is what you spend most of your time doing and thinking about.
This is why most spiritual traditions advise against the external focus which the pursuit of material wealth
entails. The Spiritual Masters know human nature too well. They know
that given half a chance, we will veer off the path and go off
chasing soap bubbles.
Happily, there can be a satisfactory resolution to this. The answer
is twofold.
The first principle is that if you make the spiritual path (and this
does NOT mean exclusively the Christian path) your primary focus,
then you will eventually master laws of the universe that will
ensure your abundance forever. Moreover, abundance here is
interpreted in the widest possible way, as well as many ways that we
can't conceive of with finite minds! If you can truly tune yourself
to the ultimate Source of all abundance in the universe, then how
can you remain poor in any sense?!
This is what Jesus had in mind when he said, "But seek ye
first the kingdom of God and his righteousness: and all these
things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
In other words, bring your finite Mind and Being increasingly in
tune with the Source of infinite abundance, and you cannot help but
manifest abundance too. Moreover, you will do it with ease, at will, and to a greater level than you ever believed
possible for yourself and others. If the universe is infinitely
creative, then you can be too once you are in tune with the
spiritual laws by which the universe functions.
The second principle--also implicit in the verse above--is to decide
from the outset what your true life purpose and hence priority is.
Then determine NEVER to let that balance between spiritual commitment and external effort be undermined. When we work
upon an external goal--particularly financial abundance--it is VERY
easy to allow that goal to consume an increasing amount of time and
mental capacity.
Decide from the outset that you are going to focus upon the process
of being excellent in the field of endeavour that is your life's
purpose. Then pursue it with the intention of being the very best
you can be, rather than focusing primarily upon some monetary
result/goal at the end of the process. You can certainly have a
monetary goal. However, just be aware of the danger of letting this
becoming the primary obsession. Don't ever let it happen. Also,
always continually re-assess the balance and level of commitment
between your externally focused activities and your spiritual goals. Never let that balance slip.
In conclusion, it is possible to be financially abundant whilst
following a spiritual path. However, it is very
difficult--much more so than most personal development gurus would
have you believe. It is for this reason that the great Spiritual Masters
strongly discouraged trying to do both. However, by using the two
principles mentioned here from the outset, it is possible to create
abundance in your life in the widest possible sense of the word.
Spiritual Awakening Network is a registered trademark
Spiritual Awakening Network/All rights reserved